@article{ref1,
title="Preliminary outcomes of the SmartWheel Users' Group database: a proposed framework for clinicians to objectively evaluate manual wheelchair propulsion",
journal="Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation",
year="2008",
author="Cowan, Rachel E. and Boninger, Michael L. and Sawatzky, Bonita J. and Mazoyer, Brian D. and Cooper, Rory A.",
volume="89",
number="2",
pages="260-268",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To describe a standard clinical protocol for the objective assessment of manual wheelchair propulsion; to establish preliminary values for temporal and kinetic parameters derived from the protocol; and to develop graphical references and a proposed application process for use by clinicians. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Six research institutions that collect kinetic wheelchair propulsion data and contribute that data to an international data pool. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects with spinal cord injury (N=128). INTERVENTIONS: Subjects propelled a wheelchair from a stationary position to a self-selected velocity across a hard tile surface, a low pile carpet, and up an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp. Unilateral kinetic data were obtained from subjects using a force and moment sensing pushrim. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in self-selected velocity, peak resultant force, push frequency, and stroke length across all surfaces, relationship between (1) weight-normalized peak resultant force and self-selected velocity and (2) push frequency and self-selected velocity. RESULTS: Graphical references were generated for potential clinical use based on the relation between body weight-normalized peak resultant force, push frequency, and velocity. Self-selected velocity decreased (ramp < carpet < tile), peak resultant forces increased (ramp > carpet > tile), and push frequency and stroke length remained unchanged when compared across the different surfaces. Weight-normalized peak resultant force was a significant predictor of velocity on tile and ramp. Push frequency was a significant predictor of velocity on tile, carpet, and ramp. CONCLUSIONS: We present preliminary data generated from a clinically practical manual wheelchair propulsion evaluation protocol and we describe a proposed method for clinicians to objectively evaluate manual wheelchair propulsion.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-9993",
doi="10.1016/j.apmr.2007.08.141",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2007.08.141"
}