Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 2 , Pages 260-268 , February 2008

Preliminary Outcomes of the SmartWheel Users’ Group Database: A Proposed Framework for Clinicians to Objectively Evaluate Manual Wheelchair Propulsion

  • Rachel E. Cowan, MS

      Affiliations

    • Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • VA Pittsburgh Health Care System Center of Excellence in Wheelchairs and Related Technology, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • ,
  • Michael L. Boninger, MD

      Affiliations

    • Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • VA Pittsburgh Health Care System Center of Excellence in Wheelchairs and Related Technology, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Michael L. Boninger, MD, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Health Care System, 5180 Highland Dr, 151R-1, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
    • ,
  • Bonita J. Sawatzky, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
    • ,
  • Brian D. Mazoyer, PTA

      Affiliations

    • Banner Good Samaritan Rehabilitation Institute, Phoenix, AZ.
    • ,
  • Rory A. Cooper, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • VA Pittsburgh Health Care System Center of Excellence in Wheelchairs and Related Technology, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Image Result

    Generalized regression plot. Abbreviations: Area A, above threshold velocity; below average force or push frequency; Area B, above threshold velocity; above average force or push frequency; Area C, be

    Generalized regression plot. Abbreviations: Area A, above threshold velocity; below average force or push frequency; Area B, above threshold velocity; above average force or push frequency; Area C, below threshold velocity; above average force or push frequency; Area D, below threshold velocity; below average force or push frequency. Legend: The solid line is the linear regression line based on existing data. The dashed line is the extrapolated linear regression line. Threshold velocity is represented by a dash-dot line. Solid line ellipse is the 95% covariance ellipse. Dashed line ellipse is the 75% covariance ellipse.

  • Image Result
    Tile body weight−normalized average steady-state peak resultant force versus average steady-state velocity.

    Tile body weight−normalized average steady-state peak resultant force versus average steady-state velocity.

  • Image Result
    Ramp body weight−normalized average steady-state peak resultant force versus average steady-state velocity.

    Ramp body weight−normalized average steady-state peak resultant force versus average steady-state velocity.

  • Image Result
    Tile push frequency versus average velocity.

    Tile push frequency versus average velocity.

  • Image Result
    Carpet push frequency versus average velocity.

    Carpet push frequency versus average velocity.

  • Image Result
    Ramp push frequency versus average velocity.

    Ramp push frequency versus average velocity.

  • Image Result
    Clinician decision-making flowchart. Abbreviations: see figure 1; MWU, manual wheelchair user.

    Clinician decision-making flowchart. Abbreviations: see figure 1; MWU, manual wheelchair user.

 Supported by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (grant no. 581), National Institutes of Health (grant no. 1 F31 HD053986-01), National Science Foundation (grant no. DGE0333420), National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (grant no. H133N000019), the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development (grant no. B3142C), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (grant no. RGPIN 249489-02).A commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has conferred or will confer a financial benefit upon the author or 1 or more of the authors. Boninger, Cooper, and Cowan have a nonfinancial affiliation with Three Rivers Holdings Inc in the form of subcontracted grants. Three Rivers Holdings licenses patents unrelated to this publication from the University of Pittsburgh. Cooper and Boninger receive royalties through the University of Pittsburgh from the sales of these licensed inventions.

PII: S0003-9993(07)01647-4

doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.08.141

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 2 , Pages 260-268 , February 2008

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