Kinematic and Electromyographic Analysis of Wheelchair Propulsion on Ramps of Different Slopes for Young Men With Paraplegia

Side view of a wooden ramp with adjustable slope.

Critical instants and phases of a stroke cycle. The contact and release angles indicate the locations of hand relative to the wheel center at the instants of hand contact and release, respectively. The top dead center is the highest point of the wheel regardless of the wheelchair orientation.

Average trunk inclinations at contact and release, and push, contact, and release angles for normal (solid symbols) and fast (unfilled symbols) speeds under different slope conditions. *The lowest slope that is significantly different from the level condition.

Average muscle activity of different muscles during the push phase for different slope conditions at normal (A) and fast (B) speeds. The error bars indicate SDs. *The lowest slope that is significantly different from the level condition. Abbreviations: AMD, antero-middle deltoid; deg, degrees; ECR, extensor carpi radialis; LSD, latissimus dorsi; MAX, maximum; PCM, pectoralis major; PMD, postero-middle deltoid; TRB, triceps brachii.

Average muscle activity of different muscles during the recovery phase for different slope conditions at normal (A) and fast (B) speeds. The error bars indicate SDs. *The lowest slope that is significantly different from the level condition. Abbreviations: AMD, antero-middle deltoid; deg, degrees; ECR, extensor carpi radialis; LSD, latissimus dorsi; MAX, maximum; PCM, pectoralis major; PMD, postero-middle deltoid; TRB, triceps brachii.

Relationships among stroke distances, stroke frequencies, and stroking speeds (dashed lines) for different experimental conditions. The stroking speed is the product of the stroke distance and stroke frequency.