Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 7 , Pages 1076-1083 , July 2009

Impact of Surface Type, Wheelchair Weight, and Axle Position on Wheelchair Propulsion by Novice Older Adults

  • Rachel E. Cowan, PhD

      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
    • Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL
    • ,
  • Mark S. Nash, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL
    • Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL
    • ,
  • Jennifer L. Collinger, PhD

      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 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • ,
  • Alicia M. Koontz, PhD

      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
    • Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • ,
  • Michael L. Boninger, MD

      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 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 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

References 

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  3. Hoenig H, Landerman LR, Shipp KM, et al. A clinical trial of a rehabilitation expert clinician versus usual care for providing manual wheelchairs. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53:1712–1720
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  5. Mann WC, Goodall S, Justiss MD, Tomita M. Dissatisfaction and nonuse of assistive devices among frail elders. Assist Technol. 2002;14:130–139
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  16. Desroches G, Aissaoui R, Bourbonnais D. Effect of system tilt and seat-to-backrest angles on load sustained by shoulder during wheelchair propulsion. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2006;43:871–882
  17. Koontz AM, Cooper RA, Boninger ML, Yang Y, Impink BG, van der Woude LH. A kinetic analysis of manual wheelchair propulsion during start-up on select indoor and outdoor surfaces. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2005;42:447–458
  18. Richter WM, Rodriguez R, Woods KR, Axelson PW. Stroke pattern and handrim biomechanics for level and uphill wheelchair propulsion at self-selected speeds. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007;88:81–87
  19. Wolfe GA, Waters R, Hislop HJ. Influence of floor surface on the energy cost of wheelchair propulsion. Phys Ther. 1977;57:1022–1027
  20. Mitrushina M, Satz P. Reliability and validity of the Mini-Mental State Exam in neurologically intact elderly. J Clin Psychol. 1991;47:537–543
  21. Perera S, Mody SH, Woodman RC, Studenski SA. Meaningful change and responsiveness in common physical performance measures in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54:743–749

 Supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant nos. 1 F31 HD053986-01, P30 AG024827, AG023641), the National Science Foundation (DGE0333420, Graduate Research Fellowship), and the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development (grant no. B3142C).

 We certify that we have affiliations with or financial involvement (eg, employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants and patents received or pending, royalties) with an organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the article. Rachel Cowan has a nonfinancial affiliation with Three Rivers Holdings, Inc, in the form of subcontracted grants.

PII: S0003-9993(09)00278-0

doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.10.034

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 7 , Pages 1076-1083 , July 2009

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