Pelvic Movement and Interface Pressure Distribution During Manual Wheelchair Propulsion
By Tam, Eric W., PhD; Mak, Arthur F., PhD; Lam, Wai Nga, MPhil; Evans, John H., PhD; Chow, York Y, FRCS, FHKAM; Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 84, No. 10, pp. 1466-1472Publication Date: October 2003
Study investigates the movement of the ischial tuberosities and the redistribution of interface pressure during manual wheelchair propulsion. Ten participants who did not have disabilities, who had little prior experience propelling a wheelchair and ten people who used wheelchairs with spinal cord injury levels between L3 and T8 participated in the study. The study included two parts: (1) static sitting, and (2) dynamic propulsion. A Quickie TNT was chosen for the study, and it was modified to incorporate a rigid seat surface to facilitate the specified experimental measures. Interface pressure measurement was recorded by using a high-resolution pressure-sensitive mat. Kinematic data during propulsion were captured by using an optical motion analyis system. All participants were asked to sit on the wheelchair, which was placed on an ergometer, which is a double-drum roller that was adapted for wheelchair propulsion. The results indicated that peak pressure locations did not occur exactly with the ischial tuberosities during propulsion. The movements of the ishcial bone and the cyclic loading imposed on the tissue underneath the ischial tuberosities during dynamic condition could have implications for the origin of decubitus ulcers.
Published by: W.B. Saunders Company, a division of Elsevier Health Sciences (Website:http://us.elsevierhealth.com)
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Web Site: http://www.aapmr.org/ )
American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.acrm.org )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J46369
