Take-Off Strategies Used to Initiate Wheelchair Wheelies: A Kinematic Verification
By Parker, Kim, MASc; Kirby, R. Lee, MD; Li, Rebecca; RESNA 29th International Annual Conference 2006,Publication Date: 2006
Study conducted to evaluate wheelchair wheelie take-off strategies used by a single participant. Researchers utilized an Optotrak wheelchair kinematics device and surface electromyography of the participant’s left upper limb during four trials of a stationary wheelie on a smooth, level surface. Two different take-off strategies were evaluated: (1) forward only, and (2) backward only. The Optotrak and the surface electromyographic data were used to calculate wheelchair displacement and pitch results. The researchers found that no periods of inactivity were found between forward displacement and rear pitch during take-off in all of the trials. The participant’s forearm and biceps muscles were found to be the most active, though electromyographic recordings did not go above 20 percent of the maximum voluntary contraction rate. The authors contend that these results have implications for future research. This study was conducted by researchers at QUII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Published by: Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) (Website:http://www.resna.org)
