Pilot Study for Quantifying Driving Characteristics During Power Wheelchair Soccer
By Kumar, Amit; Karmarkar, Amol M.; Collins, Diane M.; Souza, Ana; Oyster, Michelle L.; Cooper, Rosemarie; Cooper, Rory A.; Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Volume 49, Number 1, pages 75-82Publication Date: 2012
Study determined the driving characteristics of wheelchair users during power wheelchair soccer games. Data were collected at the 28th and 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Study participants were 19 power wheelchair soccer players with an average age of 56.8 years, of whom 18 were male, 13 had a spinal cord injury, 3 had multiple sclerosis, and 3 had had a stroke. While 16 participants used real-wheel drive power wheelchairs, 3 used mid-wheel drive chairs. Participants completed a brief demographic survey and provided information about their wheelchairs. A customized data logging device was placed on each participant’s wheelchair before game participation. The data logger was removed at the end of the final game for each participant. Average distance traveled during the games was 899.5 meters, and average maximum continuous distance traveled was 256 meters. Average wheelchair speed was 0.8 meters per second, and average duration of driving time was 17.6 minutes. Average proportion of time spent at a speed greater than 1 meter per second was 30.7 percent, between 0.5 and 1 minute per second was 16.2 percent, and less than 0.5 meters per second was 21.4 percent. Information from this study can provide insight for future research in the field of adapted sports for people with high levels of impairments who use power wheelchairs for their mobility.
Published by:
VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (Web Site: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov )
Link to text: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/2012/491/kumar491.html
