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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Determining and Controlling External Power Output During Regular Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion
Published on: February 5, 2020
A comparison of spinergy versus standard steel-spoke wheelchair wheels
Barbara Hughes1, Bonita J Sawatzky, Adrienne T Hol
1Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Objectives:
To compare the energy efficiency of straight-line wheeling using Spinergy wheels as compared with standard steel-spoke wheels, and to assess the 2 wheels in terms of user comfort and wheeling preference during a wheeling course with multiple turns and surfaces.
Design:
Nonblinded randomized crossover trial.
Setting:
Rehabilitation center.
Participants:
Twenty persons with paraplegia (neurologic level T6 and below).
Intervention:
Wheeling a straight line and obstacle course with Spinergy or standard spoke wheelchair wheels.
Main Outcome Measures:
Velocity and Physiological Cost Index (PCI) while wheeling over ground at a self-selected pace, and the User Preference Questionnaire after wheeling an obstacle course, using Spinergy or standard spoke wheelchair wheels.
Results:
There was no significant difference in wheeling energy efficiency between the Spinergy and the steel-spoke wheels as measured by PCI ( P =.975). When rated for overall comfort, the Spinergy wheels were preferred over steel-spoke wheels ( P =.002).
Conclusions:
Spinergy wheels provided a more comfortable ride, but did not differ from standard steel-spoked wheels in terms of energy efficiency. The increased comfort may have important implications in patient management of pain and spasticity.
