Pilot study for quantifying driving characteristics during power wheelchair soccer.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Human Movement Studies

Background:

• Power wheelchair soccer is a competitive adapted sport for individuals with mobility impairments.
• Understanding the biomechanics and movement patterns of power wheelchair users in sports is crucial for performance enhancement and injury prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the driving characteristics of power wheelchair users during competitive power wheelchair soccer games.
• To collect descriptive data on wheelchair movement, speed, and duration of play.

Main Methods:

• Data were collected from 19 veteran power wheelchair soccer players at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.
• A customized data-logging device recorded wheelchair movement parameters during games.
• Participants also completed a demographic survey and provided power wheelchair specifications.

Main Results:

• Average distance traveled was 899.5 ± 592.5 m, with an average speed of 0.8 ± 0.2 m/s.
• Average driving time was 17.6 ± 8.3 minutes.
• Significant proportions of time were spent at various speeds, including 30.7% >1 m/s, 16.2% between 0.5-1 m/s, and 21.4% <0.5 m/s.

Conclusions:

• The study provides valuable descriptive data on the physical demands of power wheelchair soccer.
• Findings offer insights for future research in adapted sports and mobility device development for individuals with severe impairments.
• This research contributes to understanding the functional capabilities of power wheelchair users in dynamic sporting environments.