Identifying key experience-related differences in over-ground manual wheelchair propulsion biomechanics

The purpose of this study was to investigate technique differences between expert and novice manual wheelchair users during over-ground wheelchair propulsion.

Seven experts (spinal cord injury level between T5 and L1) and six novices (non-wheelchair users) pushed a manual wheelchair over level ground, a 2.5% cross slope and up a 6.5% incline (7.2 m length) and 12% incline (1.5 m length). Push rim kinetics, trunk and shoulder kinematics and muscle activity level were measured.

During the level and cross slope tasks, the experts completed the tasks with fewer pushes by applying a similar push rim moment over a greater push arc, demonstrating lower muscle activity. During the incline tasks, the experts required fewer pushes and maintained a greater average velocity, generating greater power by applying a similar push rim moment over a greater push arc with greater angular velocity, demonstrating greater trunk flexion and higher shoulder muscle activity.

This study identifies experience-related differences during over-ground manual wheelchair propulsion. These differences are particularly evident during incline propulsion, with the experts generating significantly greater power to maintain a higher velocity.