Proper Propulsion
By Koontz, Alicia M., PhD; Boninger, Michael L.; Rehab Management, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 18-21Publication Date: July 2003
Article discussing the prevention of pain and repetitive strain injuries among people who use manual wheelchairs. The authors interviewed 103 people with paralysis who use manual wheelchairs, and found physical evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in 66 percent of the participants. More than 50 percent of the participants reported shoulder pain related to manual wheelchair use. A magnetic resonance imaging study of the shoulders of 28 individuals with paralysis demonstrated a high instance of distal clavical osteolysis, and early signs of rotator cuff injury. Proper seating and propulsion technique are discussed that can prevent injury. The use of ultralight wheelchairs is recommended to reduce the amount of force needed to propel the wheelchair, which could significantly reduce the risk of injury.
Published by: Ascend Media LLC (Website:http://www.ascendmedia.com)
Link to text: http://www.rehabpub.com/features/72003/3.asp
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J47086
