Effects of a Dynamic Seating on Wheelchair Propulsion in Individuals With SCI
By Chawla, Aditya; Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) 2007 Conference,Publication Date: 2007
Study compared the propulsion of a wheelchair with the seat in the regular upright sitting position (normal posture) and a sitting posture with the back part of the seat tilted down (WO-BPS posture). Ten individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) performed a series of propulsion tasks in both postures. Unilateral muscle activity of the rhomboid major, upper trapezius, posterior deltoid, triceps brachii, long head of biceps brachii, anterior deltoid, sternal pectoralis major, and sternocleidomastoid was measured electromyography. Additionally, a Viacon motion picture system was used to measure kinematics of the upper and lower arm and a SmartWheel was used to measure pushrim forces. There was no significant difference between the normal posture and the WO-BPS posture with respect to wheelchair propulsion. It is concluded that while the WO-BPS posture helps to relieve pressure from the buttocks and improve sitting posture, it does not affect the user’s ability to propel the wheelchair. This paper was presented at the 2007 Annual Conference of the Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America.
Assistive Products Discussed: Published by: Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) (Website:http://www.resna.org)
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number O16979
