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Multisite comparison of wheelchair propulsion kinetics in persons with paraplegia

Alicia M. Koontz, PhD, RET, et al.

Figure. Experimental setup at Human Engineering Research Laboratories.

We are conducting research at three different institutions to study manual wheelchair propulsion techniques and the relationship between technique and wrist and shoulder injuries in wheelchair users with paraplegia. Before further investigating these topics, we performed a substudy to check that the data were consistent across study sites so that we could combine each site's data into one large data set. Participants at one site were found to push with less force and torque compared with participants at the other two sites. Further analysis revealed that the wheelchair roller system at this differing site had lower rolling resistance. We developed a method to correct the difference so that the data could be combined and used in future analyses.


Volume 44 Number 3 2007
Pages 449 — 458

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