Sports Med Rehabil J | Volume 2, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Ian Rice1*, Ryan T Pohlig2, Jennifer Dysterheft1,3 and Robert Motl4
1Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
2Department of Biostatistics, University of Delaware, USA
3Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, Hamline University, USA
4Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
Our study examined associations between wheelchair propulsion technique and Vector Magnitude (VM) obtained from a wrist worn triaxial accelerometer. Participants who were full time wheelchair users (n=17) propelled on a treadmill at common (1.34 m/s), and fast (2.0 m/s) speeds in their own wheelchairs with instrumented wheels attached. Accelerometer and energy expenditure (VO2) data were recorded simultaneously. Outcome measures included kinetic and spatiotemporal propulsion technique variables occurring at the Wheelchair Handrim as well as subject characteristics like Shoulder Pain (WUSPI) and Physical Activity Level (PASIPD). Regression analysis found peak total force, contact angle, shoulder pain and physical activity level to be predictive of VM at the common speed while stroke frequency, peak total force, and shoulder pain were predictive of VM at the fast speed. Our findings, although preliminary, underscore the increasing potential of wearable sensors to serve as an upper limb preservation tool in MWUs in real world settings.
Rice I, Pohlig RT, Dysterheft J, Motl R. How does Vector Magnitude Obtained from Wrist Worn Actigraphy Relate to Kinetic and Spatiotemporal Measures of Wheelchair Propulsion Technique at Different Speeds. Sports Med Rehabil J. 2017; 2(1): 1013.