The goal of this project was to test the influence of a pushrim activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW) on the functional capabilities of individuals with cervical level spinal cord injuries (tetraplegia). This repeated measures design type study was divided into two phases, which included testing in two different laboratory settings: a biomechanics laboratory and an activities of daily living laboratory. Fifteen participants included in both phases were fulltime manual wheelchair users (MWUs) with tetraplegia.
The purpose of the first phase of the study was to determine the differences in metabolic demands, stroke frequency, and upper extremity joint range of motion, during PAPAW propulsion and traditional manual wheelchair propulsion. Participants propelled both their own manual wheelchairs and a PAPAW through three different resistances (slight, moderate and high), on a computer controlled wheelchair dynamometer. Variables analyzed during this phase included: mean steady state oxygen consumption, ventilation, heart rate, mean stroke frequency, maximum upper extremity joint range of motion, and propulsion speed. Results from the first phase of the study revealed a significant improvement in kinematic, speed, and metabolic variables when participants were propelling with a PAPAW.
In Phase II, participants propelled both their own manual wheelchairs and a PAPAW three times over an activities of daily living course. The course was constructed to reflect certain obstacles that a manual wheelchair user might encounter in his or her daily routine. PAPAWs received higher user ratings than the participants own manual wheelchair for 10 out of 18 obstacles. Additionally, when using a PAPAW, participants were able to complete the course in the same amount of time while maintaining a lower mean heart rate.
For individuals with tetraplegia, PAPAWs have the potential to decrease metabolic demands during propulsion, while increasing or maintaining function within ADLs. Use of this device could help MWUs maintain overall physical capacity while reducing the risk for pain and injuries to the upper extremities, which are often seen among manual wheelchair users with tetraplegia. Future studies with this device should focus on the ability of MWUs with tetraplegia to perform necessary activities of daily living within their home environment and community.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-12052003-151955 |
| Date | 05 December 2003 |
| Creators | Algood, Stephen David |
| Contributors | Michael L. Boninger, Shirley G. Fitzgerald, Rory A. Cooper |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-12052003-151955/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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