Effectiveness of force application in manual wheelchair propulsion in persons with spinal cord injuries

The objective of this study was to investigate effectiveness of force application, the ratio power output/energy expenditure, and timing parameters of wheelchair propulsion in persons with tetraplegia (TP, n = 17) and paraplegia (PP, n = 12), at two different intensity conditions. All subjects performed a maximal exercise test on a wheelchair ergometer. Exercise bouts with an intensity of 30 to 50% and 60 to 80% of the maximal power output were analyzed. Effectiveness of force application, defined as the ratio of the effective force and the total force, was considerably lower in TP, compared with PP. Effectiveness of force application in the plane of the wheel was comparable between TP and PP. TP showed a significantly lower effectiveness of force application in the frontal plane and applied the forces in a more lateromedial direction to the hand rim. The ratio power output/energy expenditure, calculated as an indication of gross mechanical efficiency, was considerably lower in TP and was associated with the effectiveness of force application (r = 0.64; P < 0.01). Timing parameters showed that TP positioned their hands in a more backward position on the hand rim. Comparing the different intensity conditions revealed that force was applied more effectively, and the ratio power output/energy expenditure was higher at the higher intensity condition. Push time, relative to cycle time, increased, and beginning angle showed a forward shift with a higher load. TP tended to decrease, whereas PP showed a tendency for an increase in stroke angle with a higher load. The low effectiveness and different pattern of force application in TP should be taken into account when developing other wheelchair propelling mechanisms and training programs for this population.