Measuring handrim wheelchair propulsion in the lab: A critical analysis of stationary ergometers

Rick De Klerk*, Riemer Jakobs K. Vegter, Vicky L. Goosey-Tolfrey, Barry S. Mason, John P. Lenton, Dirkjan H.E.J. Veeger, Lucas H.V. Van Der Woude

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

There are many ways to simulate handrim wheelchair propulsion in the laboratory. Ideally, these would be able to, at least mechanically, simulate field conditions. This narrative review provides an overview of the lab-based equipment used in published research and critically assesses their ability to simulate and measure wheelchair propulsion performance. A close connection to the field can only be achieved if the instrument can adequately simulate frictional losses and inertia of real-life handrim wheelchair propulsion, while maintaining the ergonomic properties of the wheelchair-user interface. Lab-based testing is either performed on a treadmill or a wheelchair ergometer (WCE). For this study WCEs were divided into three categories: roller, flywheel, and integrated ergometers. In general, treadmills are mechanically realistic, but cannot simulate air drag and acceleration tasks cannot be performed; roller ergometers allow the use of the personal wheelchair, but calibration can be troublesome; flywheel ergometers can be built with commercially-available parts, but inertia is fixed and the personal wheelchair cannot be used; integrated ergometers do not employ the personal wheelchair, but are suited for the implementation of different simulation models and detailed measurements. Lab-based equipment is heterogeneous and there appears to be little consensus on how to simulate field conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number8888207
Pages (from-to)199-211
Number of pages13
JournalIEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering
Volume13
Early online date31 Oct 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jan 2020

Funding

Manuscript received May 28, 2019; revised August 12, 2019; accepted September 15, 2019. Date of publication October 31, 2019; date of current version January 20, 2020. This work was supported in part by Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland under Grant OPSNN0109 and in part by the PPP-allowance of the Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. (Corresponding author: Rick de Klerk.) R. de Klerk and R. J. K. Vegter are with the Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, The Netherlands (e-mail:, r.de.klerk@ umcg.nl; [email protected]).

FundersFunder number
Ministerie van Economische Zaken
Samenwerkingsverband Noord-NederlandOPSNN0109
Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland

    Keywords

    • Dynamometer
    • Ergometry
    • Ergonomics
    • Mechanics
    • Simulation
    • WERG

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