Woude, L.H.V. van der (2012) Effect of Seat height on Hand rim Wheelchair Performance : a next step to an optimal seat height. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
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Abstract
Purpose The use of a manual wheelchair in activities of daily life (ADL) leads to a high strain, which in turn leads to a high risk of overuse injuries of the upper extremities. To decrease the high daily strain the wheelchair should fit optimally to the user. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between seat height, expressed in elbow angle, to physiological variables and propulsion technique during submaximal wheeling on a motor driven treadmill. Method Four absolute wheelchair seat heights were tested in twelve inexperienced able-bodied males. Seat heights 1 till 4 were performed randomly in 14 x 4 min of submaximal steady state wheelchair propulsion on a motor-driven treadmill. The following outcomes were measured; Vo2 (L/min), RER, Cadence (pushes/min), Contact angle (deg), Peak force(N), FEF (%), Cycle time (sec), Push time (Sec), slope (Nm/s), Power output (Po) and the negative dips (N) before and after the push. Multilevel modeling (Mlwin) was used to analyze the effect of seat height (elbow angle)on these variables while correcting for a fluctuation in power output Results Mechanical efficiency (Me), peak force and the slope were significantly influenced by seat height. Based on the multilevel model, during propulsion at 15 watt power output, a 10 degrees increased elbow angle will result in an 0.10% increased Me. Simultaneously, a similar 10 degrees increase will result in a decreased Peak force of 7.75 N while the slope of the torque decreased with -11.15 (Nm/s). Conclusion Based on the results of the current study and on international literature we can conclude that individual fitting of seat height is beneficial in terms of Me and propulsion technique variables. An improvement in Me and peak force as a result of a better individual fitting to the wheelchair will decrease the strain of daily wheelchair use.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Thesis) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Dijlk, F.W. van and Vegter, R. and Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Centr and Netherlands. |
| Supervisor name: | Groot, S. de and Reade, Amsterdam |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2020 10:49 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2020 10:49 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1029 |
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