Background: A pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW) is a manual wheelchair propelled assisted by motor power for preventing overuse injuries induced by manually propulsion of wheelchair. It has not been documented about the relationship between the tipper limbs muscle strength of PAPAW users and the wheelchair propulsion performance. Purpose: To explore the relationship between the tipper limb muscle strength and propulsion characteristics of PAPAW propulsion. Method: Twenty-two young adults without the experience of using wheelchairs were recruited into this study who received manual muscle test of upper limbs and propulsion test. The descriptive statistics on the tipper extremity strength and wheelchair propulsion parameters (propulsion speed. and the torque produced during propulsion) were calculated. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed among all of the tipper limb strength and propulsion variables. Result: All of the participants completed the test. The manual muscle test values of the upper limbs normalized by body weight were ranged from 13 to 44% of body weight. The performance of PAPAW propulsion speed was negatively correlated with the manual muscle strength (shoulder flexors and abductors) at medium level. Torque at start-up phase were higher than that at steady-state phase. Manual muscle strength of shoulder external rotators were positively correlated significantly with average propulsion torque at start-up phase (p<0.05). Conclusion: The performance of PAPAW propulsion was significantly correlated with the muscle strength of upper limb. In order to take advantage of the PAPAW, we could provide a reference for wheelchair propulsion training and principle of specificity in strength training for PAPAW propulsion.
Background: A pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW) is a manual wheelchair propelled assisted by motor power for preventing overuse injuries induced by manually propulsion of wheelchair. It has not been documented about the relationship between the tipper limbs muscle strength of PAPAW users and the wheelchair propulsion performance. Purpose: To explore the relationship between the tipper limb muscle strength and propulsion characteristics of PAPAW propulsion. Method: Twenty-two young adults without the experience of using wheelchairs were recruited into this study who received manual muscle test of upper limbs and propulsion test. The descriptive statistics on the tipper extremity strength and wheelchair propulsion parameters (propulsion speed. and the torque produced during propulsion) were calculated. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed among all of the tipper limb strength and propulsion variables. Result: All of the participants completed the test. The manual muscle test values of the upper limbs normalized by body weight were ranged from 13 to 44% of body weight. The performance of PAPAW propulsion speed was negatively correlated with the manual muscle strength (shoulder flexors and abductors) at medium level. Torque at start-up phase were higher than that at steady-state phase. Manual muscle strength of shoulder external rotators were positively correlated significantly with average propulsion torque at start-up phase (p<0.05). Conclusion: The performance of PAPAW propulsion was significantly correlated with the muscle strength of upper limb. In order to take advantage of the PAPAW, we could provide a reference for wheelchair propulsion training and principle of specificity in strength training for PAPAW propulsion.