The Force and Endurance of Wheelchair Propulsion in Persons with Cervical Cord Injuries

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to help the comprehensive rehabilitation of cervical cord injuries by measuring propulsion force and endurance on their wheelchair hand- rims, predicting the differences between neurological levels and analysing the factors which contributed to maintain the wheelchair propulsion force. METHOD: The BTE work simulator was used on 17 cervical cord injuries to test the force and endurance during wheel chair propulsion. The 141 large wheel of BTE work simulator and standard wheelchair which was removed handrims was used for simulating wheelchair propulsion. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare force and endurance among the groups. RESULTS: The wheelchair propulsion force and endurance showed significant differences between neurological levels and types of the life style. The lower the level, the higher the strength and endurance (p<0.001). The wheelchair propulsion force of cervical cord injuries showed statistically significant differences between those with and without jobs (p<0.05). The outdoor wheelchair users and wheelchair propulsion exercise group showed significantly high maximum isometric strengths compared to the indoor users and the only ROM exercise group, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: During the rehabilitation period cervical cord injured persons need the wheelchair propulsion exercise using BTE work simulator to improve the quality of life.