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Multi-speed Ergonomic Wheelchair
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
Over one million Americans rely on their upper extremities for manual wheelchair propulsion. Shoulder overuse injuries are prevalent among manual wheelchair users and these injuries often result in shoulder pain. Severe shoulder pain can lead some wheelchair users to transition from manual to powered mobility, complicating transportation, and reducing independence in activities of daily living. This project will expand the understanding of a new wheelchair design that allows better positioning of the hand rims and allows for different gearing. The investigators will study steady-state propulsion efficiency with different gear ratios and develop a new system with multiple gear ratios. The advanced gearing will allow for a low gear when initiating movement, going uphill, or when moving over carpet, and then a higher gear option for movements on hard flat level terrain. This system has the potential to dramatically improve shoulder ergonomics and reduce pain in many future manual wheelchair users.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2024-07-18
Completion Date
2027-03-31
Last Updated
2025-11-10
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Single Speed Ergonomic Wheelchair
Ergonomic wheelchair. The ergonomic wheelchair was developed by the MADE program and has anterior placed hand rims that are connected with a bicycle chain. In Aim 1, Participants will use the ergonomic wheelchair to test 3 different gear ratios. 1. 2:3 2. 1:1 3. 3:2
Multi-Speed Ergonomic Wheelchair
The multi-speed ergonomic wheelchair will be developed by the MADE program and will use a two-hand rim design so the participant can change gears by changing hand rims.
Locations (1)
Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States