Multi-speed Ergonomic Wheelchair

Conditions

• Spinal Cord Diseases
• Spinal Cord Injuries

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Single Speed Ergonomic Wheelchair — DEVICE
  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 — DEVICE
  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.

Study Details

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 Dates

Start date

Jul 18, 2024

Status verified

Apr 2026

Primary completion

Dec 31, 2026

Completion

Mar 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

• Experimental: Ergonomic Wheelchair Gear Testing
  This study has two aims. The first aim will have participants use a single speed ergonomic wheelchair to test three different gear ratio set ups (3:2, 1:1, 2:3).
• Experimental: Multispeed Testing - Ergonomic Wheelchair
  The second aim will have participants compared to the participant's standard wheelchair to a multi-speed (2 gear ratios) ergonomic wheelchair.
• Experimental: Multispeed Testing - Standard Wheelchair
  The second aim will have participants compared to the participant's standard wheelchair to a multi-speed (2 gear ratios) ergonomic wheelchair.

Primary Outcome Measure

20 Meter Push Test - level surface, Gear Ratio 1:1 [ Time Frame: up to 4 weeks after enrollment ]

Central Contacts

• John M Looft, PhD
  (612) 725-2001
  [email protected]
• Alexandria N Richardson, MS
  (612) 467-4951
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

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