Wheelchair pushrim kinetics: body weight and median nerve function.
OBJECTIVE
Individuals who use manual wheelchairs are at high risk for median nerve injury and subsequent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). To gain a better understanding of the mechanism behind CTS in manual wheelchair users, this study examined the relation between (1) pushrim biomechanics and function of the median nerve, (2) pushrim biomechanics and subject characteristics, and (3) median nerve function and subject characteristics.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
Biomechanics laboratory and an electromyography laboratory.


METHODS
Thirty-four randomly recruited individuals with paraplegia who use a manual wheelchair for mobility.


METHODS
Subjects propelled their own wheelchair on a dynamometer at 0.9m/sec and 1.8m/sec. Bilateral biomechanical data were obtained using a force- and moment-sensing pushrim and a motion analysis system. Bilateral nerve conduction studies focusing on the median nerve were also completed.


METHODS
Pearson's correlation coefficients between subject characteristics, median nerve conduction studies, and propulsion biomechanics; a regression model of nerve conduction studies incorporating subject characteristics and pushrim biomechanics.


RESULTS
Subject weight was significantly related to median nerve latency (r = .36, p = .03) and median sensory amplitude (r = -.43, p = .01). Height was also significantly related to median sensory amplitude (r = -.58, p = .01). Subject weight was significantly related to the peak resultant force applied to the pushrim (r = .59, p < .001). Height, weight, and weight-normalized pushrim forces were successfully incorporated into a linear regression model predicting median sensory amplitude (r = .63, p < .05) and mean median latency (r = .54, p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study found subject weight to be related to pushrim forces and median nerve function. Independent of subject weight, pushrim biomechanics were also related to median nerve function. Through weight loss and changes in pushrim biomechanics, it may be possible to prevent median nerve injury in manual wheelchair users.
Boninger
M L
ML
Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Cooper
R A
RA
Baldwin
M A
MA
Shimada
S D
SD
Koontz
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D016014:Linear Models; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data