title: The manual wheelchair wheelie: a review of our current understanding of an important motor skill.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the current understanding of the manual wheelchair wheelie.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A rear wheelchair wheelie occurs when the front wheels, ordinarily in contact with the support surface, are intentionally caused, by means of a transient or sustainable rear pitch, to lift from the surface while the rear wheels remain on the surface. Pitch control (partial or full) is the foundation of many wheelchair skills (e.g., negotiating thresholds, potholes, curbs, steep inclines and gravel). Yet, most wheelchair users never learn to perform this valuable skill. Wheelie capability is affected by the characteristics of the clinician, the wheelchair user, the wheelchair and the environment. Although our understanding of wheelie biomechanics and training methods is evolving, much remains to be learned. Three recent wheelchair developments have wheelie-related implications: a new type of rear anti-tip device (Arc-RAD) that permits wheelie-like function, pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchairs (PAPAWs) that make wheelie-dependent skills more dangerous and difficult, and a powered wheelchair that has robotic wheelie capabilities (the IBOT).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvements in our understanding of the nature of wheelies, formalization of training protocols and innovations in wheelchair design hold promise for improved activities and participation by wheelchair users.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. kirby@dal.ca
authors.forename: R Lee
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Cher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seaman
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills; D011187:Posture; D014910:Wheelchairs