title: Development of custom measurement system for biomechanical evaluation of independent wheelchair transfers.
abstract: This study describes a new custom measurement system designed to investigate the biomechanics of sitting-pivot wheelchair transfers and assesses the reliability of selected biomechanical variables. Variables assessed include horizontal and vertical reaction forces underneath both hands and three-dimensional trunk, shoulder, and elbow range of motion. We examined the reliability of these measures between 5 consecutive transfer trials for 5 subjects with spinal cord injury and 12 nondisabled subjects while they performed a self-selected sitting pivot transfer from a wheelchair to a level bench. A majority of the biomechanical variables demonstrated moderate to excellent reliability (r > 0.6). The transfer measurement system recorded reliable and valid biomechanical data for future studies of sitting-pivot wheelchair transfers.We recommend a minimum of five transfer trials to obtain a reliable measure of transfer technique for future studies.
authors: Human Engineering Research Laboratories (151R1-H), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, 7180 Highland Dr, 151R1-H, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA. akoontz@pitt.edu
authors: Alicia M
authors: AM
authors: Koontz
authors: Yen-Sheng
authors: YS
authors: Lin
authors: Padmaja
authors: P
authors: Kankipati
authors: Michael L
authors: ML
authors: Boninger
authors: Rory A
authors: RA
authors: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004550:Elbow / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D060726:Torso / Q000502:physiology; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult