Comparative ergonomic assessment of manual wheelchairs by paraplegic users.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to describe and test the reliability of a comprehensive product-centered approach to assessing functional performance and wheelchair user perceptions on device ergonomics and satisfaction of performance. A pilot study was implemented using this approach to evaluate differences among four manual wheelchairs.


METHODS
Six wheelchair users with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) at the thoracic level and with no previous upper limbs impairment were recruited for this study. After finishing circuit tasks, subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire about ergonomic wheelchair characteristics (manoeuvrability, stability, comfort and ease of propulsion) and satisfaction about task performance. On the other hand, objective data were recorded during user performance as the time required to complete each test, kinetic wheelchair propulsion data obtained with two SMARTWheels® and physiological parameters (heart rate and physiological index).


RESULTS
Kuschall Champion® and Otto Bock Voyage® wheelchairs were ranked best for most ergonomic aspects specially in manoeuvrability (p < 0.05). Less time was required to execute most of the circuit tasks in both wheelchair models (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This approach proposed highlight the importance of looking both kinds of information, user perception and user functional performance when evaluating a wheelchair or comparing across devices.
Biomechanics and Technical Aids Unit, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, National Hospital for Spinal Cord Injury. SESCAM, Toledo, Spain. amgila@sescam.jccm.es
Angel
A
Gil-Agudo
Marta
M
Solís-Mozos
Antonio J
AJ
del-Ama
Beatriz
B
Crespo-Ruiz
Ana Isabel
AI
de la Peña-González
Soraya
S
Pérez-Nombela
D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014910:Wheelchairs