title: Measurement of hand/handrim grip forces in two different one arm drive wheelchairs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the total and regional grip forces in the hand when propelling two different manual one arm drive wheelchairs: the Neater Uni-wheelchair (NUW) and a foot steered Action3 wheelchair.
  
  
  METHODS
  17 nondisabled users were randomly assigned to each wheelchair to drive around an indoor obstacle course. The Grip, a multiple sensor system taking continuous measurement of handgrip force, was attached to the propelling hand. Total grip force in each region of the hand and total grip force across the whole hand were calculated per user per wheelchair.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Action3 with foot steering only generated significantly greater total grip force in straight running compared to the NUW and also in the fingers and thumb in straight running.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the Action3 with foot steering generated greater grip forces which may infer a greater potential for repetitive strain injury in the upper limb. Further work is required to explore whether the difference in grip force is of clinical significance in a disabled population.
authors.affiliation: Brighton Doctoral College, University of Brighton, Aldro 49 Darley Road, Sussex, Eastbourne BN20 7UR, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0832-9153
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandy
authors.affiliation: University of Brighton, Robert Dodd, 49 Darley Road, Sussex, Eastbourne BN20 7UR, UK.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2453-6366
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Redhead
authors.affiliation: Neater Solutions, 12 Burlington Road, Derbyshire, Buxton SK17 9AL, UK.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8683-7041
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michaelis
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004867:Equipment Design; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D014910:Wheelchairs