Manual wheelchair propulsion pattern use by people with multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: To determine the most commonly used manual wheelchair propulsion pattern by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to assess which factors influence the preference.

Method: Sixty manual wheelchair users with MS from an MS outpatient rehabilitation centre in Northern Italy were assessed on upper limb range of motion and trunk stability to determine if these factors or demographic, disease or wheelchair use history, influenced the choice of wheelchair propulsion pattern.

Results: Fifty-four (90%) subjects used the arcing propulsion pattern, the least efficient pattern as reported in the literature.