Objective: To provide a comparison of the seat interface pressures between static seating and dynamic seating during wheelchair locomotion of individuals with paraplegia.
Design: Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) comparing two conditions: static seat and dynamic seat interface pressures.
Setting: University campus and clinic.
Participants: Fifteen participants, each of whom propelled a manual wheelchair for at least 5 hours per week over the previous 6 months and functioned with a spinal cord injury/ disability level of T1 or below.
Main Outcome Measures: Peak pressure (PP) and pressure time integral (PTI) as measured by the Novel Pliance System, which consists of a flexible 32 x 32 capacitive sensor mat (each sensor 1.5 cm2) interfaced with a PC, was sampled at 10Hz. The participants were measured in their own wheelchair with a new Jay Active seat cushion.
Results: The repeated measures MANOVA showed a difference in the PP and PTI between the static and dynamic measurements (Wilk's = .00, p < .05). Follow-up dependent t tests yielded a difference in PP (t = 5.40, p < 0.025) and no difference in the PTI between static and dynamic conditions (t = 1.45, p > 0.025). The PP during static seating (mean = 16.2 +/- 5.0 kPa [121 +/- 37.5 mmHg]) was less than during dynamic seat interface pressures during wheelchair locomotion (20.03 +/- 6.6 kPa [152.3 +/- 49.5 mmHg]). PP varied by up to 42% during the wheelchair locomotion cycle. The PTI was similar between static (30.1 +/- 9.3 kPa [225.75 +/- 69 mmHg]) and dynamic conditions (36.2 +/- 18.1 kPa [271 +/- 135.7 mmHg]).
Conclusions: The results from this study are consistent with some of the previous work on the nondisabled and a single case study, but with greater external validity because of the nature of the sample chosen and the methodology employed. PPs were greater during dynamic wheelchair locomotion compared with static seating interface pressures, with the peak varying up to 42% during the wheelchair locomotion cycle. The PTI indicates that the cumulative effect of the loading was comparable between conditions. The question that remains is whether this dynamic loading, resulting in a change in PP throughout the cycle, has a significant effect on tissue health.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0003-9993(98)90012-0 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Upper limb muscle strength and wheelchair-related abilities following an exoskeleton-assisted walking programme in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury: An exploratory study.
J Rehabil Med
November 2024
School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR) - Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 16-week exoskeleton-assisted walking program on upper limb strength, mass, and wheelchair propulsion skills in individuals with chronic spinal cord injuries who primarily use wheelchairs.
- Conducted as a single-group pre-post intervention, the study involved ten participants with limited lower limb motor function, utilizing various tests to assess changes in muscle strength and wheelchair performance before and after the program.
- Results showed a significant improvement only in the participants' natural velocity during a short wheelchair propulsion test, indicating more research is needed to explore how different training volumes might further enhance not just upper limb strength but also wheelchair skills, particularly in those less experienced with wheelchair use.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis of Triceps Brachii Muscle Oxygenation During Sprinting in Wheelchair Basketball Players: A Pilot Study.
Adv Exp Med Biol
October 2024
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Science, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated muscle fatigue in wheelchair basketball players by measuring muscle oxygenation during sprints using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
- Five male players completed six 20-meter sprints while NIRS measured oxygen levels in their triceps muscles, both before, during, and after the exercise.
- Results showed that tissue saturation index (TSI) significantly dropped during specific sprints, particularly the second, fourth, and fifth, indicating varying oxygen levels and fatigue among individuals.
Flap-Based Lower Extremity Reconstruction in the Elderly-Is It Safe and Does Age Impact Ambulation?
Microsurgery
October 2024
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Introduction: Lower extremity (LE) reconstruction in the elderly population presents a multifaceted challenge, primarily due to age-related degenerative changes, comorbidities, and functional decline. Elderly individuals often encounter conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular and peripheral artery disease (PAD), which can severely compromise the structural integrity and function of the lower limbs. As such, we aim to assess postoperative complications and functional recovery following LE reconstruction in elderly patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToowoomba Healthy Towns: A Citizen Science Initiative on Active Transport in Regional South East Queensland, Australia.
J Phys Act Health
November 2024
Department of Epidemiology & Population Health and of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Background: Engaging in active transport will enable individuals across the life course to increase their habitual levels of physical activity. The aim of this study was to engage citizen scientists (CS) to identify factors that influence active transport in their community.
Methods: The Our Voice citizen science methodology developed at Stanford University was employed.
Exoskeletal-Assisted Walking in Veterans With Paralysis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
JAMA Netw Open
September 2024
Departments of Rehabilitation and Human Performance and Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how robotic exoskeletons impact veterans with spinal cord injuries compared to using a regular wheelchair.
- It analyzes whether adding exoskeleton-assisted walking to standard wheelchair use leads to significant improvements in mental and physical health outcomes.
- The research was conducted as a randomized clinical trial involving 161 veteran participants across 15 Veterans Affairs medical centers over a 4-month period.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!