Comparison of the motor function in synchronous and asynchronous wheelchair propulsion strategies
Poster Presentation
Paper ID : 1431-SSRC
Authors
1دانشگاه اصفهان
2استادیار آسیب شناسی ورزشی و حرکات اصلاحی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه اصفهان
3دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شیراز
Abstract
Moving with manual wheelchairs facilitates the mobility of impaired individuals. But its repetitive nature causes a lot of compressive and shearing forces on the joints involved in movement and stabilization, such as the shoulder, elbow, and wrist as time spends. This could expose wheelchair users to the chronic joint pains or injuries caused by overuse, which greatly affects motor function during their activities. The aim of the present study was to compare motor function of spinal cord injured wheelchair users, during synchronous and asynchronous wheelchair propulsion strategies.
The participants included 15 men with incomplete paraplegic spinal cord injury, who had been at least one year since their injury and were selected purposefully and availably. A battery of motor functional tests including 20 meters speed test, slalom test and eight-shaped test was performed considering the recovery between each measurement. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using the paired sample t-test using spss software with a significance level of P<0.05.
There was no significant difference between synchronous and asynchronous wheelchair propulsion strategies during 20 meters test with normal speed (p= 0/11). However, the difference became significant when the participants performed the same test with the maximum preferred speed (p= 0/00). The difference between two mentioned strategies was also significant during slalom and eight-shaped tests. (p= 0/03), (p= 0/00)
It can be concluded that the synchronized strategy probably provides more optimal motor function for wheelchair users during daily activities due to the division of muscle work between two limbs and the possibility of maintaining more balance. This strategy might be more useful while propelling in higher speeds or changing direction rapidly. As a result, it can be recommended for wheelchair users to use synchronous strategy in order to reduce loading on their upper limb joints, prevent progressive degenerative damages and to improve motor function.
The participants included 15 men with incomplete paraplegic spinal cord injury, who had been at least one year since their injury and were selected purposefully and availably. A battery of motor functional tests including 20 meters speed test, slalom test and eight-shaped test was performed considering the recovery between each measurement. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using the paired sample t-test using spss software with a significance level of P<0.05.
There was no significant difference between synchronous and asynchronous wheelchair propulsion strategies during 20 meters test with normal speed (p= 0/11). However, the difference became significant when the participants performed the same test with the maximum preferred speed (p= 0/00). The difference between two mentioned strategies was also significant during slalom and eight-shaped tests. (p= 0/03), (p= 0/00)
It can be concluded that the synchronized strategy probably provides more optimal motor function for wheelchair users during daily activities due to the division of muscle work between two limbs and the possibility of maintaining more balance. This strategy might be more useful while propelling in higher speeds or changing direction rapidly. As a result, it can be recommended for wheelchair users to use synchronous strategy in order to reduce loading on their upper limb joints, prevent progressive degenerative damages and to improve motor function.
Keywords