NCT04009187

A Wheelchair Propulsion Training Program

Efficacy of a Wheelchair Propulsion Training Program for Manual Wheelchair Users: a Pilot Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The overall purpose of this project is to test the feasibility of a manual wheelchair propulsion program which aims to reduce the chance of development of upper limbs pain and injury.

Detailed description

The purpose of this project is to develop a feasible wheelchair propulsion training that can fit into an in-patient rehabilitation schedule, and determine the effectiveness of the training protocol. This project consists of a randomized control trial (RCT) for manual wheelchair users (MWUs) that examines the number of manual wheelchair propulsion repetitions required to produce change. For the RCT, we will recruit twenty individuals who use manual wheelchairs as their primary means of mobility and who do not follow the recommended clinical guidelines for propulsion. Participants will be randomized into two independent groups: motor learning repetitions overground (Training Group; n =10), and general education on recommended propulsion techniques (Education Group; n =10). Demographics, cognition, shoulder strength, participation, and wheelchair seating may only be assessed at baseline. Participants then may be assessed from the kinematics of their wheelchair performance overground and on a motorized treadmill. Participants may be tested on their wheelchair propulsion techniques in and outside of the lab, upper extremity pain at baseline, post-intervention, and three-week follow-up; participants may also be asked qualitative questions regarding the intervention experience, the experience with the equipment and the laboratory research, the monitoring setting, and the general experience with the research study. The primary research question is that will repetition of proper propulsion technique practiced overground result in improved manual wheelchair propulsion biomechanics?

Conditions

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Amputation
• Spina Bifida

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	In-person wheelchair propulsion training program	The wheelchair propulsion (WP) intervention is based on our previous pilot work and the best available evidence on WP training. The CPGs recommend minimizing the force and frequency of pushes while using long strokes during propulsion. Each training session will include massed practice with repetitions overground. Each session is organized to limit the number of variables (i.e., long push strokes and dropping the hands down below axle) presented to the participant at one time. Propulsion Set A will focus on using longer push strokes. Propulsion Set B will focus on dropping the hand down toward the axle. Propulsion Set C will focus on both A and B.
BEHAVIORAL	30-minute education session	Both groups will receive a 30-minute education session regarding the CPGs. This education session will follow the instructions provided in Rice and colleagues. (L. A. Rice et al., 2014). It consists of the importance of practicing biomechanical efficient propulsion. The material lists out the consequences and the impact of upper limb pain and injury. It provides a detailed step by step on how to propel properly. They will view the video that shows the biomechanics of efficient and inefficient propulsion.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-03-27
• Primary completion: 2019-10-22
• Completion: 2019-10-22
• First posted: 2019-07-05
• Last updated: 2025-03-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States