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Energy Cost of Propulsion in Standard and Ultralight Wheelchairs in People With Spinal Cord Injuries

CE Beekman, PT, is Clinical Manager, Spinal Injury and Pediatric Services, Physical Therapy Department, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, 7601 E Imperial Hwy, Downey, CA 90242. Address all correspondence to Ms Beekman
L Miller-Porter, PT, is Clinical Manager, Adult Orthopedic and Outpatient Services, Physical Therapy Department, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center
M Schoneberger, PT, is Physical Therapist, Santa Barbara Visiting Nurses Association, Santa Barbara, Calif. She was Physical Therapy Instructor, Spinal Injury Service, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, when the study was conducted

Background and Purpose. Wheelchair- and subject-related factors influence the efficiency of wheelchair propulsion. The purpose of this study was to compare wheelchair propulsion in ultralight and standard wheelchairs in people with different levels of spinal cord injury. Subjects. Seventy-four subjects (mean age=26.2 years, SD=7.14, range=17-50) with spinal cord injury resulting in motor loss (30 with tetraplegia and 44 with paraplegia) were studied. Method. Each subject propelled standard and ultralight wheelchairs around an outdoor track at self-selected speeds, while data were collected at 4 predetermined intervals. Speed, distance traveled, and oxygen cost (o₂ mL/kg/m) were compared by wheelchair, group, and over time, using a Bonferroni correction. Results. In the ultralight wheelchair, speed and distance traveled were greater for both subjects with paraplegia and subjects with tetraplegia, whereas o₂ was less only for subjects with paraplegia. Subjects with paraplegia propelled faster and farther than did subjects with tetraplegia. Conclusion and Discussion. The ultralight wheelchair improved the efficiency of propulsion in the tested subjects. Subjects with tetraplegia, especially at the C6 level, are limited in their ability to propel a wheelchair.

Key Words: Energy cost • Paraplegia • Spinal cord injury • Tetraplegia • Wheelchair

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