Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2015 · DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2015.00137 · Published: September 10, 2015
This study examines the biomechanics of manual wheelchair use in children with spinal cord injury (SCI). It looks at how their bodies move and the forces exerted during activities like starting, stopping, and moving forward. The research uses motion capture technology and special wheels to measure movements, forces, and moments at the joints of the upper body. The goal is to understand the demands placed on these joints during different wheelchair tasks. The findings aim to improve wheelchair prescription, training, and long-term care for children with SCI by providing clinicians with a better understanding of the biomechanics involved in their mobility.
Clinicians should consider all functional tasks (propulsion, starting, stopping) when planning rehabilitation treatment and longer-term mobility strategies for pediatric manual wheelchair users.
Pediatric manual wheelchair users with SCI are different from adult manual wheelchair users and require rehabilitation tailored to their specific needs.
Further research is warranted to determine if pediatric subjects should be trained differently than adults in terms of stroke patterns. It may be beneficial for pediatric subjects to use different stroke patterns than adults as well as a variety of stroke patterns to decrease pain and risk of injury over the lifespan.