Car transfer and wheelchair loading techniques in independent drivers with paraplegia
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 2015 · DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2015.00139 · Published: September 17, 2015
Simple Explanation
This study examines how people with paraplegia get in and out of cars and load their wheelchairs, which are essential for living independently. These actions are hard on the body and can cause shoulder pain. The research looks at different methods and things that affect how people transfer and load wheelchairs, focusing on those who drive their own cars and use their own wheelchairs. Understanding these transfers and wheelchair loading is important to prevent shoulder pain and injuries, helping people with paraplegia stay active in their communities.
Key Findings
- 1Vehicle height influences hand placement during car transfers, with drivers of higher profile vehicles more likely to place their hand on the driver's seat.
- 2Body lift time during car transfer is negatively correlated with the level of injury and age, and positively correlated with vehicle height and shoulder abduction strength.
- 3Drivers who placed their leading hand on the steering wheel during transfer had higher levels of shoulder pain.
Research Summary
Practical Implications
Strength Training
The findings illustrate the need to incorporate strength training into the weekly routines of individuals with SCI to address the increased demands on the upper extremities.
Technique Optimization
Optimal car transfer techniques should be determined to prevent shoulder pain and injury, maximizing functional independence and participation for individuals aging with spinal cord injury.
Vehicle Choice Considerations
Individuals with paraplegia should consider vehicle height and its impact on transfer techniques, potentially influencing the risk of shoulder pain.
Study Limitations
- 1Determination of transfer phasing was conducted by observation of events from a videotape.
- 2Our sample size of 29 participants was low, given the variation in car transfer strategies and vehicle heights and relatively few participants had shoulder pain.
- 3since only four volunteers drove high profile vehicles (large trucks and SUVs), it was necessary to collapse the medium and high profile vehicle groups into one group for statistically meaningful results.