Wheelchair Propulsion Training

Wheelchair training is one of the eight key phases for optimizing wheelchair service delivery outlined by the World Health Organization. For manual wheelchairs, there appears to be two distinct but related aspects of training in the literature; wheelchair skills training and manual wheelchair propulsion training. The former is covered in the Wheelchair Use section and relates to mastering management of the wheelchair in different situations and environments such as ramps, curbs, folding the manual wheelchair. The latter is reviewed in this subsection.

Manual wheelchair propulsion is studied using kinetics and kinematics such as contact angle, stroke frequency and mechanical efficiency, to evaluate how to optimize manual propulsion, thereby affecting the potential risk for chronic overuse injuries related to propulsion. Propulsion training focuses on how these optimized techniques are translated into everyday use. The studies reviewed explore the delivery of this training and the effect of this type of training over time.

Discussion

Morgan et al. (2017) explored the effectiveness of a repetition-based motor learning approach to improve propulsion techniques of longer strokes and changing the propulsion pattern to a semicircular pattern. The training program was based on the recommendations to reduce force and frequency of pushes from Clinical Practice Guidelines for Preservation of Upper Limb Function Following Spinal Cord Injury. Participants all made some improvement in propulsion across all the testd variables, suggesting that this type of approach to improve propulsion techniques is viable; however, the number of participants effects the strength of the study and therefore the ability to generalize to other people.

Rice et al. (2013) compared two propulsion training methods to determine the effectiveness of training in relation to contact angle (CA) (angle along the arc of the hand rim), stroke frequency (SF) (number of strokes per unit of time), peak resultant force (Fr) (the maximum forces experienced during the push phase of propulsion), and peak rate of rise of resultant forces (rorF) (how rapidly the forces are applied to the hand rim). Testing was completed using two speeds (1.5 m/s and a speed the participant selected) and three over-ground conditions (tile, medium pile carpet and 1.2° ramp) over three training sessions. The findings suggest that there are immediate benefits to propulsion training with carryover of benefits long term (three months) as compared to the provision of opportunities to practice propulsion but without instruction (control group) regardless of the speed of propulsion or the type of surface used.

It is worth noting however, the intervention groups also received weekly phone calls to remind them to continue to practice with the training techniques, the effect of which was not evaluated. Neither intervention required the presence of a health care professional; the multimedia presentation was a five-minute video and slide presentation emphasizing the importance of proper technique and defined the key parameters for monitoring such as CA. The second intervention group also received real-time feedback provided using a specialized wheel that collects data related to CA, SF, and velocity. This real-time feedback was projected onto a screen for the participant to view as they were propelling on the dynamometer. Variables were presented randomly and discontinuously in keeping with motor learning theory. It was noted that CA feedback was easier to react to than SF feedback and CA feedback had an inadvertent effect on SF as well.

Rice et al. (2014) examined if intervention that strictly adhered to the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Preservation of Upper Limb Function (Paralyzed Veterans of America) recommendations for wheelchair set up, selection and propulsion skills would decrease shoulder pain and improve satisfaction with life and participation as compared to standard care. Both the intervention group and the control group (standard care group) testing occurred on the same inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation program. Similar to Rice, et al. 2013, the intervention protocol also used a multimedia approach (printed material, DVD of propulsion skills and pictures) however different to the above study, therapists provided this training in addition to ongoing education and feedback related to the key concepts from the practice guidelines. All involved therapists received motor learning training in addition to training related to the practice guidelines. The significant findings from this study are fewer than the Rice et al. study; the findings of significance were a lower push frequency on tile at discharge from inpatients and a larger push length across all time points (discharge and six months and one year post discharge) for those who received the training compared to the control group who did not. However, the study did not find significance differences in pain with either pain scale used which differed from previous studies (identified within the article). Ongoing testing and follow-up over several years may be needed to determine if these findings persistent and if pain levels are impacted in the long term.

deGroot et al. (2009) examined the effects, both immediate and sustained, of a verbal and visual training intervention for manual wheelchair propulsion, comparing difference in effects on people with paraplegia versus people with tetraplegia. Researchers found that push length increased, and push frequency decreased immediately following training, however push forces increased which was not expected. The authors questioned if this latter finding was an inadvertent result of participants focusing on the propulsion pattern, or a result of efforts to decrease push frequency, participants felt they needed to push harder. Comparison of findings for participants who had a paraplegia and tetraplegia found that push frequency (pushes per second) showed that participants with tetraplegia had a lower push frequency and a higher number of pushes to complete the same ten-meter distance. It is important to note that these comparisons were based on one participant for each group and that the total number of participants with paraplegia versus tetraplegia was four and two respectively.

Blouin et al. (2015) explored the influence of haptic biofeedback on mechanical efficiency propulsion training. Training was completed in five, three-minute training blocks with two one minute pre-and post testing blocks without the feedback. This group developed a simulator which provides feedback by increasing or decreasing the rolling resistance and therefore mechanical effort, as propulsion patterns deviate from or approached the desired pattern respectively. The authors cite that unrestricted increases in propulsion mechanical effective force (MEF) which has been associated with an increase in load at the shoulders, and mechanical inefficiency in propulsion. The authors suggest that through training with haptic biofeedback the MEF can be moderated therefore more efficient with less negative effect on the shoulders. They found that participants could modify their MEF pattern to become more efficient but only during the middle portion of the push phase where the greatest push effort occurred. They also found that the effects of the training were not sustained at post-testing by all participants.

Conclusion

There is level 1b (from one blinded RCT study: Rice et al. 2013; one RCT study: Rice et al. 2013; one prospective controlled study: Morgan et al 2017; and two pre-post studies: deGroot et al. 2009; Blouin et al. 2015) evidence that wheelchair propulsion training result in improved biomechanics of propulsion which are sustained over time.

There is level 1b (from one blinded RCT: Rice et al. 2013; one RCT study: Rice et al. 2013; and one pre-post study: deGroot et al. 2009) evidence that using a multimedia approach results in improved wheelchair propulsion training outcomes.