Report

Physiology and biomechanics of forwards and reverse wheelchair propulsion

Wheelchair mobility during the court sports can be considered multidirectional with lots of braking and sharp changes of direction performed.

Lead academic:
Dr Barry Mason
Additional academics:
Professor Vicky Tolfrey
Funder:
The Peter Harrison Foundation

The majority of the movements performed are in a forwards direction, however reverse wheelchair propulsion is a skill that accounts for some of the total movements performed, which will utilise different muscle groups to do so. Despite this the effects of reverse wheelchair propulsion are not well known. This study aimed to establish the physiological and biomechanical differences between forwards and reverse propulsion during steady state activities.

Methods

  • 14 able-bodied participants with previous wheelchair propulsion experience pushed a sports wheelchair on a roller ergometer (WERG) in a forwards (FOR) and reverse (REV) direction at 3 sub maximal speeds (4, 6 and 8 km鈭檋-1) for 3 minutes.
  • During the final minute of each trial physiological (oxygen uptake and heart rate) and biomechanical (force application) measures were collected.

Main findings and applications

  • Physiological responses were only significantly elevated in REV during the highest speed of propulsion.
  • Insufficient force was capable of being applied during REV due to the fact that wheelchairs are configured to optimise forwards propulsion.

Reference

Mason, B. S., Lenton, J. P. and Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L. (2015). The physiological and biomechanical effects of forwards and reverse sports wheelchair propulsion. Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. 38(4): 476-484. DOI: 10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000197