de Klerk, Rick

Lutjeboer, Thijs

van der Woude, L. H. V.

Vegter, Riemer

English

BackgroundRegular handrim wheelchair (RHW) propulsion is straining for the upper extremities and wheelchair users often experience overuse problems. A recent advancement in wheelchair technology that could assist users is the pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW). PAPAWs are challenging to control, yet it is unclear how people learn to use a PAPAW. The purpose of this study is to examine early skill acquisition through practice in PAPAWs and compare it with RHWs.MethodsTwenty-four able-bodied novices were randomly allocated to either the RHW group or the PAPAW group. The experiment consisted of five sessions with three blocks of 4 min steady-state practice at 1.11 m/s and 0.21 W/kg. Finally, a transfer to the other mode was made. Data were collected with a drag-test, breath-by-breath spirometry, and a motion capture system. The last minute of each four-minute block was used for analysis. A mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for group, time, and interaction effects.ResultsBoth groups improved their (assisted) mechanical efficiency, reduced their stroke rate, right-left and forward-backward deviation on the treadmill, and had a lower rate of perceived exertion (RPE) over time. (Assisted) mechanical efficiency was higher for the PAPAW group than for the RHW group and RPE was lower. However, left-right and forward-backward deviation was also found to be higher in the PAPAW group.ConclusionsAt the group level the energetic cost of RHW and PAPAW propulsion can be lowered through low-intensity practice in novice users. The PAPAW is more ‘efficient’ than the RHW given the reduced energy requirement of the user from the motor assist, but more difficult to control. Future studies on PAPAWs should focus on the control needs of the user and their interaction with the power-assist technology.<br/

ARTS repository - University of Groningen

   University of GroningenPOSTER: Practice-based skill acquisition of pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchairpropulsion versus regular handrim propulsion in novicesde Klerk, Rick; Lutjeboer, Thijs; Vegter, Riemer; van der Woude, L. H. V.IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite fromit. Please check the document version below.Document VersionPublisher's PDF, also known as Version of recordPublication date:2018Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research databaseCitation for published version (APA):de Klerk, R., Lutjeboer, T., Vegter, R., & van der Woude, L. H. V. (2018). POSTER: Practice-based skillacquisition of pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair propulsion versus regular handrim propulsion innovices. Poster session presented at 6Th State-of-the-art Congress ‘Rehabilitation: mobility, exercise &sports, Groningen, Netherlands.CopyrightOther than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of theauthor(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons).The publication may also be distributed here under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act, indicated by the “Taverne” license.More information can be found on the University of Groningen website: https://www.rug.nl/library/open-access/self-archiving-pure/taverne-amendment.Take-down policyIf you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediatelyand investigate your claim.Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons thenumber of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum.Download date: 21-06-2022Practice-based skill acquisition of pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair propulsion versus regular handrim propulsion in novicesR. de Klerk1*, L. Lutjeboer2, R.J.K. Vegter1, L.H.V. van der Woude1,2*Corresponding author; 1. University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands; Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The NetherlandsvBackgroundHypotheses:ConclusionsvvResultsE-mail: r.de.klerk@umcg.nlMethodsRegular handrim wheelchair (RHW) propulsion is strainingfor the upper extremities and wheelchair users oftenexperience overuse problems. A recent advancement inwheelchair technology that could assist users is thepushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW).PAPAWs are challenging to control, yet it is unclear howBoth groups improved their (assisted) mechanical efficiency,reduced their stroke rate, right-left and forward-backwarddeviation on the treadmill, and had a lower rate ofperceived exertion (RPE) over time.(Assisted) mechanical efficiency was higher for the PAPAWgroup than for the RHW group and RPE was lower. However,left-right and forward-backward deviation was also found tobe higher in the PAPAW group.Participants performed better in their transfer session thanthe opposing group during their first session, but thisfinding did not reach statistical significance.Participants: Twenty-four able-bodied novices wererandomly allocated to either the RHW group or the PAPAWgroup.Tests: The experiment consisted of five sessions with threeblocks of 4 min steady-state practice at 1.11 m/s and0.21 W/kg. Finally, a transfer to the other mode was made.Instrumentation: Data were collected with a drag-test,breath-by-breath spirometry, and a motion capture system.Analysis: The last minute of each four-minute block wasused for analysis. A mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) wasused to test for group, time, and interaction effects. At the group level the energetic cost of RHW and PAPAWpropulsion can be lowered through low-intensity practice innovice users.The PAPAW is more ‘efficient’ than the RHW given thereduced energy requirement of the user from the motorassist, but more difficult to control.Future studies on PAPAWs should focus on the control needsof the user and their interaction with the power-assisttechnology.It was hypothesized that mechanical efficiency and controlimproves over time in both propulsion modes. It was alsohypothesized that RHWs are easier to control but are morephysiologically demanding. Moreover, a positive transfer ofskill was expected between the two modespeople learn to use a PAPAW. Thepurpose of this study was toexamine early skill acquisitionthrough practice in PAPAWs andcompare it with RHWs.

POSTER: Practice-based skill acquisition of pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair propulsion versus regular handrim propulsion in novices

https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/77067011/RehabMove_poster.pdf

POSTER: Practice-based skill acquisition of pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair propulsion versus regular handrim propulsion in novices

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