Page 29 - Mobility Management, November/December 2021

Vibrations and Shocks During
Manual Wheelchair Propulsion
BY OLGA FOMINA, EMT, ATP, CRTS®
Every wheelchair user experiences shocks and vibrations transferred from the ground to the body multiple times throughout the day. This can decrease a rider’s comfort, increase the rate of fatigue, cause spasticity, decrease propulsion distance and momentum, and consequently limit endurance, mobility and independence.
In 2019 Ki Mobility introduced Ethos, an innovative frame concept designed to reduce the vibrations a rider feels when rolling over everyday surfaces. The base frame is
separated from the seat frame, with four vibration- damping polymers. Three active manual wheelchair users with SCI diagnosis participated in a case study. The research was conducted under
typical propulsion conditions, including urban streets, parks, apartments and work environments. Participants performed curb descents of various heights and propelled across various terrains in three different manual wheelchairs.
Questionnaires were administered after each trial, and time measurements were taken during each obstacle course. The hypothesis was that the wheelchair design would reduce vibration experienced by individuals during propulsion. Participants reported an over 18.3% decrease in spasticity and musculoskeletal pain triggered by whole-body vibration while propelling Ethos, compared to the other chairs in the study. This study demonstrates the significance and importance of vibration damping in pain and spasticity reduction.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK KI MOBILITY FOR SPONSORING THIS ARTICLE.
THE RIDE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE.
Learn more at www.kimobility.com