Effect of Seat Height and Angle on Wheelchair Foot Propulsion

University of Manitoba

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: Seat inclination; Other: Seat height

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06035484

HS25835 (H2023:027)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the project is to explore the effect of differences in seat height and seat angle on bilateral foot propulsion using a manual wheelchair. The objectives of the study are to determine whether differences in seat height and seat angle impact: a) propulsion speed; b) knee range of motion used during propulsion; c) effectiveness of foot propulsion gait; and d) perceived difficulty with foot propulsion.

A repeated measures designs allows comparison between 5 different seat height conditions and 4 different seat angle conditions to determine whether there are significant differences in outcome, and if so, which conditions provide better outcomes. Participants will propel a customized MWC through a standardized course using each seat configuration; the sequence will be randomized to reduce any learning effects.

Enrollment: 31 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• student in College of Rehabilitation Sciences enrolled in Master of Occupational Therapy, Master of Physical Therapy, or Bachelor of Respiratory Therapy program at the University of Manitoba.
• Able-bodied individuals

Exclusion criteria

• Students whose hip width exceeds 21 inches or lower leg length is shorter than 16 inches will be excluded as the test manual wheelchair will not accommodate these dimensions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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31 participants in 8 patient groups

LL & 0

Experimental group

Description:

Wheelchair seat height will be positioned at lower leg length and set inclination will be zero

Treatment:

Other: Seat inclination

Other: Seat height

LL + 1

Experimental group

Description:

Wheelchair seat height will be positioned at the participant's leg length plus one inch with an inclination of zero

Treatment:

Other: Seat height

LL - 1

Experimental group

Description:

Wheelchair seat height will be positioned at the participant's leg length minus one inch with an inclination of zero

Treatment:

Other: Seat height

LL - 2

Experimental group

Description:

Wheelchair seat height will be positioned at the participant's leg length minus two inches with an inclination of zero

Treatment:

Other: Seat height

LL - 3

Experimental group

Description:

Wheelchair seat height will be positioned at the participant's leg length minus three inches with an inclination of zero

Treatment:

Other: Seat height

3 degrees Inclination

Experimental group

Description:

Wheelchair seat height will be positioned at the participant's leg length with a forward seat inclination of 3 degrees

Treatment:

Other: Seat inclination

6 degrees Inclination

Experimental group

Description:

Wheelchair seat height will be positioned at the participant's leg length with a forward seat inclination of 6 degrees

Treatment:

Other: Seat inclination

9 degrees Inclination

Experimental group

Description:

Wheelchair seat height will be positioned at the participant's leg length with a forward seat inclination of 9 degrees

Treatment:

Other: Seat inclination