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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT04987177

Effect of Manual Wheelchair Propulsion Workload on Speed, Energy Expenditure, and Propulsion Mechanics

The first purpose of this study is to characterize the relationship among propulsion workload, self-selected propulsion speed, and propulsion kinetics/kinematics.

The second purpose is to assess the between days repeatability/reliability of the above outcomes.

There are no hypothesis

This is a repeated measures clinical trial. All participants will complete the following: 1) Acclimation to propelling a manual wheelchair on a wheelchair ergometer; 2) Graded exercise test on the wheelchair ergometer to 80% of age adjusted estimated maximal heart rate; and 3) N=20 one minute propulsion bouts on the wheelchair ergometer.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Participants

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UAB/Lakeshore Research Colaborative Building

Homewood, Alabama, 35209, United States

About this study

Participants will complete two visits in a 14 day period. Visit 1 will require 3-4 hours. Visit 2 will require 2-3 hours.

During visit 1 participant will complete: 1) Acclimation to propelling a manual wheelchair on a wheelchair ergometer; 2) Graded exercise test on the wheelchair ergometer to 80% of age adjusted estimated maximal heart rate; and 3) N=20 one minute propulsion bouts on the wheelchair ergometer.

During visit 2 participants will repeat the N=20 one minute propulsion bouts on the wheelchair ergometer.

Wheelchair ergometer propulsion acclimation: Participants will complete a minimum of 2 minutes of wheelchair propulsion to acclimate. Additional propulsion time will be completed as needed. Propulsion workload will be varied during the acclimation. Acclimation propulsion may be repeated as needed during study participation.

Submaximal wheelchair ergometer test protocol: Participants will rest quietly in the wheelchair for several minutes. After resting, participants will begin propelling at a comfortable speed at a low initial workload. Workload will be increased every minute. Propulsion speed will remain constant across all workloads. Test will end when participants reach 80% of age adjusted estimated maximum heart rate.

Wheelchair propulsion workload assessment: Participants will complete 20 one-minute propulsion bouts at a self-selected speed. Each one minute propulsion bout will be followed by a 2 minute rest period. Each propulsion bout will be at a different workload. After the first 10 propulsion bouts, participants will be provided with an extended rest period (5 to 30 minutes). For each participant, the maximum workload to be tested is based on their estimated maximum workload. Estimate maximum workload is based on the Heart Rate-Workload relationship documented during the submaximal test.

The workloads of the N=20 propulsion bouts will be divided into two groups of N=10 (Group A and Group B). The total workload of each group will be equal. Within each group, workload sequence is fixed and arranged in a non-ascending or descending order. Completion order of the groups will be counterbalanced within sex. Within participants, completion order will be counterbalanced across days

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • age 18 years or older
  • cleared to participate in physical activity as determined by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+)
  • self-reported ability to propel a manual wheelchair
  • not currently disabled

Exclusion criteria

  • no additional exclusion criteria if otherwise eligible to participate

Treatment and study plan

Workload of Manual Wheelchair Propulsion

Other

Participants will complete 20 one-minute manual wheelchair propulsion bouts. Each one minute propulsion bout will be followed by a 2 minute rest period. Each propulsion bout will be at a different workload. After every 10 propulsion bouts, participants will be provided with an extended rest period (5 to 30 minutes). For each participant, the maximum workload to be tested is based on their estimated maximum workload. Estimate maximum workload is based on the HR-Workload relationship documented during a prior sub maximal test to 80% of age adjusted maximum heart rate.

Primary outcomes

  1. Self-Selected Speed (meters per second)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    Average linear propulsion speed during each completed propulsion cycle (i.e. contact+recovery) averaged across all completed propulsion cycles in the specified time frame.

  2. Average Rolling Resistance (Newtons)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    Average rolling resistance during each completed propulsion cycle (i.e. contact+recovery) averaged across all completed propulsion cycles in the specified time frame.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of completed propulsion cycles used to generate the outcomes of interest

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    The number of complete propulsion cycles occurring in the specified time frame. A complete propulsion cycle is defined as beginning with the onset of contact with the pushrim and ending with the onset of contact of the next propulsion cycle. A propulsion cycle includes contact and recovery.

  2. Average resultant force (Newtons)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    Average resultant force during the contact phase of each completed propulsion cycle averaged across all completed propulsion cycles in the specified time frame.

  3. Average rate of rise of resultant force (Newtons per second squared)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    Average rate of rise of resultant force during the contact phase of each completed propulsion cycle averaged across all completed propulsion cycles in the specified time frame.

  4. Average push frequency (pushes per minute)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    For the specified time frame, the total number of completed propulsion cycles divided by the time to complete all the propulsion cycles in seconds multiplied by 60 seconds.

  5. Average push length (Degrees)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    The distance over which a propulsive torque is applied to the pushrim during the contact phase of each complete propulsion cycle averaged across all completed propulsion cycles in the specified time frame.

  6. Average propulsive torque (Newton meter)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    Average propulsive torque during the contact phase of each completed propulsion cycle averaged across all completed propulsion cycles in the specified time frame.

  7. Average push power output (Watts)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    Average power during the contact phase of each each completed propulsion cycle averaged across all completed propulsion cycles in the time frame of interest. Push power output represents the energy the person applies to the pushrim during the contact phase.

  8. Average total work per push (Joules)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    Total work during the contact phase of each completed propulsion cycle averaged across all completed propulsion cycles in the time frame of interest.

  9. Average external power output (Watts)

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    Average external power output during the entire propulsion cycle (i.e. contact and recovery) averaged across all completed propulsion cycles in the specified time frame. External power output represents the energy expended by the user-wheelchair system.

  10. Frequency of each unique propulsion pattern

    Time frame: Seconds 20 to 40 of each 1 minute propulsion bout

    For each complete propulsion cycle during the specified time frame, the recovery pattern will be classified into one of 5 categories: semi-circular, arcing, single loop, double loop, or indeterminate. The number of cycles and overall percentage in each category will be reported. Overall percentage is defined as [number of cycles in a category/total number of cycles * 100].

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Relationship Among Manual Wheelchair Workload, Speed, Energy Expenditure, and Propulsion Mechanics

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Aug 3, 2021
Registry last updated
Feb 24, 2022

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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