TY - JOUR
T1 - Measuring handrim wheelchair propulsion in the lab
T2 - A critical analysis of stationary ergometers
AU - De Klerk, Rick
AU - Vegter, Riemer Jakobs K.
AU - Goosey-Tolfrey, Vicky L.
AU - Mason, Barry S.
AU - Lenton, John P.
AU - Veeger, Dirkjan H.E.J.
AU - van der Woude, L.H.V.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - There are many ways to simulate handrim wheelchair propulsion in the laboratory. Ideally, these would be able to, at least mechanically, simulate field conditions. This narrative review provides an overview of the lab-based equipment used in published research and critically assesses their ability to simulate and measure wheelchair propulsion performance. A close connection to the field can only be achieved if the instrument can adequately simulate frictional losses and inertia of real-life handrim wheelchair propulsion, while maintaining the ergonomic properties of the wheelchair-user interface. Lab-based testing is either performed on a treadmill or a wheelchair ergometer (WCE). For this study WCEs were divided into three categories: roller, flywheel, and integrated ergometers. In general, treadmills are mechanically realistic, but cannot simulate air drag and acceleration tasks cannot be performed; roller ergometers allow the use of the personal wheelchair, but calibration can be troublesome; flywheel ergometers can be built with commercially-available parts, but inertia is fixed and the personal wheelchair cannot be used; integrated ergometers do not employ the personal wheelchair, but are suited for the implementation of different simulation models and detailed measurements. Lab-based equipment is heterogeneous and there appears to be little consensus on how to simulate field conditions.
AB - There are many ways to simulate handrim wheelchair propulsion in the laboratory. Ideally, these would be able to, at least mechanically, simulate field conditions. This narrative review provides an overview of the lab-based equipment used in published research and critically assesses their ability to simulate and measure wheelchair propulsion performance. A close connection to the field can only be achieved if the instrument can adequately simulate frictional losses and inertia of real-life handrim wheelchair propulsion, while maintaining the ergonomic properties of the wheelchair-user interface. Lab-based testing is either performed on a treadmill or a wheelchair ergometer (WCE). For this study WCEs were divided into three categories: roller, flywheel, and integrated ergometers. In general, treadmills are mechanically realistic, but cannot simulate air drag and acceleration tasks cannot be performed; roller ergometers allow the use of the personal wheelchair, but calibration can be troublesome; flywheel ergometers can be built with commercially-available parts, but inertia is fixed and the personal wheelchair cannot be used; integrated ergometers do not employ the personal wheelchair, but are suited for the implementation of different simulation models and detailed measurements. Lab-based equipment is heterogeneous and there appears to be little consensus on how to simulate field conditions.
KW - Dynamometer
KW - Ergometry
KW - Ergonomics
KW - Mechanics
KW - Simulation
KW - WERG
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074587778&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/RBME.2019.2942763
DO - 10.1109/RBME.2019.2942763
M3 - Article
C2 - 31675342
SN - 1937-3333
VL - 13
SP - 199
EP - 211
JO - IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering
JF - IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering
ER -