Upper extremity wheelchair kinematics in children with Spinal Cord Injury

Author

Slavens, Brooke A. ; Graf, Adam ; Krzak, Joseph ; Vogel, Lawrence ; Harris, Gerald F.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Occupational Sci. & Technol., Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA

fYear

2011

fDate

Aug. 30 2011-Sept. 3 2011

Firstpage

8158

Lastpage

8161

Abstract

Current methods for the evaluation of upper extremity dynamics during wheelchair mobility in children are limited. The goal of this study was to characterize upper extremity joint kinematics during wheelchair mobility. A 3-D biomechanical model of the upper extremities is presented for kinematic assessment of manual wheelchair propulsion in children with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). The bilateral upper extremity model consists of the thorax, upper arms, forearms, and hands. The model was applied to thirteen (13) children with SCI. Joint angles and joint ranges of motion of the shoulders, elbows, and wrists were quantified. Peak joint motions during the stroke cycle were compared between right and left sides for further insight to mobility patterns. This work will provide insight to be used in future kinetic studies of wheelchair mobility.

Keywords

biomechanics; handicapped aids; injuries; kinematics; neurophysiology; paediatrics; wheelchairs; 3-D biomechanical model; SCI; children; forearms; hands; joint angles; spinal cord injury; stroke cycle; thorax; upper arms; upper extremity wheelchair kinematics; Elbow; Joints; Kinematics; Shoulder; Wheelchairs; Wrist; Spinal Cord Injury; kinematics; upper extremity; wheelchair; Adolescent; Adult; Biomechanics; Child; Elbow Joint; Humans; Models, Biological; Range of Motion, Articular; Shoulder Joint; Spinal Cord Injuries; Upper Extremity; Wheelchairs; Wrist Joint; Young Adult;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC, 2011 Annual International Conference of the IEEE

Conference_Location

Boston, MA

ISSN

1557-170X

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-4121-1

Electronic_ISBN

1557-170X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.2011.6092012

Filename

6092012