Analysis of muscular load sharing in wheelchair propulsion cycles

Results are presented on the musculoskeletal system modeling and validation phase of a broader research program which is directed toward the development of a simulation system for the total wheelchair propulsion system. The modeling and validation process itself consists of four areas of research: (i) the determination of architectural models for the selected upper-extremity muscles, (ii) the physical tests and experimental acquisition of kinematic, force and muscle activation (EMG) data for a range of wheelchair propulsion cycles and subjects, (iii) the development of a spatial musculoskeletal model including load-sharing algorithms, and (iv) the determination of qualitative and quantitative correlations between the model analysis results and the experimental data, to be used to refine iteratively the model details and the load-sharing algorithms.<>