A review of manual wheelchairs

Abstract

Purpose: To review the scientific literature published in the last 14 years on the different types of manual wheelchairs. Method: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to find the recent research on manual wheelchairs. Results: The findings of 77 references on pushrim-propelled wheelchairs, crank-propelled wheelchairs, lever-propelled wheelchairs, geared manual wheelchairs and pushrim-activated power-assist wheelchairs are reported. Conclusion: The pushrim-propelled wheelchair is light, easy to steer and has good indoor manoeuvrability but is very inefficient and causes serious upper body overloading so that long-term use leads to steadily deteriorating capability for the user and ultimately a transition to a powered chair. Whilst the latter is less physically demanding, the sedentary lifestyle and decreasing muscle use lead to several secondary health problems. Crank- and lever-propelled wheelchairs and geared pushrim wheelchairs are more efficient and less demanding and may improve the quality of life of the user by expanding the range of accessible environments, reducing upper body pain, increasing independence and avoiding or delaying the ‘debilitating cycle’. However, wheelchairs with these alternative modes of propulsion are often heavier, wider and/or longer and are less easy to steer, brake and fold than the pushrim wheelchair.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Pushrim-propelled wheelchairs are difficult to drive on outdoor paths (grass and gravel/sand surfaces) and ramps so that users are confined to restricted environments and have limited participation in everyday activities.

• The repetitive strain imposed on the upper body by pushrim propulsion leads to very high prevalence of shoulder and wrist pain in manual wheelchair users.

• Crank-propelled and lever-propelled wheelchairs are more efficient and less straining than pushrim propelled wheelchairs, allowing users to access more challenging environments, prolong independence and improve the quality of life.

Keywords:

• Crank
• gears
• lever
• manual wheelchair
• propulsion
• pushrim

Notes

¹In undeveloped countries, the number of people who need wheelchairs is much higher than 1% (because of the higher prevalence of disease and injury) but only 5–15% of those will actually have a wheelchair.

²Powered wheelchair options include battery-powered wheelchairs and scooters which are beyond the scope of this review.

³For example, the Wheelchair users functional assessment, functional evaluation in a wheelchair questionnaire, several versions of the WST, additional mobility and locomotor items assessment, etc.

⁴Mag wheels are wheels made from lightweight alloys, often with decorative spokes.

⁵When moving up a slope in a standard pushrim wheelchair, the user cannot use a full stroke because of the tendency to roll backwards during the recovery portion of the stroke. The GMW has a brake which prevents roll-back. Thus, the push stroke in a GMW is about 4 degrees greater than it is for a standard pushrim wheelchair and the user, therefore, has greater ulnar/radial deviation and greater shoulder flexion in the GMW compared with the standard wheelchair.