Technologies measuring manual wheelchair propulsion metrics: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

The aim of this review is to investigate existing and developing technologies assessing metrics of manual wheelchair propulsion. A scoping review of scientific and gray literature was performed. Five databases were searched – Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Embase. The 38 retained articles identified 27 devices categorized into accelerometers, wheelchair-mounted devices, instrumented wheels, and wearables. The devices included in this review can be used by manual wheelchair users to monitor propulsion effort and activity goals, by clinicians to assess rehabilitation programs, and to inform and guide future research. The findings support a need for further research into the development of custom algorithms for manual wheelchair user populations as well as further validation in broader free-living environments with equitable participant populations.

KEYWORDS:

• activity tracker
• data logger
• manual wheelchair propulsion
• portable technology

Acknowledgements

The research conducted in this scoping review was supported by consultations with Leigh Niwa and Megan Kennedy both of whose expertise greatly assisted the completion of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).