Impact of Upper Body Anthropometrics on Spatiotemporal Parameters during Manual Wheelchair Propulsion in Able-bodied Users

for everyday manual wheelchair mobility, the stroking motion is a bilateral cyclic motion. Anthropometrics are still limited for the able-bodied population, but it is even scarcer in terms of the structural and functional characteristics of wheelchair users. A marker-based three-dimensional 3D motion analysis protocol was employed to investigate the interrelationship between manual users' upper body anthropometric characteristics and the biomechanics of wheelchair propulsion in terms of spatiotemporal parameters such as propulsion angles, time, velocity and stroke cadence. These outcomes have been analysed according to the anthropometrics of fifteen novice able-bodied male individuals using the same hand-rim wheelchair with their steady self-selected speed and propulsion pattern. The findings of this study indicated a significant correlation that quantified the association of the user's upper body anthropometrics with the biomechanical behaviour during the manual wheelchair mobility. This supports the initial hypothesis of varying anthropometric characteristics of the users affects potentially their propulsion biomechanics during manual wheelchair mobility. Such information could potentially provide a realistic guidance for designers and manufacturers to better optimize wheelchair prescription.