New wheelchair may improve quality of life

November 16, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Researchers in the College of Health and Human Performance and the College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida are recruiting participants for a study involving a new wheelchair design they hope will break many boundaries that people encounter when using traditional wheelchairs.

The new chair is called a pushrim activated power assist wheelchair. Incorporated into the wheels of the chair are small, lightweight motors which deliver a brief burst of power whenever the user pushes on the rims. This technology combines some of the best features and benefits of both conventional manual and fully powered wheelchairs.

“This technology allows for easier transport than conventional power wheelchairs yet are much easier to wheel in a variety of environments and terrains than ordinary manual wheelchairs,” said Dr. Charles E. Levy, chief of the physical medicine and rehabilitation service for the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Service, and associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Florida. “The amount of assistance is calibrated for each individual to match his or her daily needs, both indoors and outdoors.”

Pushing a power assist chair is not effort-free, said Peter Giacobbi, co-principal investigator for this study and assistant professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology.

The chair requires some physical push on the rims of the wheels, but the necessary amount depends on the setting. Therefore, one may choose to have greater assistance to maneuver on rough terrain or over greater distances while still having the capability to disengage this feature when there are reduced barriers, keeping the benefit of physical activity and self-reliance.

“We believe that power assist wheelchairs will enable people to participate in activities that were not possible for them before, such as going off-road or climbing hills or just wheeling greater distances,” Giacobbi said.

The focus of the study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is the impact of everyday use of the power assist wheelchair on an individual’s quality of life.

“This research is valuable to find out if the chair solves common problems faced by people who use manual wheelchairs everyday,” Giacobbi said.

Problems that are frequently encountered include the inability to navigate over difficult terrain, a reduction in activities they are able to participate in and shoulder pain caused by overuse, Giacobbi said.

There also are possible benefits to those who use power wheelchairs on a regular basis.

“People who use power wheelchairs often do not get the benefits of mobility-related physical activity that manual users do,” Giacobbi said. “Lack of strength or mobility to push the wheelchair often hinders the person in utilizing the manual chair. In many cases, the power assist wheelchair could be an answer to that.”

Implications for this study are far reaching.

“In addition to preserving physical activity benefits, there also are implications for the medical industry,” Giacobbi said. “If the benefits to the individual are promising, then doctor prescription for these wheelchairs should increase, with the next step being insurance coverage by Medicare and Medicaid.”

Besides principal investigator Levy and co- principal investigator Giacobbi, the research team consists of John Chow and Mark Tillman from the College of Health and Human Performance, and Sandra Hubbard from the Department of Occupational Therapy.

Researchers are recruiting individuals to participate in this study. Participants must be full-time, manual wheelchair users 18 years or older. There is a compensation of $400 for the completion of this study. For information, please contact Giacobbi at (352) 392-0584, ext. 1324.