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Wheelchair ergonomic hand drive mechanism use improves wrist mechanics associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Lisa A. Zukowski, MA; Jaimie A. Roper, MS; Orit Shechtman, PhD, OTR/L; Dana M. Otzel, PhD; Patty W. Hovis, MSESS; Mark D. Tillman, PhD. Aim
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Wheelchair ergonomic hand drive mechanism use improves wristmechanics associated with carpal tunnel syndrome Lisa A. Zukowski, MA; Jaimie A. Roper, MS; Orit Shechtman, PhD, OTR/L; Dana M. Otzel, PhD; Patty W. Hovis, MSESS; Mark D. Tillman, PhD
Aim • Evaluate use of ergonomic hand drive mechanism (EHDM) in terms of wrist orientations that may predispose conventional manual wheelchair (CMW) users to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). • Relevance • Among CMW users, 49%–63% experience CTS. • Likely due to combination of large forces transmitted through wrist and extreme wrist orientations. • EHDM in this study uses more neutral wrist orientation.
Method • Participants: • 11 adult full-time CMW users with spinal cord injury. • Procedure: • Motion capture data were collected as participants propelled across flat surface. • 5 trials in CMW. • 5 trials in same CMW fitted with EHDM. • Compared average angular wrist orientations between the 2 propulsion styles.
Results • Use of EHDM resulted in reduced wrist extension and ulnar deviation compared with CMW use.
Conclusion • Shift to more neutral wrist orientations observed with EHDM use may reduce median nerve compression.