Contribution of limb momentum to power transfer in athletic wheelchair pushing

Abstract Pushing capacity is a key parameter in athletic racing wheelchair performance. This study estimated the potential contribution of upper limb momentum to pushing. The question is relevant since it may affect the training strategy adopted by an athlete. A muscle-free Lagrangian dynamic model...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomechanics 2016-09, Vol.49 (13), p.2577-2583
Main Authors: Masson, G, Bégin, M.-A, Lopez Poncelas, M, Pelletier, S.-K, Lessard, J.-L, Laroche, J, Berrigan, F, Langelier, E, Smeesters, C, Rancourt, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arm - physiology
Athletes
Athletic Performance - physiology
Athletic wheelchair
Athletics
Biomechanical Phenomena
Dynamic modeling
Energy Transfer
Female
Humans
Limb momentum
Limbs
Male
Mathematical models
Movement
Muscle Strength
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Power transfer
Pushing
Pushing range
Racing wheelchairs
Range of Motion, Articular
Sports performance
Strategy
Studies
Velocity
Wheelchairs
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Summary:Abstract Pushing capacity is a key parameter in athletic racing wheelchair performance. This study estimated the potential contribution of upper limb momentum to pushing. The question is relevant since it may affect the training strategy adopted by an athlete. A muscle-free Lagrangian dynamic model of the upper limb segments was developed and theoretical predictions of power transfer to the wheelchair were computed during the push phase. Results show that limb momentum capacity for pushing can be in the order of 40 J per push cycle at 10 m/s, but it varies with the specific pushing range chosen by the athlete. Although use of momentum could certainly help an athlete improve performance, quantifying the actual contribution of limb momentum to pushing is not trivial. A preliminary experimental investigation on an ergometer, along with a simplified model of the upper limb, suggests that momentum is not the sole contributor to power transfer to a wheelchair. Muscles substantially contribute to pushing, even at high speeds. Moreover, an optimal pushing range is challenging to find since it most likely differs if an athlete chooses a limb momentum pushing strategy versus a muscular exertion pushing strategy, or both at the same time. The study emphasizes the importance of controlling pushing range, although one should optimize it while also taking the dynamics of the recovery period into account.
ISSN:0021-9290
1873-2380
DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.05.009