Effects of Wheel and Hand-Rim Size on Submaximal Propulsion in Wheelchair Athletes

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2012, Vol.44 (1), p.126-134
• Main Authors: MASON, Barry S, VAN DER WOUDE, Lucas H. V, TOLFREY, Keith, LENTON, John P, GOOSEY-TOLFREY, Victoria L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Athletes; Athletic Performance - physiology; Basketball - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; Equipment Design; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hand - physiology; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Male; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Space life sciences; Upper Extremity - physiology; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Wheelchairs; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0195-9131; 1530-0315
• DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31822a2df0

This study aimed to investigate the effects of fixed gear ratio wheel sizes on the physiological and biomechanical responses to submaximal wheelchair propulsion. Highly trained wheelchair basketball players (N = 13) propelled an adjustable sports wheelchair in three different wheel sizes (24, 25, and 26 inches) on a motor-driven treadmill. Each wheel was equipped with force-sensing hand-rims (SMARTWheel), which collected kinetic and temporal data. Oxygen uptake (V˙O2) and HR responses were measured with high-speed video footage collected to determine three-dimensional upper body joint kinematics. Mean power output and work per cycle decreased progressively with increasing wheel size (P < 0.0005). Increasing wheel size also reduced the physiological demand with reductions in VO2 for 25-inch (0.90 ± 0.20 L · min(-1), P = 0.01) and 26-inch wheels (0.87 ± 0.16 L · min(-1), P = 0.001) compared with 24-inch wheels (0.98 ± 0.20 L · min(-1)). In addition, reductions in HR were observed for 26-inch wheels (99 ± 6 beats · min(-1)) compared with 25-inch (103 ± 8 beats · min(-1), P = 0.018) and 24-inch wheels (105 ± 9 beats · min(-1), P = 0.004). Mean resultant forces also decreased progressively with increasing wheel size (P < 0.0005). However, no changes in temporal or upper body joint kinematics existed between wheel sizes. A greater power requirement owing to a greater rolling resistance in 24-inch wheels increased the physiological demand and magnitude of force application during submaximal wheelchair propulsion.