Introduction 2.2 million Americans depend on a wheelchair to carry out daily tasks and for general mobility [1]. People are independent by nature, and constantly on the move. Able-bodied individuals can be mobile easily and can walk to their destinations without giving it much thought. However, wheelchair-bound individuals cannot be so easily mobile and they must plan ahead of time and understand the accessibility of a building or place before accessing it. Despite their limited mobility, maintaining their independence is just as important to wheelchair bound individuals as it is for able-bodied individuals. A manual wheelchair is a good way for wheelchair bound individuals to keep this independence. They do not have to rely on others to get
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In the United States, nearly 70% of those people experience shoulder pain due to wheelchair use [3]. One potential cause for this shoulder pain is impingement. The subacromial space is dependent on the position of the humerus and scapula. The rotator cuff tendons lie within the subacromial space, and can become irritated and inflamed due to excessive use. When this happens, the subacromial space can become smaller, increasing the likelihood of pain during shoulder movement [3]. Elbow, wrist and hand pain are also reported by approximately 11-16% of the manual wheelchair user population. Most of these injuries are caused by repetitive strain, which can lead to inflamed and irritated tendons. In addition, 49-73% of the people that are manual wheelchair users suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). CTS occurs due to the compression of the medial nerve in the wrist, which occurs through repetitive flexion and extension of the wrist that causes a buildup in pressure and thickening of the flexor tendon sheath. CTS is more likely to occur due to repetitive motion rather than high forces [2]. Other common issues include hip and back pain, pressure ulcers, circulatory problems, and general discomfort due to constant sitting [4] [5]. All of these incidences of pain are problematic because they will eventually force wheelchair users to be less mobile or to require a caregiver to push them, both of which reduce their independence
In the United States, nearly 70% of those people experience shoulder pain due to wheelchair use [3]. One potential cause for this shoulder pain is impingement. The subacromial space is dependent on the position of the humerus and scapula. The rotator cuff tendons lie within the subacromial space, and can become irritated and inflamed due to excessive use. When this happens, the subacromial space can become smaller, increasing the likelihood of pain during shoulder movement [3]. Elbow, wrist and hand pain are also reported by approximately 11-16% of the manual wheelchair user population. Most of these injuries are caused by repetitive strain, which can lead to inflamed and irritated tendons. In addition, 49-73% of the people that are manual wheelchair users suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). CTS occurs due to the compression of the medial nerve in the wrist, which occurs through repetitive flexion and extension of the wrist that causes a buildup in pressure and thickening of the flexor tendon sheath. CTS is more likely to occur due to repetitive motion rather than high forces [2]. Other common issues include hip and back pain, pressure ulcers, circulatory problems, and general discomfort due to constant sitting [4] [5]. All of these incidences of pain are problematic because they will eventually force wheelchair users to be less mobile or to require a caregiver to push them, both of which reduce their independence