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| The Natural-Fit is one of the most extensively researched wheelchair handrims. One of the studies that tested the Natural-Fit was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through their Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program (Grant #R43 HD39962-01). And, more recently, a survey of Natural-Fit Handrim users was conducted to examine self-reported outcomes of using the handrim. Both of these studies are summarized below. |
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End-User Survey
- Survey was done as part of an NIH grant proposal and was designed by an
expert in survey research.
- 90 surveys were mailed out to users of the Natural-Fit Handrim; 46
completed surveys were returned; all responses were anonymous
- Respondents on average had used Natural-Fit Handrims on their
wheelchairs for 25 weeks.
- When asked to compare propelling with the Natural-Fit to propelling with
their prior handrims,
85% reported less fatigue
80% reported less pain in their wrists
65% reported less pain in their shoulders
93% said it was better than a standard rim
NIH-Funded Research: The Effect on Wheelchair Propulsion Biomechanics
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research comparing wheelchair
propulsion efficiency when using the Natural-Fit versus using a standard handrim.
In the NIH study, a prototype Natural-Fit Handrim was used during a
two-week trial period with before and after measurements of propulsion
efficiency.
After the two-week trial use period, wheelchair users generated significantly
more (7%) forward force with the Natural-Fit than with a standard handrim.
The increased forward force created no significant difference in overall
total forces between the two handrims.
This the best indication of a more efficient, healthier propulsion
stroke with the Natural-Fit Handrim.
If you would like a more detailed report of either of these two
summaries, please contact us via email info@seatingdynamics.com.au at bottom
of screen
The NIH-Funded Research is based on data provided by one of the most sophisticated and heavily validated wheelchair propulsion measurement tools (the SmartWheelTM), and has been conducted by one of the most respected teams of wheelchair propulsion biomechanics researchers, Dr. Michael L. Boninger and Dr. Rory A. Cooper, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, one of our partner research institutions.
To learn more about the inventors of the Natural Fit click on their namesDr Boninger and Dr. Cooper.
Note: clicking the link will take you to another website.
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Repetitive Stress Injuries
Research has linked the stress and strain that wheelchair propulsion
exerts on the arms to the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
and wrist pain. For instance, research has shown that damage to the median
nerve, a cause of CTS, has been associated with high-force, high-
repetition tasks commonly experienced during manual wheelchair
propulsion. In one study conducted over a multi-year period, the way
an individual propelled their wheelchair predicted the onset of
CTS years later.
The way an individual propels their wheelchair has also been linked to
the development of repetitive stress injuries (RSI) and shoulder pain.
Research has shown that individuals who propel with a greater percentage of
radial force (force directed down into the axle of the wheelchair) are at
greater risk of progressively worse shoulder injuries over time.
Taken together, the research on CTS and RSI (which we have only briefly
described here) suggests that the manner in which people propel their
wheelchairs is likely to influence the development over time of pain and
injury in both the wrist and shoulder areas. Because the Natural-Fit
Handrim reduces the stress and strain on the arms by facilitating more
efficient wheelchair propulsion, it may help to delay the onset of CTS and
RSI and, if these conditions already exist, it may help to reduce the
pain associated with these injuries, as the above survey indicates.
If you would like to see a list of research references of relevant to
the Natural-Fit (supporting a letter of medical necessity) and relevant to
research on RSI, CTS, paraplegia,
and wheelchair propulsion, please click here.
For any other questions you may have or to request more detailed reports of
the End-User Survey or the NIH-Funded Research, please contact us at
email info@seatingdynamics.com.au
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