The aim of this study was to investigate how the coordination patterns of shoulder muscles change with level-ground and incline wheelchair propulsion. Wheelchair kinetics and electromyography (EMG) activity of seven muscles were recorded with surface electrodes for 15 nondisabled subjects during wheelchair propulsion on a stationary ergometer and wooden ramp (4 degree slope). Kinetic data were ...

PURPOSE The main purpose of this study was to analyze the coordination, propulsion and non-propulsion phases in the 100 meter breaststroke race. METHODS Twenty-seven male swimmers (15.7 ± 1.98 years old) with the total body length (TBL) of 247.0 ± 10.60 [cm] performed an all-out 100 m breaststroke bout. The bouts were recorded with an underwater camera installed on a portable trolley. The swi...

BACKGROUND Wheelchair research includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches, primarily focuses on functionality and skill performance and is often limited to short testing periods. This is the first study to use the combination of a performance test (i.e. wheelchair propulsion test) and a multiple-day mobility assessment to evaluate wheelchair designs in rural areas of a developing cou...

The structure of a finite particle cluster is typically determined by total energy minimization. Here we consider the case where a cluster of soft-sphere dipoles becomes active, i.e., when the individual particles exhibit an additional self-propulsion along their dipole moments. We numerically solve the overdamped equations of motion for soft-sphere dipoles in a solvent. Starting from an initia...

UNLABELLED Wheelchair propulsion plays a significant role in the development of shoulder pain in manual wheelchair users (MWU). However wheelchair propulsion metrics related to shoulder pain are not clearly understood. This investigation examined intra-individual kinematic spatial variability during semi-circular wheelchair propulsion as a function of shoulder pain in MWU. Data from 10 experien...

The objective of this study was to explore the joint kinetics of upper extremities during wheelchair maneuvers. A high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries has been reported due to the overuse and high repetitive motion of wrist, elbow and shoulder during wheelchair propulsion. Studies have been conducted with the use of a dynamometer or treadmill to simulate propulsion on level or inclined su...

Most prosthetic feet are designed to improve amputee gait by storing and releasing elastic energy during stance. However, how prosthetic foot stiffness influences muscle and foot function is unclear. Identifying these relationships would provide quantitative rationale for prosthetic foot prescription that may lead to improved amputee gait. The purpose of this study was to identify the influence...

Lightweight (K4) and ultra-lightweight (K5) wheelchairs are commonly used as mobility devices by pediatric manual wheelchair users. In this study, instrumented pushrims and wireless motion tracking were used to measure energy cost and shoulder flexion during manual wheelchair propulsion. Eight pediatric (age=1218 yrs) manual wheelchair users propelled a K4 and K5 wheelchair across a level tiled...

Future reusable launch vehicles will depend on new propulsion technologies to lower system operational costs while maintaining adequate performance. Recently, a number of vehicle systems utilizing rocket-based combinedcycle (RBCC) propulsion have been proposed as possible low-cost space launch solutions. Vehicles using RBCC propulsion have the potential to combine the best aspects of airbreathi...

This paper details the development of an innovative "green" hybrid rocket propulsion system, applicable to small spacecraft. When fully developed this propulsion technology has the potential to act as a "drop in" replacement for propulsion system utilizing hazardous propellants such as hydrazine. Fuel grains are manufactured using a form of additive manufacturing known as Fused Deposition Model...