In the US over half a million people are prescribed crutches each year. More than 750,000 wheelchair users exist in the UK and wheelchair and crutch users commonly develop shoulder pathology. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of complex topographies on heart rate (HR) and thus energy expenditure, using a wheelchair and differing crutch designs on the exertional body stress. Two Paralympics Athletes from the GB amputee football squad were assessed in a Lomax Active wheelchair and 5 different types of crutches in a randomly allocated order over a course representing everyday complex terrains at the Pedestrian Accessibility and Movement Environment Laboratory (PAMELA), University College London. In addition results were compared over the same course with the athletes using their own personal pair of crutches. The PAMELA course consisted of a mixture of 4% and 2.5% cross falls (transverse) and a simulated road crossing, sprint, slalom and a slow straight.Introduction
Method
Modern forearm crutches have evolved little since their invention last century. We evaluated comfort and user satisfaction of 2 spring-loaded crutches compared with existing crutch designs. 25 healthy subjects (11 male, average age 26.2 years; 14 female, average age 22.7 years) participated. Each used 5 different crutches in a randomly allocated order: standard forearm crutch (ergonomic grip); spring-loaded crutch (soft spring, ergonomic grip); spring-loaded crutch (firm spring, ergonomic grip); standard forearm crutch (normal grip); axillary crutch. Participants completed a purpose built course at the Pedestrian Accessibility and Movement LAboratory, UCL (PAMELA). The course consisted of a mixture of slopes (transverse and longitudinal), sprint, slalom, and a slow straight. All participants completed questionnaires relating to crutch user preference and design features.Introduction
Methods
