ArticleJournal of rehabilitation medicine2026
Comparison of muscular activity and metabolic response between a novel handle-based and a push-rim wheelchair in a simulated daily mobility circuit.
Article in Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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5 authors.
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Abstract
objectiveTo compare the muscular activity and metabolic response between a novel handle-based wheelchair drive (KURT) and conventional push rim propulsion in a simulated daily mobility circuit.
designSingle-group comparative study between 3 wheelchair configurations.
participants22 healthy individuals without prior wheelchair experience.
methodsParticipants completed a multi--movement circuit including ramps, obstacle avoidance, and directional changes using KURT and 2 push-rim wheelchairs with different wheel sizes (small wheels, SW; large wheels, LW). Electromyographic data were collected bilaterally from 7 upper body muscles, and cardiopulmonary variables were -continuously monitored.
resultsBiceps brachii activity was significantly higher with KURT than with SW and LW for both arms (all p < 0.001), while triceps brachii and pectoralis major activity were significantly lower (all p < 0.001). Other monitored muscles showed smaller relative differences between configurations, often resulting in limited or no statistically significant effects. Metabolic demand was lower with KURT: heart rate, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide production were reduced compared with LW (all p < 0.05), while respiratory exchange ratio was unchanged and respiratory frequency was higher than with SW (p < 0.05).
conclusionKURT appears to be a promising, more energy-efficient alternative to push-rim wheelchairs, reducing upper limb muscle demand and metabolic cost. These findings motivate studies in regular wheelchair users and longer-term use in daily living scenarios.
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