Immediate Biomechanical Implications of Transfer Component Skills Training on Independent Wheelchair Transfers

Objective: To evaluate the immediate effects of transfer training based on the Transfer Assessment Instrument (TAI) on the upper limb biomechanics during transfers.

Design: Pre-post intervention.

Setting: Biomechanics laboratory.

Participants: Full-time manual wheelchair users (N=24) performed 5 transfers to a level height bench, while their natural transfer skills were scored using the TAI, and their biomechanical data were recorded.

Intervention: Participants with 2 or more component skill deficits were invited to return to receive personalized transfer training.

Main Outcome Measures: TAI part 1 summary scores and biomechanical variables calculated at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints were compared before and immediately after transfer training.

Results: Sixteen of the 24 manual wheelchair users met the criteria for training, and 11 manual wheelchair users came back for the revisit. Their TAI part 1 summary scores improved from 6.31±.98 to 9.92±.25. They had significantly smaller elbow range of motion, shoulder resultant moment, and rates of rise of elbow and wrist resultant forces on their trailing side during transfers after training (P<.05). On the leading side, shoulder maximum internal rotation and elevation angles, and shoulder resultant moments and rates of rise of shoulder resultant force and moment decreased after training (P<.04).

Conclusions: The TAI-based training showed short-term beneficial biomechanical effects on wheelchair users' upper limbs, such as better shoulder positioning and lower joint loadings. If the skills are practiced longer-term, they may help protect the upper limbs from developing pain and injuries.