Abstract
It is desirable for an elderly resident who can self-operate a wheelchair in a welfare facility to improve and maintain control of the speed, stability and endurance in wheelchair propulsion. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of the improvement of trunk rotation ability on the ability of wheelchair propulsion after trunk rotation machine training for a certain period. We asked 14 residents who self-operate wheelchairs in welfare facilities to train trunk rotation movement using machine, 5 times a week for in 3 weeks. Before and after the training, the trunk rotation strength and wheelchair propulsion ability were measured, and the trunk rotation strength improved significantly. The wheelchair propulsion ability showed no changes in to and from 2.5-m propulsion time, and 6-minutes propulsion distance before and after the training, but a tendency to reduce the 5-m propulsion time was recognized. In conclusion, 3 weeks machine training for residents who self-operated wheelchairs in a welfare facility did not improve drive stability and endurance, but suggested the possibility of speeding up the to fasten the wheelchair propulsion speed by reinforcing the trunk rotation strength.
