Effects of Trunk Impairments on Manual Wheelchair Propulsion Among Individuals with a Spinal Cord Injury: A Brief Overview and Future Challenges

Abstract

The majority of individuals with a spinal cord injury experience sensory and motor trunk impairments. The severity of these impairments, along with their side effects on postural stability and upper limb strengthgenerating capability, may reduce these individuals’ capacity to efficiently propel their manual wheelchair and perform other wheelchair-related activities. This article presents a brief overview of the relevant literature focusing on potential effects of trunk impairments on manual wheelchair propulsion and explores a few future research challenges. There is a need to develop quantitative sensorimotor trunk assessment and to develop innovative therapeutic approaches.