REACTION FORCE AND EMG ANALYSES OF WHEELCHAIR TRANSFERS

To examine how reaction forces and muscle activity change when transfe rring from a wheelchair to three different heights, six male able-bodi ed college students were tested. Analysis indicated that transferring to a lower seat position generated a greater vertical reaction force a nd required more muscle effort from triceps and posterior deltoid musc les. Transferring to a higher seat position resulted in a shift of the friction force from the anterior-posterior to the medial-lateral dire ction, and more biceps muscle effort was needed to perform the up-righ tward movement. Transferring to a seat at the same height required les s muscle effort from the upper extremities.