Using a quantitative assessment of propulsion biomechanics in wheelchair racing to guide the design of personalized gloves: a case study

TL;DR

This study combines biomechanical measurements and athlete feedback to design personalized wheelchair racing gloves, resulting in prototypes that improve wrist stability, reduce effort perception, and enhance autonomy.

Contribution

It introduces a multidisciplinary approach integrating biomechanics and user experience to develop personalized wheelchair racing gloves with improved functionality.

Findings

The 45° wrist extension glove was preferred by the athlete.

The preferred glove increased wrist stability during propulsion.

The new attachment system improved the athlete's independence.

Abstract

This study with a T-52 class wheelchair racing athlete aimed to combine quantitative biomechanical measurements to the athlete's perception to design and test different prototypes of a new kind of rigid gloves. Three personalized rigid gloves with various, fixed wrist extension angles were prototyped and tested on a treadmill in a biomechanics laboratory. The prototype with 45{\deg} wrist extension was the athlete's favourite as it reduced his perception of effort. Biomechanical assessment and user-experience data indicated that his favourite prototype increased wrist stability throughout the propulsion cycle while maintaining a very similar propulsion technique to the athlete's prior soft gloves. Moreover, the inclusion of an innovative attachment system on the new gloves allowed the athlete to put his gloves on by himself, eliminating the need for external assistance and thus significantly increasing his autonomy. This multidisciplinary approach helped to prototype and develop a new rigid personalized gloves concept and is clearly a promising avenue to tailor adaptive sports equipment to an athlete's needs.