Manual Wheelchair

A wheelchair propelled by the user pushing on handrims attached to the rear wheels, or by an attendant pushing from behind. Manual wheelchairs are the most common type of wheelchair used for personal mobility and become deeply integrated into users' identities and daily routines. However, the repetitive motion of handrim propulsion carries significant injury risks, with shoulder pain prevalence reported between 42% and 66% among long-term users. Only about 10% of pushing effort translates directly into forward movement, making propulsion biomechanically inefficient, particularly on challenging surfaces like ramps, gravel, or thick carpets.