Understanding why foot displacements happen in power wheelchairs for Veterans with SCI/D
Official title: Toward understanding mechanisms of inadvertent lower extremity displacements from wheelchair footplates in Veterans with SCI/D: Multi-modal evaluation of leg movements during power wheelchair use.
Funded at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center · NIH-11187160 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study aims to uncover why some Veterans with spinal cord injuries have their feet slip off wheelchair footplates, causing injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003942-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11187160 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with spinal cord injuries or similar neurological conditions who use or may use power wheelchairs.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not use power wheelchairs or do not have SCI/D or related conditions.
What this research studies
This project will observe how the legs move during power wheelchair use in Veterans with SCI/D and related neurological conditions. It will use a multi-modal approach to identify patterns and triggers of unintended lower-extremity displacements. The goal is to translate findings into practical changes in wheelchair design, seating, and user guidance to prevent injuries and improve safe mobility. Participation would involve measurements and observation during typical wheelchair use in a clinical or controlled setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to safer wheelchair designs and better guidance to prevent leg injuries for Veterans and others who rely on power wheelchairs.
How similar studies have gone: There are no prior reports of detailed real-time lower-limb movement analysis during wheelchair operation for this population, making this exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henzel, Mary K — Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Henzel, Mary K
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.