New ergonomic wheelchair design with multiple gear options
Official title: Multi-speed Ergonomic Wheelchair
Run by VA Office of Research and Development · NCT05776030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new wheelchair design with adjustable gears to see if it helps Veterans with spinal cord injuries push more easily and feel less shoulder pain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 18, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | March 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05776030 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are Veterans aged 18 or older who use a manual wheelchair daily and meet specific body size and health criteria.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with recent upper extremity or spine issues, pressure injuries, or other medical conditions that could compromise safety during the study will not benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project investigates a novel ergonomic wheelchair designed to improve propulsion efficiency and reduce shoulder pain for manual wheelchair users, particularly Veterans with spinal cord injuries or diseases. The wheelchair features a chain drive system that allows for adjustable gear ratios, enabling users to switch between low gears for challenging terrains and higher gears for flat surfaces. The study will recruit 18 Veterans to assess the impact of different gearing options on propulsion efficiency through a cross-over design, measuring energy expenditure and work done during wheelchair movement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this innovative wheelchair design could significantly enhance mobility and independence for manual wheelchair users by reducing shoulder pain and improving propulsion efficiency.
How similar studies have gone: While similar ergonomic approaches have been explored, this specific multi-speed wheelchair design is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria: * Uses manual wheelchair daily * Mass less than 125 kg * Age 18 or older * Decisional competency to provide consent and cognitive ability to participate fully in study procedures * Body size appropriate to fit the wheelchairs (16" and 18" seat widths) Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria: * Sitting surface pressure injuries * Flap procedure to address pressure injury less than one year earlier * Unable to obtain clinically acceptable seating system for study wheelchairs * Not able to propel a manual wheelchair * Upper extremity or spine issues which would make this study unsafe, such as recent surgeries, fractures, tendon tears or nerve impingement (will be assessed by SCI physician - Dr. Byron Eddy) * Medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, or other conditions that would make the study procedures unsafe (will be assessed by SCI physician - Dr. Byron Eddy)
Where it's running
-
Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: John M Looft, PhD — Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN
- Study coordinator: John M Looft, PhD
- Email: john.looft@va.gov
- Phone: (612) 725-2001
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.