The effect of training on the manual wheelchair propulsion ability

The aim of this study is to define the effect of manual wheelchair propulsion training, offered to wheelchair users after joining the community, on the ability of manual wheelchair propulsion.The subjects of the study were individuals who had no walking functions; and thus had to use wheelchair for mobility in daily life. The number of the subjects was 24, who were categorized under training and control groups randomly. All of the participants in the training group, 14 people, completed the training program while the control group consisting of 10 people did not participate the training. In the statistical research, there was no meaningful difference between the training group and the control group in terms of sex, age and diagnosis (p>0,05). The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire to get information about their functionality in daily life and socio-economic status. At the beginning of the study, their ability and safety when displaying these skills were evaluated with wheelchair training skill test. The same evaluation was carried out also at the end of the training. The training group attended a skill training session of 45 minutes three times a week for 4 weeks. The evaluations carried out after the training revealed that the success and safety rates in displaying the wheelchair propulsion skills by the individuals who participated the training had a meaningful increase statistically (p<0,05). In the research, it was observed in the training group that uneasiness in wheelchair activities decreased and individuals? ambition to work in a job increased.In line with the data obtained, it was concluded that the functionality of wheelchair users may be improved by the safe increase in the number of skills in daily wheelchair mobility and also the possibility of injury might be decreased. Based on this, it was understood that physiotherapists should include wheelchair skill training into their rehabilitation program.Key Words: Wheelchair, User, Manual, Skills, Training.