Lever propulsion system for wheelchair

 I've been looking at the recent marketing material about this, including a video (see below for the links). However, all of the photos and videos seem to be of very heavy chairs, with the camber bar set right back (this means that the wheels are set behind you rather than directly below you). This in turn means that, instead of just pushing down on your wheels, you have to reach behind and effectively lift the wheels up and round when self-propelling by hand. Meanwhile the mechanism that attaches to the wheels to avoid self-propelling also looks very heavy. 

My concerns are a) that a lightweight chair with the camber set properly - such as my RGK performance chair - would require less energy pushing down on the wheels than the levers require on a heavy chair, and possibly less energy than if you make a lightweight chair heavier by adding the mechanism; b) that a chair that is set up properly enables you to sit just as upright as pushing levers would; c) that the levers require you to be able to lift as well as push in order to be able to pull the levers back towards you, which anyone like me with an upper back problem would be ill-advised to do; and d) that the marketing is inappropriate - how do you come into contact with dirt on the street by pushing down on the wheel rims? You don't touch the tyre itself, but a separate circle of metal that is attached to the wheel, and which can be covered with latex to make gripping easier. What do you mean about yuk on the pavements? The only way I can see there being enough dirt on a tyre to cross over to the control rims is if you are on a muddy country lane.

View Hilda's (94) inspiring story: <http://www.accessatlast.com/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=34&e=MTcxOQ==&l=-http--www.youtube.com/watch--Q-v--E-II3WmaJJ2Wc--A-feature--E-related>

See the Promo Video by clicking here..<http://www.accessatlast.com/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=34&e=MTcxOQ==&l=-http--www.accessatlast.com/accessibilty-news/article/114/>

May I start by saying that this product has improved my life immensely. However, I appreciate it's not going to be suitable for everybody as we all have different disabilities & hence all need different equipment to assist in managing our limitations.

If you don't currently have any problems propelling yourself then this probably isn't the product for you.
In answer to your concern:
a. I agree a properly set up light weight chair will require less effort that a heavy chair fitted with levers. Unfortunately, some of us have been issued with heavy, poor fitting, poorly set up chairs.
b. See previous comment.
c. The push stroke is the active one, very little effort is required to return the lever to its starting position.
d. I'm not sure what you mean about the marketing being inappropriate, I'm just describing my own experience.

Almost everyone I've spoken to who uses a chair knows exactly what I mean by the 'yuk'. Like many other wheelchair users I push on the wheels. The reasons for pushing on the wheels are many & various but in my case it's because I'm not accurate enough to push on the rims consistently without damaging my fingers. Pushing on the wheels meant that my hands were getting cold & wet & my knuckles were seizing up making it almost impossible to continue propelling manually.
 
I understand the levers were originally designed to make life easier for the less active wheelchair user but they may also suitable for more active users. I use mine at least a mile a day to travel to & from my local swimming pool. They allow me to comfortably propel up a hill when some cyclists get off & walk!

 

Hi,

Thanks for your interest in NuDrive. I would like to address the comments made by Ju Gosling and hopefully allievate some of your concerns.

Firstly, you are right that in our videos and some of our pictures the chairs are not your typical active sports chairs and have the camber set back. However, the chair in our brochure is actually a Quickie ti which I wouldnt describe as heavy! http://www.quickie-wheelchairs.com/products/Quickie-Ti-Titanium-Wheelchair-2427.html

NuDrive is a product that can benefit wheelchair users with a range of disabilities and medical conditions who might not use an active chair but I take your comments on board and perhaps we will look at producing a video for the more active users. 

Many of our users do use NuDrive with the camber set further forward on more active chairs and experience the same benefits.  As NuDrive is a product that can be fitted to any 24" wheel it does not affect how you have your wheel chair set up. You mentioned the weight; The wheel adapters and levers themselves are made of diecast aluminium and weigh 1.1kg and 1.5kg respectively. When compared with other propulsion methods such as powerpacks, the weight increase is not huge in that respect.

To elaborate on your concern in point a) you are obviously right that  your "performance chair - would require less energy pushing down on the wheels than the levers require on a heavy chair" However, I feel that it would make more sense to compare wheelrim propulsion on your RGK chair to propulsion with NuDrive on your RGK chair. We would be very happy to provide you with a demonstration at your own convenience.

I wouldnt add anything to Alisons response to points b) c) and d) other than 99% of wheelchair users i speak to complain about getting their sleaves dirty, getting fingers caught in spokes and having their hands come into contact with all manner of unsavory things on the streets of England!

If you would like to talk further about this or set up a demonstration then feel free to contact me at the office on 08450 542 930.

With kind regards,

James

NuDrive

Wow - that was quick work James. Was going to call NuDrive this afternoon to see if you wanted to respond to Ju's questions, but you beat me to it! Thanks for taking the time to add your comment and get involved in the conversation, it's always good to hear the views from all sides.

Ju would you be interested in giving the NuDrive system a test run? If so, would be great if you could let us know what you think here on the Enabled by Design site. Would love to hear how you get on and whether you become a convert or not.

Denise : )