The SmartWheel is a biomechanical tool that allows clinicians to assess the forces and moments applied to the push rim of wheelchairs. The use of the SmartWheel follows a standard clinical protocol (SCP) in assessing wheeling parameters: average peak force, frequency of propulsion, push length, and velocity. The objective of this study was to quantify the intra-session and inter-session reliability of the standard clinical protocol using intraclass correlation coefficients.
Using a test-retest design, 10 wheelchair users and 15 able-bodied individuals were tested with the SCP on 2 separate occasions. Results indicate excellent intra-session reliability, for both groups, especially when multiple trials are collected and averaged. Inter-session reliability was excellent for wheelchair users, but moderate for able-boded individuals. Both improved when the means of trials were used.