The WC assesses manual wheelchair mobility (i.e. skill and performance). Tasks cover 3 aspects of mobility: 1) tempo (tasks = figure-of-8 shape and sprint); 2) technical skill (tasks = crossing a doorstep, mounting a platform, and transferring); and 3) physical capacity (tasks = wheelchair propulsion and ascending slopes).

Number of items: N/a

Procedure/Administration:

How scored: No normative data is available, but results can be compared to published data. Separate scores for ability (ordinal scale); performance time (seconds); and physical strain (formula using HR data) are calculated.

Interpretability: N/a

Acceptability: The WC includes functional tasks developed specifically for the SCI population. However, the tasks are only relevant to manual wheelchair users. Some tasks may be too difficult / not suitable if individuals have medical complications or are older.

Languages: N/a

Usability: N/a

Time to administer: N/a

Time to score: N/a

Training required: Clinicians require specialized training to perform exercise testing and a practice test is recommended.   

Availability: N/a

Equipment required:  An adjustable mat; treadmill (with 3% and 6% grade); HR monitor; stop watch; 0.10 m platform on floor; wood doorstep height 0.4 m; open space; and 15 m corridor. are required for the WC. 

Summary:

• The performance time and physical strain are useful to monitor progress once the individual achieves a maximal score on the ability score or if they have not demonstrated any change over repeated administrations.

Psychometric Summary:

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; SS= Sensitivity/Specificity; N/a= No information.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

** Varied (re: floor/ceiling effects; mixed results)

References

• Dallmeijer AJ, van der Woude LH, Hollander AP, van As HH. Physical performance during rehabilitation in persons with spinal cord injuries. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31:1330-1335.
• Harvey LA, Batty J, Fahey A. Reliability of a tool for assessing mobility in wheelchair-dependent paraplegics. Spinal Cord 1998;36:427-431.
• Janssen TW, van Oers CA, van der Woude LH, Hollander AP. Reliability of heart rate response to non-steady-state activities of daily living in men with spinal cord injuries. Scand J Rehabil Med 1994;26:71-78.
• Kilkens OJ, Dallmeijer AJ, De Witte LP, Van Der Woude LH, Post MW. The Wheelchair Circuit: Construct validity and responsiveness of a test to assess manual wheelchair mobility in persons with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:424-431.
• Kilkens OJ, Post MW, van der Woude LH, Dallmeijer AJ, van den Heuvel WJ. The Wheelchair Circuit: reliability of a test to assess mobility in persons with spinal cord injuries. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002;83:1783-1788.