EVALUATION DES VARIABLES MECANIQUES LORS DE LA LOCOMOTION SUR TRICYCLES DES PARAPLEGIQUES

The aim of this study was to quantify the average mechanical variables when moving paraplegics on two types of tricycles. The latter are means of transport that have been made at the national center for orthopedic equipment in Senegal to improve or preserve the autonomy of paraplegics. However, to our knowledge, no scientific study has been conducted to assess the mechanical parameters of these devices. Methods:Twenty male paraplegics participated in the study. The subjects had traveled a distance of 4800 meters with the outrigger and pedal tricycles. On arrival, the level of arduous effort, the mechanical variables of locomotion on a tricycle were determined. Results: The results showed that seventy-five percent (75%) of the subjects, i.e. 15/20, perceived the tricycle locomotion exercise as easy. Regarding the average speed respectively on the pedal tricycle and on the pendulum tricycle, it was 2.03 m/s and 1.86 m/s. The average power developed was 54.15 W and 50.15 W on the pedal tricycle and on the pendulum tricycle respectively. The mechanical work provided was 139.68 KJ and 138.67 KJ respectively on the pedal tricycle and on the pendulum tricycle. The average energy expenditure on the pendulum tricycle was 879.89 KJ and that on the pedal tricycle was 801.51 KJ. The average locomotion efficiency on the pedal tricycle was 19.87% and 16.62% on the pendulum tricycle.