An electronic device to measure drive and recovery phases during wheelchair propulsion : A technical note

Using cinematography to identify the drive and recovery phases in wheelchair racing, it has been reported that the drive phase was approximately 33% of each propulsive cycle time, with remaining time devoted to the recovery phase. In this study, an electronic timing device has been developed to accurately measure the drive phase time and recovery phase time in each cycle of wheelchair racing. Seventeen wheelchair athletes with national and/or international racing experience were tested on four selected speeds. It was found that the drive phase was approximately 23% of each cycle time during wheelchair racing. The drive phase time decreased in each propulsive cycle as speed increased from 30 to 90% of the peak speed.