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Background: For manual wheelchair users, overuse of the upper limbs can cause upper limb musculoskeletal disorders, which can lead to a loss of autonomy. The main objective of this study was to quantify the risk level of musculoskeletal disorders of different slope propulsions in manual wheelchair users using fuzzy logic. Methods: In total, 17 spinal cord injury participants were recruited. Each participant completed six passages on a motorized treadmill, the inclination of which varied between (0° to 4.8°). A motion capture system associated with instrumented wheels of a wheelchair was used. Using a biomechanical model of the upper limb and the fuzzy logic method, an Articular Discomfort Index (ADI) was developed. Results: We observed an increase in articular discomfort during propulsion on a slope with increasing discomfort at the shoulder, elbow and wrist, due to an increase in kinetics. There was a kinetically significant change in the kinetic global ADI (22 to 25%) and no change in the kinematic. The ADI increased from 14 to 36% during slope propulsion for each joint. Conclusion: The quantification of the level of discomfort helps us to highlight the situations with the most high-risk exposures and to identify the parameters responsible for this discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] This study assessed for the first time the gait pattern of adults with CP. [•] It showed that five different gait patterns can be identified. [•] Each gait pattern identified was related to specific kinematic parameters. [•] These specific kinematic parameters can be easily checked in clinical practice. [•] Results may permit to follow changes throughout growth, aging or after treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]