背景：轉輪啟動式動力輔助輪椅是在傳統徒手操作輪椅外，佐以馬達動力的輔助驅動，以避免使用者過度的徒手推進操作所產生的傷害。但過去文獻中並未探討使用者上肢徒手肌力與操作動力輔助輪椅推進表現之關聯性。目的：本研究即欲探討轉輪啟動式動力輔助輪椅操作者之上肢徒手肌力與輪椅推進能力表現之相關性。方法：22位健康的年輕成人參與完成本研究，受測者上肢徒手肌力以數位式手持測力計量測；動力輔助輪椅推進測試則於一般平滑平地以10公尺的距離完成5次操作，相關參數的測量為推進完成時間、推進完成距離、推進速度、推進頻率、推進時於輪圈上所產生扭力。本研究以皮爾森相關性統計分析以檢視肌力測試表現與動力輔助輪椅推進表現之間的相關性。結果：受試者體重標準化之上肢肌力值範圍為體重的13-44%之間，肌力值與動力輔助輪椅推進參數相關性分析發現，受測者上肢肌力值與推進速度在肩屈肌群(r=-0.511, p<0.05)與肩外展肌群(r=-0.462, p<0.05)顯示中度負相關。操作轉輪殷勤式動力輔助輪椅時，徒手肌力與推進動力輔助輪椅所產生的扭力值較相關的是起始期推進平均扭力值，結果顯示其與肩關節外轉肌肉群的肌力值呈現中度正相關(r=0.464, p<0.05)。其餘推進所產生的扭力相關參數則未與上肢肌肉群肌力呈現統計上之顯著相關。結論：動力輔助輪椅使用者上肢肩關節屈肌群、外展肌群，以及外轉肌群之徒手肌力測試表現，與轉輪殷勤式動力輔助輪椅操作表現中的推進速度與初始扭力具有相關性存在。本研究可供臨床人員針對未曾使用轉輪敢動式動力輔助輪椅者，提供評估其能力時的參考依據，其次對於轉輪殷勤式動力輔助輪椅使用者，也有助於復健訓練時目標與治療計畫之規劃考量。

Background: A pushrim-activated power-assisted wheelchair (PAPAW) is a manual wheelchair propelled assisted by motor power for preventing overuse injuries induced by manually propulsion of wheelchair. It has not been documented about the relationship between the tipper limbs muscle strength of PAPAW users and the wheelchair propulsion performance. Purpose: To explore the relationship between the tipper limb muscle strength and propulsion characteristics of PAPAW propulsion. Method: Twenty-two young adults without the experience of using wheelchairs were recruited into this study who received manual muscle test of upper limbs and propulsion test. The descriptive statistics on the tipper extremity strength and wheelchair propulsion parameters (propulsion speed. and the torque produced during propulsion) were calculated. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed among all of the tipper limb strength and propulsion variables. Result: All of the participants completed the test. The manual muscle test values of the upper limbs normalized by body weight were ranged from 13 to 44% of body weight. The performance of PAPAW propulsion speed was negatively correlated with the manual muscle strength (shoulder flexors and abductors) at medium level. Torque at start-up phase were higher than that at steady-state phase. Manual muscle strength of shoulder external rotators were positively correlated significantly with average propulsion torque at start-up phase (p<0.05). Conclusion: The performance of PAPAW propulsion was significantly correlated with the muscle strength of upper limb. In order to take advantage of the PAPAW, we could provide a reference for wheelchair propulsion training and principle of specificity in strength training for PAPAW propulsion.