The impact of an electric hand warmer on powered wheelchair mobility in men with duchenne Muscular dystrophy.

BACKGROUND: Cold weather significantly impairs hand function in individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who use powered wheelchairs, with 85% reporting it as a barrier to wheelchair control and participation. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the impact of an electric hand warmer on powered wheelchair operation, wheelchair use self-efficacy, and user satisfaction among individuals with DMD. METHOD: Thirteen male participants with DMD aged 15 to 43 years (mean = 24.7, SD = 6.9) using powered wheelchairs received a hand warmer and completed pre-test post-test assessments during winter. The device was fitted over the driving hand and joystick and the hand was warmed for one hour. Measures included the Six-Minute Push Test, Slalom test, Wheelchair Skills Test-Powered version, Wheelchair Use Confidence Scale for Powered wheelchair users, and Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology. FINDINGS: Significant improvements were found in endurance (Z= -2.27, r = 0.63, p = 0.02) and wheelchair use self-efficacy (Z= -2.66, r = 0.74, p = 0.008). Manoeuvrability and driving skills showed moderate effect sizes (r = 0.37 and r = 0.47) without statistical significance. Participants reported moderate satisfaction (mean 3.22/5), with ease of use rated highest and device dimensions lowest. CONCLUSION: The electric hand warmer significantly improved endurance and wheelchair self-efficacy in cold weather. Design modifications for size and stability are needed to enhance user satisfaction before widespread implementation.