ON THE DESIGN OF MANUAL WHEELCHAIRS FOR PEOPLE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES
DS 48: Proceedings DESIGN 2008, the 10th International Design Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Year: 2008
Editor: Marjanovic D., Storga M., Pavkovic N., Bojcetic N.
Author: Gooch, S. D.; Woodfield, T.; Hollingsworth, L.; Rothwell, A. G.; Medland, A. J.; Yao, F.
Section: User-centred design
Page(s): 387 - 394
Abstract
Manual wheelchair propulsion is an important part of daily living for people with tetraplegia. New surgical procedures, such as the posterior deltoids to triceps transfer surgery (known as TRIODS), better enable people with tetraplegia to propel their wheelchairs. 22 people with tetraplegia participated in this study. Their power output was measured using a wheelchair dynamometer. Wheelchair propulsion technique was captured using a video and analysed. Distinctly different wheelchair propulsion techniques were observed. Post TROIDS subjects were found to have changed their wheelchair propulsion technique. Results obtained in this study pose new requirements for the design of wheelchairs for people with tetraplegia.
Keywords: assistive devices, tetraplegia, wheelchair, design