Steering-by-leaning facilitates intuitive movement control and improved efficiency in manual wheelchairs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Manual wheelchair propulsion is widely accepted to be biomechanically inefficient, with a high prevalence of shoulder pain and injuries among users. Directional control during wheelchair movement is a major, yet largely overlooked source of energy loss: changing direction or maintaining straightforward motion on tilted surfaces requires unilateral braking. This study evaluates the efficiency of a novel steering-by-leaning mechanism that guides wheelchair turning through upper body leaning.

Methods

16 full-time wheelchair users and 15 able-bodied novices each completed 12 circuits of an adapted Illinois Agility Test-course that included tilted, straight, slalom, and 180° turning sections in a prototype wheelchair at a self-selected functional speed. Trials were alt

SUBMITTER: Togni R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10605392 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature