A Dynamic Wheelchair Armrest for Promoting Arm Exercise and Mobility After Stroke.

ABSTRACT: Arm movement recovery after stroke can improve with sufficient exercise. However, rehabilitation therapy sessions are typically not enough. To address the need for effective methods of increasing arm exercise outside therapy sessions we developed a novel armrest, called Boost. It easily attaches to a standard manual wheelchair just like a conventional armrest and enables users to exercise their arm in a linear forward-back motion. This paper provides a detailed design description of Boost, the biomechanical analysis method to evaluate the joint torques required to operate it, and the results of pilot testing with five stroke patients. Biomechanics results show the required shoulder flexion and elbow extension torques range from -25% to +36% of the torques required to propel a standard push

SUBMITTER: Comellas M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9354471 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature