Abstract-Power wheelchairs are essential for many individuals with mobility impairment. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of bimanual gliding (BG) and conventional joystick (CJ) control in an indoor environment, with application to (1) wheelchair driving performance (i.e., practice time, completion time, and driving deviation) and (2) muscle activity of the upper limbs. This study included 22 participants (11 experienced manual wheelchair users and 11 novice manual wheelchair users). Experienced wheelchair users who used the BG strategy needed less time to practice and complete the task. Muscle activity of the upper limbs was focused on the triceps brachii, with relatively less use of the wrist muscles while applying the BG strategy. In novice wheelchair users, wrist muscles were less involved when using the BG control compared with the CJ control. The findings imply that it is feasible to modify manual wheelchairs using BG and motors, which can serve as an alternative option for wheelchair users.
[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of joystick-controlled video
console games in enhancing subjects’ ability to control power wheelchairs. [Subjects and
Methods] Twenty healthy young adults without prior experience of driving power wheelchairs
were recruited. Four commercially available video games were used as training programs to
practice joystick control in catching falling objects, crossing a river, tracing the route
while floating on a river, and navigating through a garden maze. An indoor power
wheelchair driving test, including straight lines, and right and left turns, was completed
before and after the video game practice, during which electromyographic signals of the
upper limbs were recorded. The paired t-test was used to compare the differences in
driving performance and muscle activities before and after the intervention. [Results]
Following the video game intervention, participants took significantly less time to
complete the course, with less lateral deviation when turning the indoor power wheelchair.
However, muscle activation in the upper limbs was not significantly affected. [Conclusion]
This study demonstrates the feasibility of using joystick-controlled commercial video
games to train individuals in the control of indoor power wheelchairs.
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