The houses of individuals with SCI (spinal cord injury) are remodeled according to their wheelchair operation ability, the method of body transfer, and their use of welfare equipment before they return from the hospital. In our rehabilitation center, house remodeling is demonstrated for individuals and family members using three-dimensional computer graphic images before the house construction is started. In this study, the turning radius is calculated using image sequences of the wheelchair that are estimated using the speeds of the motion of both the wheelchair rear wheels as measured using rotary encoders. The two-dimensional remodeled house image on which the turn space of the wheelchair is displayed is created using the individual's calculated turn radius of the wheelchair. Moreover, to design the toilet room, the path of motion and the image sequences of the wheelchair approaching and leaving the toilet are displayed on an image of the toilet room.

No abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the sideapproach transfer ability of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. We evaluated SCI patient's skill and muscle strength when performing the transfer motion by imaging the movements involved in each patient's transfer motion and measuring the floor reaction forces. Measurements of the side-approach transfer from wheelchair to platform were carried out in eleven SCI patients who were trained to perform the side-approach transfer during rehabilitation, and two healthy subjects. The results showed that SCI patients must have large brachial muscle strength in their both hands in order to execute the sideapproach transfer. The force patterns and force direction of the left hand differ among SCI patients. Using force patterns, medical staffs can evaluate each patient's ability to perform the side-approach transfer, and train the patients accordingly.