The effect of wheelchair handrim tube diameter on propulsion efficiency and force application (tube diameter and efficiency in wheelchairs)

Linden, Marcel van der; Valent, L.; Veeger, H.E.J.; Wonde, L.H.V. van der

doi:10.1109/86.536767

Cited by 61 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Instead, studies focusing on the wheelchair-user interface have manipulated the wheelchair hand rim tube diameter, profile and texture. These studies examined the influence on both biomechanical and physiological parameters, including the propulsion kinematics, force application and mechanical efficiency [3][4][5][6][7]. A few studies have focused on the sprint performance of wheelchair athletes using different hand rim configurations [8,9] and in propulsion with and without a tennis racquet [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of glove type on wheelchair rugby sports performance

et al. 2009

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The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a selection of gloves currently used by wheelchair rugby players upon aspects of skill performance. Eleven able-bodied male participants on two separate occasions performed three rugby-specific drills in four glove conditions: building (BLD), multipurpose (MLP) and US National Football League (NFL) gloves and no gloves (NO). A series of one-way ANOVA with repeated measures were performed to evaluate the different outcomes. No significant influence of glove condition was evident for ball handling accuracy. However, acceleration drills were completed significantly quicker for the NFL (15.970. . A trend was seen in the acceleration between the NFL gloves and NO compared with the NFL gloves (P 5 0.057). The peak velocities reached were significantly higher with the NFL gloves (3.570.3 m/s, Po0.05) compared with the MLP gloves (3.370.3 m/s). Subjectively, participants also favored the NFL gloves over MLP gloves. The NFL gloves were shown to perform the best, and the BLD gloves also performed favorably. However, issues still arose regarding the latter gloves' durability and protection. Gloves seem to make a difference in standardized wheelchair rugby skills. The development of a glove suitable for the specific demands of wheelchair rugby should be considered, and future testing is advised using wheelchair-dependent rugby players. r 2009 John

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of glove type on wheelchair rugby sports performance

et al. 2009

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“…But the products of academic projects are typically proof-of-concept prototypes, not products ready for commercialization. To bridge the gap between academia and industry, it was necessary to form a start-up, Global Research Innovation and Technology (GRIT) 5 , and engage the help of a product development firm, Continuum 6 . These stakeholders were able to do tasks, not academic in nature but critical to bringing a product to market, such as design for manufacturing, quality control, and packaging.…”

Section: Stakeholder-driven Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ficient to propel than a wheelchair [1,4,5], but are difficult to maneuver on soft ground and up steep hills, and are much too large to use within the home. There is tremendous demand for a device like the LFC, as 70 percent of the 20 to 40 million people in the developing world who require a wheelchair live in rural areas [6,7,8], where rough roads and muddy walking paths often provide the only connection to community, employment, and education.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stakeholder and Constraint-Driven Innovation of a Novel, Lever-Propelled, All-Terrain Wheelchair

Winter

2013

Volume 5: 25th International Conference on Design Theory and Methodology; ASME 2013 Power Transmission and Gearing Conference

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The Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC) is a low-cost, allterrain, lever-propelled wheelchair designed primarily for use in developing countries. LFC technology was conceived because 70 percent of wheelchair users in these markets live in rural areas and no currently available mobility aid enables them to travel long distances on rough terrain and maneuver in tight, indoor confines. Because developing world markets impose constraints on cost, durability, and performance, a novel solution was required to satisfy stakeholder requirements. The key innovation behind the LFC is its single speed, variable mechanical advantage lever drivetrain. The user effectively changes gear by shifting his hands along the levers; grasping near the ends increases torque, while grasping near the pivots enables a larger angular displacement with every stroke, which increases speed. The drivetrain is made from low-cost bicycle parts found throughout the developing world, which enables the LFC to be sold for $200 and be repairable anywhere.During three user trials in East Africa, Guatemala, and India, stakeholder feedback was used to refine the chair between trials, resulting in a device 9.1 kg (20 lbs) lighter, 8.9 cm (3.5 in) narrower, and with a center of gravity 12.7 cm (5 in) lower than the first iteration. Survey data substantiated increases in performance after successive iterations. Quantitative biomechanical performance data were also measured during the Guatemala and India trials, which showed the LFC to be 76 percent faster and 41 percent more efficient during a common daily commute, and able * Address all correspondence to this author. to produce 53 percent higher peak propulsion force compared to conventional, pushrim-propelled wheelchairs. The LFC offers comparable performance at less than one-twentieth the cost of off road wheelchairs available in the rich world. Stakeholder feedback and the highly-constrained environment for which the LFC was created drove the technology towards a novel, innovative solution that offers a competitive advantage in both developing and developed markets. The paper concludes with a description of how the LFC is a "constraint-driven innovation." This idea ties together the theories of "disruptive innovation" and "reverse innovation," and may be used as a design tool for engineers striving to create technologies that have global impact.

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“…Traditional manual wheelchairs (MWs) induce a greater oxygen consumption and a higher respiratory exchange ratio and are therefore beneficial to the user's health when properly used. However, the gross mechanical efficiency of such wheelchairs (i.e., the ratio of the external power to the metabolic power) is just 2 to 13.8 percent, depending on the level of injury, the propulsion technique, the adjustments made to the wheelchair interface (e.g., the seat height), and the intensity of the exercise undertaken [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. This low mechanical efficiency, coupled with the high physical strain imposed on the movements of the user, may result in fatigue or even strain-induced injuries in the worst-case scenario [10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and development of solar power-assisted manual/electric wheelchair

et al. 2014

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Abstract-Wheelchairs are an essential assistive device for many individuals with injury or disability. Manual wheelchairs provide a relatively low-cost solution to the mobility needs of such individuals. Furthermore, they provide an effective means of improving the user's cardiopulmonary function and upperlimb muscle strength. However, manual wheelchairs have a gross loss of mechanical efficiency, and thus the risk of user fatigue and upper-limb injury is increased. Electric-powered wheelchairs reduce the risk of injury and provide a more convenient means of transportation. However, they have a large physical size and are relatively expensive. Accordingly, the present study utilizes a quality function deployment method to develop a wheelchair with a user-selectable manual/electric propulsion mode and an auxiliary solar power supply system. The auxiliary solar power supply increased the travel range of the wheelchair by approximately 26% compared with that of a wheelchair powered by battery alone. Moreover, the wheelchair has a modular design and can be disassembled and folded for ease of transportation or storage. Overall, the present results suggest that the proposed wheelchair provides an effective and convenient means of meeting the mobility needs of individuals with mobility difficulties.

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The effect of wheelchair handrim tube diameter on propulsion efficiency and force application (tube diameter and efficiency in wheelchairs)

Cited by 61 publications

References 15 publications

Effect of glove type on wheelchair rugby sports performance

Effect of glove type on wheelchair rugby sports performance

Stakeholder and Constraint-Driven Innovation of a Novel, Lever-Propelled, All-Terrain Wheelchair

Design and development of solar power-assisted manual/electric wheelchair

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