Design and Modification of One Arm Driven Manual Hemiplegic Wheelchair

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

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 upper-limb muscle strength. However, manual wheelchairs have a loss gross mechanical efficiency, and thu...

Trunk function in hemiplegic wheelchair users when using wheelchair cushions

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate adapting wheelchair cushions to hemiplegic individuals based on trunk function and a single-leg driving motion. [Subjects and Methods] Subjects were 18 hemiplegic adults who were able to use and sit up in a wheelchair. Subjects were grouped into Able and Unable groups according to the Functional Assessment for Control of the Trunk (FACT). T...

The cold hemiplegic arm.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Vasomotor changes occur in the arm after hemiplegic stroke. Previous studies have provided conflicting results, with most showing an increase in skin temperature of the hemiplegic arm. However, a number of patients complain of distressing coldness of the hemiplegic arm. METHODS Eleven patients with symptomatic coldness and 10 patients with hemiplegia but no coldness wer...

Vasospasm causing a cold hemiplegic arm.

Biomechanics of Pediatric Manual Wheelchair Mobility

Currently, there is limited research of the biomechanics of pediatric manual wheelchair mobility. Specifically, the biomechanics of functional tasks and their relationship to joint pain and health is not well understood. To contribute to this knowledge gap, a quantitative rehabilitation approach was applied for characterizing upper extremity biomechanics of manual wheelchair mobility in childre...

Repetitive Strain Injury Among Manual Wheelchair Users

W heelchairs provide mobility for millions of people with physical impairments. However, prolonged manual wheelchair use can lead to pain and repetitive strain injury (RSI) of the upper extremities. The number of manual wheelchair users experiencing pain tends to increase with the time spent using a wheelchair. Although manual wheelchairs have improved tremendously over the past 15 years, many ...