首页 | 本学科首页   官方微博 | 高级检索  
     


Mechanical efficiency and user power requirement with a pushrim activated power assisted wheelchair
Authors:Julianna Arva   Shirley G. Fitzgerald   Rory A. Cooper  Michael L. Boninger  
Affiliation:

a Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA

b Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA

c Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA

d Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA

Abstract:The objective of this study was to quantify the difference in mechanical efficiency and user power generation between traditional manual wheelchairs and a pushrim activated power assisted wheelchair (PAPAW). Ten manual wheelchair users were evaluated in a repeated measures design trial with and without the PAPAW for propulsion efficiency. Subjects propelled a Quickie GP equipped with the PAPAW and their own chair on a computer controlled wheelchair dynamometer at five different resistance levels. Power output, user power with the PAPAW hubs, subjects' oxygen consumption per minute and mechanical efficiency were analyzed. Metabolic energy and user power were significantly lower (p<0.05), and mechanical efficiency significantly higher with the PAPAW than with subjects' own chairs. Subjects needed to generate on average 3.65 times more power when propelling their own wheelchairs as compared to PAPAW. Mean mechanical efficiency over all trials was 80.33% higher with the power assisted hubs. PAPAW provides on average 73% of the total power when subjects propel with power assistance. Significantly increased efficiency and reduced requirement of user power is achieved using the PAPAW. With use, the PAPAW may contribute to delaying secondary injuries of manual wheelchair users. In addition, it may be suitable for people who have (or at risk for) upper extremity joint degeneration, reduced exercise capacity, low strength or endurance who currently use electric powered wheelchairs.
Keywords:Wheelchairs   Human–machine power   Metabolic energy   Mechanical power
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录!
设为首页 | 免责声明 | 关于勤云 | 加入收藏

Copyright©北京勤云科技发展有限公司  京ICP备09084417号