Exploring the lived experience of people using ultralight wheelchairs with on-the-fly adjustable seating function

Domains of wheelchair users' socio-emotional experiences: Design insights from a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Physical accessibility is not the only concern for wheelchair users (WUs); they also face barriers to social presence, such as challenges in social engagement and negative stereotypes. Identifying key domains in the literature that impact their social and emotional experiences is essential to addressing these issues.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review sought to explore the key domains of WUs' socio-emotional experiences, as a foundation for providing design-oriented insights to enhance their social presence.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases, along with a manual search of three relevant journals. Articles in English, based on original empirical studies that focused on the socio-emotional experiences of adult WUs (>18), were included.

RESULTS

Of the 48 articles included, most were from Canada (n = 11), Sweden (n = 9), the U.S. (n = 7), and the U.K. (n = 6), with limited studies from other countries. Among the six domains explored, Independence & Autonomy (26 %) was the most frequently reported, while Self-Identity & Body Image (9 %) and Social Stigma & Discrimination (5 %) were the least. Three interconnected themes emerged to guide design insights: Theme I - Foundations: Autonomy & Control, Theme II - Connections: Social Participation & Support, and Theme III - Reflection: Self- & Social-Identity.

CONCLUSION

While independence and agency are key concerns, little research has focused on perceptual issues like self- and social-identity, often highlighted in the media. This area can be refined by recognizing the crucial role of design in aesthetically shaping WUs' social representation in public settings.

Research on wheelchair form design based on Kansei engineering and GWO-BP neural network

With the increasing emphasis on humanistic care in society, consumers are no longer only concerned about the functional needs of products but also about the spiritual, cultural, and emotional needs that products bring to people. This study proposes a wheelchair form design method based on the Kansei engineering approach, which integrates the evaluation grid method (EGM), grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm, and back propagation neural network (BPNN) technology. The aim is to explore the connection between wheelchair form design elements and user emotions and help industrial designers find designs with emotional preferences. In this study method, firstly, the collected wheelchair samples were evaluated using the EGM, extracting upper-level Kansei vocabulary driven by user attractiveness, middle-level original attractiveness items, and lower-level specific design elements and extracting nine sets of Kansei vocabulary mentioned frequently by users. Meanwhile, the morphological analysis method is used to construct a sample library of product morphological elements. Secondly, the semantic difference and factor analysis methods were used to analyze the ratings of 9 pairs of Kansei words, and the weights of Kansei factors were calculated to identify three critical Kansei demand factors. Thirdly, based on the analysis results of the orthogonal experiment, a conceptual plan for the wheelchair was constructed using computer-aided technology Rhinoceros 3D modelling software. Fourthly, the semantic difference method is used to collect users' ratings of critical Kansei words for wheelchair concept schemes, and the evaluation values of critical Kansei words are calculated by weighting. Fifth, a BPNN based on the GWO algorithm will establish a predictive model between wheelchair design elements and vital Kansei images. Finally, the predictive performance of BPNN and GWO-BPNN models will be compared to verify their superiority. The results indicate that the GWO-BPNN model has better predictive ability and performance. The method proposed by this research institute can more effectively help industrial designers create products that meet users' emotional needs, providing a new perspective for wheelchair algorithm design.

Community mobility and participation assessment of manual wheelchair users: a review of current techniques and challenges

According to the World Health Organization, hundreds of individuals commence wheelchair use daily, often due to an injury such as spinal cord injury or through a condition such as a stroke. However, manual wheelchair users typically experience reductions in individual community mobility and participation. In this review, articles from 2017 to 2023 were reviewed to identify means of measuring community mobility and participation of manual wheelchair users, factors that can impact these aspects, and current rehabilitation techniques for improving them. The selected articles document current best practices utilizing self-surveys, in-clinic assessments, and remote tracking through GPS and accelerometer data, which rehabilitation specialists can apply to track their patients' community mobility and participation accurately. Furthermore, rehabilitation methods such as wheelchair training programs, brain-computer interface triggered functional electric stimulation therapy, and community-based rehabilitation programs show potential to improve the community mobility and participation of manual wheelchair users. Recommendations were made to highlight potential avenues for future research.

Effect of seat height on manual wheelchair foot propulsion, a repeated-measures crossover study: part 2 - wheeling backward on a soft surface

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the hypotheses that, during manual-wheelchair foot propulsion backward on a soft surface, lowering the seat height increases speed, push frequency and push effectiveness, and decreases perceived difficulty.Materials and methods: In a repeated-measures crossover study, 50 able-bodied participants used one foot to propel a manual wheelchair 5 m backward on a soft surface at 5 seat heights, ranging from 5.08 cm below to about 5.08 cm above lower-leg length, in random order. We recorded Wheelchair Skills Test (WST) capacity scores and used the Wheelchair Propulsion Test (WPT) to calculate speed (m/s), push frequency (cycles/s) and push effectiveness (m/cycle). We also recorded the participants' perceived difficulty (0-4) and video-recorded each trial.Results: WST capacity scores were reduced at the higher seat heights. Using repeated-measures models (adjusted for age, sex and order), there were negative relationships between seat height and speed (p < 0.0001) and push effectiveness (p < 0.0001). Lowering the seat height by 5.08 cm below lower-leg length corresponded to improvements in speed of 0.097 m/s and in push effectiveness of 0.101 m/cycle. The trend for push frequency was also significant (p = 0.035) but the effect size was smaller. Perceived difficulty increased with seat height (p < 0.0001). The video-recordings provided qualitative kinematic data regarding the seated "gait cycles".Conclusions: During manual-wheelchair foot propulsion backward on a soft surface, lowering the seat height increases speed and push effectiveness, and decreases perceived difficulty.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONBackward wheelchair foot propulsion on soft surfaces is affected by seat height.Speed (m/s) is improved if the seat height is lowered.Push effectiveness (m/gait cycle) is improved if the seat height is lowered.Perceived difficulty of propulsion is lower if the seat height is lowered.

Effect of seat height on manual wheelchair foot propulsion, a repeated-measures crossover study: part 1 - wheeling forward on a smooth level surface

Purpose: To test the hypotheses that, during manual wheelchair foot propulsion forward on smooth level surfaces, lowering the seat height increases speed, push frequency and push effectiveness, and decreases perceived difficulty.Materials and methods: In a repeated-measures crossover study, 50 able-bodied participants used one foot to propel a manual wheelchair 10 m on a smooth level surface at 5 seat heights in random order, ranging from 5.08 cm below to about 5.08 cm above lower-leg length. We recorded Wheelchair Skills Test (WST) capacity scores and used the Wheelchair Propulsion Test (WPT) to calculate speed (m/s), push frequency (cycles/s) and push effectiveness (m/cycle). We also recorded the participants' perceived difficulty (0-4) and video-recorded each trial.Results: WST capacity scores were reduced at the higher seat heights. Using repeated-measures models (adjusted for age, sex and order), there were negative relationships between seat height and speed (p < 0.0001) and push effectiveness (p < 0.0001). Lowering the seat height by 5.08 cm below lower-leg length corresponded to improvements in speed of 0.20 m/s and in push effectiveness of 0.20 m/cycle. The trend for push frequency was also significant (p = 0.003) but the effect size was smaller. Perceived difficulty increased with seat height (p < 0.001). The video-recordings provided qualitative kinematic data regarding the seated "gait cycles".Conclusions: During manual wheelchair foot propulsion forward on smooth level surfaces, lowering the seat height increases speed and push effectiveness, and decreases perceived difficulty.Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT03330912.Implications for RehabilitationGenerally, wheelchairs used for forward foot propulsion should have a seat height that is 2.54-5.08 cm less than the sitting lower-leg length.Clinicians should, however, take into consideration other functions that may be adversely affected by lowering the seat height.