Abstract
A new wheelchair ergometer has been designed in which a combination of realistic simulation of wheelchair propulsion—with adjustable parameters for rolling resistance, air drag, wind speed and slope—and force measurement has been realised. The static solution enables the measurement of physiological and kinesiological parameters. All data from force transducers in seat and backrest, torque transducers in the wheels and force transducers in the wheelframes as well as the acquired speed are sampled in a data-acquisition system. An offline curve processor allows the acquired data to be processed with standard or custom-programmed routines. Preliminary results have been added and are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brattgaard, S. O., Grimby, G. andHook, O. (1970) Energy expenditure and heart rate in driving a wheelchair ergometer.Scand. J. Rehab. Med.,2, 143–148.
Brauer, R.L. (1972) An ergonomic analysis of wheelchair wheeling. Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois.
Brouha, L. andKrobath, H. (1967) Continuous recording of cardiac and respiratory functions in normal and handicapped persons.Human Factors,9, 567–572.
Brubaker, C.E., McLaurin, C. A. andGibson, J. D. (1981). Effect of seat position on wheelchair performance. Proc. Int. Conf. Rehab. Eng., 134–136.
Burkett, L. N., Chisum, J., Cook, R., Norton, B., Taylor, B., Ruppert, K. andWells, C. (1987) Construction and validation of a hysteresis brake wheelchair ergometer.Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly,4, 60–71.
Coe, P. L. Jr (1979) Aerodynamic characteristics of wheelchairs. NASA Technical Memorandum 80191.
Dillmann, G. andNietert, M. (1980) Ein neues System zur ergometrischer Leistungsmessung und Rollstuhlfahrern.Med. Orthop. Techn.,2, 81–84.
Engel, P. andHildebrandt, G. (1973) Long-term spiroergometric studies of paraplegics during the clinical period of rehabilitation.Paraplegia,2, 105–110.
Forchheimer, F. andLundberg, A. (1986) Wheelchair ergometer, development of a prototype with electronic braking.Scand. J. Rehab. Med.,18, 59–63.
Glaser, R. M., Sawka, M. N., Young, R. E. andSuryaprasad, A. G. (1980) Applied physiology for wheelchair design.J. Appl. Physiol.,48, 41–44.
Gommers, C. M. J. (1976) Enige nieuwe vormen van rekstrookelementen.Microtechniek,6, 109–122.
Gordon, E. E. (1952) Energy costs of various physical activities in relation to pulmonary tuberculosis.Arch. Physical Med.,33, 201–209.
Jarvis, S. andRolfe, A. (1982) The use of an inertial dynamometer to explore the design of children's wheelchairs.Scand. J. Rehab. Med.,14, 167–176.
Lehman, J. F., Warren, C. G., Halar, E., Stonebridge, J. B. andDeLateur, B. J. (1974) Wheelchair propulsion in the quadriplegic patient.Arch. Physical Med. & Rehab.,55, 183–186.
Lesser, W. (1986) Ergonomische Untersuchungen der Gestaltung antriebsrelevanter Einflussgrössen beim Rollstuhl mit Handantrieb. Fortschrittberichte VDI Verlag, Reihe 17: Biotechnik nr. 28, Düsseldorf.
Motloch, W. M. andBrearley, M. N. (1983) Technical note—a wheelchair ergometer for assessing patients in their own wheelchairs.Prosthetics & Orthotics Int.,7, 50–51.
Peizer, E., Wright, D. andFreiberger, H. (1964) Bioengineering methods of wheelchair evaluation.Bull. Prosthetic Res.,10, 77–100.
Pronk, C. N. A. andNiesing, R. (1981) Measuring hand-grip force, using a new application of strain gauges.Med. & Biol. Eng. & Comput.,19, 127–128.
Pronk, C. N. A. andNiesing, R. (1983) Apparatus for measuring the functional capacity of the knee extensors and flexors.Ibid.,,21, 764–767.
Sanderson, O. J. andSommer, H. J. III (1985) Kinematic features of wheelchair propulsion.J. Biomech.,18, 423–429.
Stoboy, H., Rich, B. W. andLee, M. (1971) Workload and energy expenditure during wheelchair propelling.Paraplegia,8, 223–230.
van der Woude, L. H. V., de Groot, G., Hollander, A. P., van Ingen Schenau, G. J. andRozendal, R. H. (1986) Wheelchair ergonomics and physiological testing of prototypes.Ergonomics,29, 1561–1573.
van der Woude, L. H. V., Veeger, H. E. J. andRozendal, R. H. (1989a) Propulsion technique in hand rim wheelchair propulsion.J. Med. Eng. Techn.,13, 136–141.
van der Woude, L. H. V., Veeger, H. E. J. andRozendal, R. H. (1989b) Seat height in hand rim wheelchair propulsion (abstract). Proc. 7th Int. Symp. on Adapted Physical Activity, Berlin, 248.
van der Woude, L. H. V., Veeger, H. E. J., Rozendal, R. H. andSargeant, A. J. (1989c) Optimum cycle frequencies in hand rim wheelchair propulsion.Europ. J. Appl. Phys.,58, 625–632.
van der Woude, L. H. V., Veeger, H. E. J., Koperdraat, J. andDrexhage, D. (1989d) Design of a static wheelchair ergometer: preliminary results (abstract). Proc. 7th Int. Symp. on Adapted Physical Activity, Berlin, 171.
Veeger, H. E. J., van der Woude, L. H. J., Drexhage, D. andKoperdraat, J. (1989) Peak power output in wheelchair sprinting (abstract). Proc. Biomechanics XII, ISB Los Angeles, 217.
Voight, E. D. andBahn, D. (1969) Metabolism and pulse rate in physically handicapped when propelling a wheelchair up an incline.Scand. J. Rehab. Med.,1, 101–106.
Wicks, J. R., Oldridge, N. B., Cameron, B. J. andJones, N. L. (1977) Arm cranking and wheelchair ergometry in elite spinal cord-injury athletes.Paraplegia,15, 252–261.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Niesing, R., Eijskoot, F., Kranse, R. et al. Computer-controlled wheelchair ergometer. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 28, 329–338 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02446151
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02446151