Physical activity monitoring and sharing platform for manual wheelchair users

Unlike able-bodied ambulatory population, wheelchair users do not have adequate access to technologies that monitor and motivate physical activity (PA). We developed a physical activity monitoring and sharing platform (PAMS) especially suited for capturing PA that are part of the lifestyle in wheelchair users and motivating them to be physically active via social networking based applications. This paper describes the general infrastructure and components of the prototype PAMS. The monitoring unit is designed to capture the activity type, amount, and associated energy expenditure of wheelchair users. The sharing unit consists of a web-based application and an Android-based mobile application built on top of Facebook platform and allows wheelchair users to self-monitor and share their PA information with their community of interest. The prototype PAMS is being evaluated for its reliability in capturing PA, validity in measuring PA parameters, and usability of the sharing applications among wheelchair users. We expect the PAMS will enable wheelchair users to track their own PA participation and become more physically active, leading to better overall health, greater community participation, and higher quality of life.