Ergonomic analysis of wheelchair designs

Four types of wheelchair available in India were evaluated from physiological, anthropometric and biomechanical points of view. None of the wheelchairs had a seat designed to provide comfort to the majority of disabled users. The diameter of the castor wheels in one type of wheelchair was found to be more suitable for overcoming the more common obstacles in buildings and net oxygen cost of this type was found to be much lower than the others. Propulsion of all the wheelchairs consumed more than 50% of the VO2 max of the disabled persons. The space allowed between the hand rim and the wheel was not adequate in any of the designs for comfortable and efficient propulsion. From the present evaluation it was concluded that although one type of wheelchair was preferable amongst the four examined, it still needed several modifications.