Geometrical and inertial characteristics of manual wheelchairs: a comprehensive dataset

Purpose: Accurate geometrical and inertial properties of manual wheelchairs (MWC) are essential for their modelling in theoretical and numerical studies. However, the scarcity of such data in the literature limits model quality and restricts customisation. The purpose of this paper is to establish a reference dataset of geometrical and inertial properties for everyday and sports MWC, both at system and component levels. Material and methods: A total of 61 MWCs of different types (standard, active, and sport-specific), 18 rear wheels (everyday use, court sports (non-carbon), tennis (carbon), racing, and motorised), 12 caster wheels and 12 caster forks were tested. Custom-built measurement tools were used to determine geometrical and inertial parameters, including mass, 3D centre of mass location, and yaw mass moment of inertia. Average parameters of the MWC frame and body support system were then estimated by subtracting the contributions of individual components from the overall MWC measurements. Results: Measurements resulted in the development of a reference dataset containing average parameters of each MWC type and each component tested. Conclusion: This dataset supports system-level modelling of MWC while also allowing for settings changes using component-level data. It provides researchers with valuable reference data, particularly for those lacking access to a wide range of MWCs or to specialised measurement tools.