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Foot shields for wheelchairs.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|February 1, 1984
Summary
Wheelchair users, especially those with quadriplegia, face collision risks. A simple foot shield can be added to manual or electric wheelchairs to protect users
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Assistive Technology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Quadriplegic individuals using wheelchairs face unique risks during mobility.
- Collisions between wheelchairs or with external objects can lead to severe foot injuries.
- Existing wheelchair designs offer limited protection for the feet during impact events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the dangers faced by wheelchair users, particularly those with quadriplegia.
- To describe a practical and easily constructible solution for enhancing wheelchair safety.
- To present a foot shield designed to protect wheelchair users' feet during collisions.
Main Methods:
- Design and construction of a universal foot shield adaptable to most manual and electric wheelchairs.
- Evaluation of the shield's feasibility and protective capabilities through simulated collision scenarios.
- Assessment of the shield's ease of construction and integration with existing wheelchair models.
Main Results:
- A prototype foot shield was successfully developed and tested.
- The shield demonstrated effectiveness in protecting the user's feet from direct impact.
- The design is simple, cost-effective, and compatible with a wide range of wheelchairs.
Conclusions:
- The foot shield offers a practical and accessible safety enhancement for wheelchair users.
- Implementation of this device can significantly reduce the risk of foot injuries in collision incidents.
- Further research could explore user feedback and long-term durability of the foot shield.