Determination of generic body-seat interface shapes by cluster analysis

Author

Li, Yue ; Aissaoui, Rachid ; Brienza, David M. ; Dansereau, Jean

Author_Institution

Dept. of Mech. Eng., Ecole Polytech., Montreal, Que., Canada

Volume

8

Issue

4

fYear

2000

fDate

12/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

481

Lastpage

489

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine typical or generic shape patterns of the buttock-seat interface for elderly wheelchair users. The group of subjects was composed of 30 elderly people (aged 65 or older) and the shapes of the body-seat interface were measured by the electronic shape sensor (ESS). By analyzing the dissimilarity in geometrical shape descriptors or parameters, four distinct generic shapes were identified by means of the cluster analysis method. The results suggest that the generic shapes were mainly characterized by the lateral symmetry of the shapes. The determination of elderly people´s seat interface shapes into distinct clusters may lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the seat support interface and more effective seat cushion designs

Keywords

biomechanics; biomedical measurement; geriatrics; handicapped aids; shape measurement; statistical analysis; 65 y; buttock-seat interface; cluster analysis; elderly people; elderly wheelchair users; electronic shape sensor; generic body-seat interface shapes determination; lateral symmetry; more effective seat cushion designs; pressure ulcers; seat support interface understanding; Aging; Biological tissues; Electronic switching systems; Helium; Manufacturing; Pattern analysis; Senior citizens; Sensor phenomena and characterization; Shape measurement; Wheelchairs;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1063-6528

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/86.895951

Filename

895951