Development of a new adaptation system for a manual wheelchair based on human body function

In this paper, we propose a new adaptation system for a manual wheelchair to reduce the load on the upper extremity of the user during wheelchair manipulation and also to increase the efficiency of the wheelchair propulsion. The proposed adaptation system is designed to provide optimal position of the handrim and the desired angular position of seat and backrest of the wheelchair based on the user´s body function. Electromyogram signals from the user muscles, heart rate signals, oxygen uptake, amount of applied pressure on the seat and backrest, force/moment applied on the handrim, joint force/moment of the upper extremity and analytical results using the dynamic manipulating force ellipsoid and the driving force contribution figure are used as index parameters for the proposed adaptation system.