Wheelchair trainer

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A wheelchair trainer or wheelchair treadmill is an apparatus that allows a manual wheelchair user to simulate linear (translational) travel while remaining stationary in a manner similar to an ambulatory person walking or running on a treadmill or a cyclist pedaling a bicycle on a bicycle trainer. The rear wheelchair wheels are placed in contact with vertical or horizontal rollers which may also be attached to flywheels, mechanical resistance or braking mechanisms, motors and various speed and force sensors. [1] Flywheels may be sized to provide a user of a certain mass with a rotational inertia equivalent to their translational (linear) inertia in order to more realistically approximate actual wheelchair propulsion.

Contents

Wheelchair trainers having independent contact rollers permit simulated directional travel (omnidirectional treadmill). Trainers may also incorporate rotary encoders, accelerometers and torque sensors to enable interface with computer data acquisition systems (DAQ) for analysis of propulsion kinematics. A quadrature rotary encoder or hall effect sensor can be implemented to provide sufficient speed and direction information to enable virtual navigation interface with video games in a manner similar to using a joystick or gaming console. Calculation of rolling resistance between the tire & contact roller interface, axle friction, and inertial characteristics of wheelchair wheels and flywheels may be used in determination of stationary propulsion dynamics. [dynamics]

History

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has substantially invested in decades long research and development for two wheelchair trainer devices: the Wheelchair Aerobic Fitness Trainer (WAFT), [2] [3] and GameWheels. [4] The history of wheelchair trainer development may be summarized from the 10 patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for stationary wheelchair trainers/treadmills/ergometers/dynamometer/simulators issued from 1980 to 2009. [5]

US Patent NumberIssue DateKey Features
4,233,844November 18, 1980introduces variable inertial flywheels to approximate user mass with speed & torque sensors
4,911,425March 27, 1990WAFT (early model) implements independent adjustable wheel resistance
4,966,362October 30, 1990incorporates forward or reverse unidirectional wheel rotation
5,476,429December 19, 1995WAFT (later model) introduces cardio exercise with active electrical controls, DAQ and video gaming interface
5,643,143July 1, 1997implements positioning over two rollers
5,649,883July 22, 1997minimizes rolling resistance for 3 wheeled wheelchair race chairs
5,704,876January 6, 1998implements bicycle trainer eddy current braking resistance and active computer control interface
5,709,631January 20, 1998implements lateral wheel guides to prevent side sway
6,113,519September 5, 2000utilizes electrically controlled resistance and camber adjustment for clinical applications
7,604,572October 20, 2009implements horizontal rollers with passive variable inertia & resistance, clinical DAQ and video gaming interface

Development

The last patent is being commercialized under the trademark Trekease, designed to serve as an acronym for Translational & Rotational Equivalent Kinetic Energy Aerobic Stationary Exertainment and as a homonym for Trekkies  – fans of Star Trek. [6] [7] [8] None of the other cited patents, including the experimental prototypes developed by the VA, are currently being commercialized; however simple unidirectional ramp and roller systems similar in design to patent #4,966,362 are being marketed by others. [9] (See also External links).

Arcade game software and clinical data acquisition use were first introduced by the Veterans Administration's WAFT as a means of promoting stationary wheelchair propulsion as a beneficial aerobic exercise. Clinical professionals are not currently in agreement regarding the cardiovascular health benefits associated with manual wheelchair propulsion and the possible long term repetitive use injuries attributed to manual wheelchair operation. [aerobics] These debates have encouraged developments to enhance wheelchair seating, [10] back support, frame, wheel, and hand-rim designs. Innovative lever styled mechanisms add a new level to improve the overall efficiency, posture and ergonomics of manual wheelchair propulsion. [ergonomics] Utilizing lever propulsion technologies on a wheelchair trainer equipped with flywheel and resistance enables one to engage in an activity similar to rowing with all its associated health benefits and risks. [11] [12]

Related Research Articles

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Assistive technology (AT) is a term for assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and the elderly. Disabled people often have difficulty performing activities of daily living (ADLs) independently, or even with assistance. ADLs are self-care activities that include toileting, mobility (ambulation), eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, and personal device care. Assistive technology can ameliorate the effects of disabilities that limit the ability to perform ADLs. Assistive technology promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to accomplish such tasks. For example, wheelchairs provide independent mobility for those who cannot walk, while assistive eating devices can enable people who cannot feed themselves to do so. Due to assistive technology, disabled people have an opportunity of a more positive and easygoing lifestyle, with an increase in "social participation", "security and control", and a greater chance to "reduce institutional costs without significantly increasing household expenses." In schools, assistive technology can be critical in allowing students with disabilities to access the general education curriculum. Students who experience challenges writing or keyboarding, for example, can use voice recognition software instead. Assistive technologies assist people who are recovering from strokes and people who have sustained injuries that affect their daily tasks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indoor rower</span> Exercise machine simulating watercraft rowing

An indoor rower, or rowing machine, is a machine used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing. Modern indoor rowers are often known as ergometers because they measure work performed by the rower. Indoor rowing has become established as a sport, drawing a competitive environment from around the world. The term "indoor rower" also refers to a participant in this sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parasports</span> Sports adapted for players with a disability

Parasports are sports played by people with a disability, including physical and intellectual disabilities. Some parasports are forms of adapted physical activities from existing non-disabled sports, while others have been specifically created for persons with a disability and do not have a non-disabled equivalent. Disability exists in four categories: physical, mental, permanent and temporary. At a competitive level, disability sport classifications are applied to allow people of varying abilities to face similar opposition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treadmill</span> Exercise machine

A treadmill is a device generally used for walking, running, or climbing while staying in the same place. Treadmills were introduced before the development of powered machines to harness the power of animals or humans to do work, often a type of mill operated by a person or animal treading the steps of a treadwheel to grind grain. In later times, treadmills were used as punishment devices for people sentenced to hard labour in prisons. The terms treadmill and treadwheel were used interchangeably for the power and punishment mechanisms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Functional electrical stimulation</span> Technique that uses low-energy electrical pulses

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a technique that uses low-energy electrical pulses to artificially generate body movements in individuals who have been paralyzed due to injury to the central nervous system. More specifically, FES can be used to generate muscle contraction in otherwise paralyzed limbs to produce functions such as grasping, walking, bladder voiding and standing. This technology was originally used to develop neuroprostheses that were implemented to permanently substitute impaired functions in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), head injury, stroke and other neurological disorders. In other words, a person would use the device each time he or she wanted to generate a desired function. FES is sometimes also referred to as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stationary bicycle</span> Exercise equipment

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliptical trainer</span> Stationary exercise machine

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exercise equipment</span> Consists of one or more items and is used for applying a sport

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobility assistance dog</span> Type of service dog

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheelchair racing</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheelchair</span> Chair with wheels used by people with mobility deficiencies

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinal Cord Independence Measure</span>

Outcome measures in rehabilitation medicine are tools used to evaluate the level of disability. They can be beneficial for physicians to judge the path of a patient's recovery, for researchers to compare different management protocols and for politicians in order to find the cost-effectiveness of their decisions.

References

  1. ↑ Stanford 2006.
  2. ↑ Langbein & Fehr 1993.
  3. ↑ "WAFT – Wheelchair Aerobic Fitness Trainer". Janus Development. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  4. ↑ O'Connor et al. 2002.
  5. ↑ Patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office:
  6. ↑ "Aerobic Exercise For The Wheelchair-Bound". Science Daily. September 15, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  7. ↑ The Daily Texan.
  8. ↑ "Research and theory". Trekease. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  9. ↑ Cooper 2006.
  10. ↑ Kotajarvi et al. 2004.
  11. ↑ McLaurin 2005.
  12. ↑ "Benefits of Rowing". Tacoma, Washington: Foss Rowing. Retrieved August 23, 2011.

Citations

Conferences

Web pages

"University of Texas-Austin adds wheelchair-accessible equipment to gym". The Daily Texan. 17 February 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2011– via Media dis&dat. Blog entry posted by the University of Texas student newspaper.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)

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