• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.55-58
• /
• 2016

PURPOSE: This study was measured the differences in the flexor and extensor muscle activities of the elbow joints based on the tire pressure of wheelchairs during propulsion, investigating the optimal tire pressure for improving occupants' propulsion and avoiding related injury. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers (10 men aged $23.1{\pm}1.9years$, weight: $67.9{\pm}3.4kg$, height: $175.1{\pm}2.7cm$) took part in the study. The mean values used in the statistical process were obtained from values measured while a subject sitting on a wheelchair propelled himself forward for 10 meters on a flat floor at maximum speed. The tire pressure of the wheelchairs was set at 100 psi, 50 psi, and 25 psi. All of the subjects performed wheelchair propulsion for each pressure. This study was measured the activation of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles on the dominant side during wheelchair propulsion. The measured data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) via the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 12.0 for Windows to compare the muscle activity. RESULTS: The muscle activities of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii were significant differences between each pressure group. The post hoc test found statistically significant differences between 100 psi and 50 psi and 100 psi and 25 psi for the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles, respectively. CONCLUSION: The maintaining proper tire pressure in a wheelchair may help to prevent overuse syndrome in the occupant's elbow joints.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.80-85
• /
• 2011

This paper presents the design of the power-assisted controller for the in-wheel type smart wheelchair by using torque estimation that is predicted by relationship between input voltage and output wheel angular velocity. Nowadays, interest of the moving assistant aids is increased according to the increase in population of the elderly and the handicapped person. However some of the moving assistant aids have problems. For example, manual wheelchair has difficulty moving at the slope, because users lack the muscular strength of their arm. In electric wheelchair case, users should be weak by being decreased muscles of upper body. To overcome these problems, power-assisted electric wheelchair are proposed. Most of the power-assisted electric wheelchair have the special rims that can measure the user's power. In here, the rims have to be designed to install the sensors to measure user's power. In this paper, we don't design the rim to measure the man power. To predict the man power, we propose a control algorithm of the in-wheeled electric wheelchair by using torque estimation from the wheel. First, we measure the wheel velocity and voltage at the in-wheel electric wheelchair. And then we extract driving will forces by using proposed mathematical model. Also they are applied at the controller as the control input, we verify to be able to control in-wheel type smart wheelchair by using simulation.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.525-531
• /
• 2023

In Korea, which is entering a super-aged society, the number of elderly patients who have difficulty walking independently is expected to increase rapidly, and it is necessary to develop wheelchair products with various functions to improve the quality of life of people with walking disabilities. Recently, wheelchair power assist devices that provide propulsion power by being attached to a manual wheelchair has been developed and is entering the domestic and global markets. In this study, we compared and analyzed the process of obtaining medical device certification for wheelchair power assist devices in Korea, the United States, and Europe. In Korea, a Class 2 medical device certification process was developed in 2021, and in the US FDA, it corresponds to Class 2 like the existing electric wheelchair and must pass the 510k certification process. In the case of Europe, it is uniquely regulated as Class I, and the CE mark can be attached through a relatively easy self-declaration of conformity. The Korean medical device industry, which is struggling with MDR certification, a new European medical device regulation, should pay attention to the relatively easy entry into the global market for wheelchair power assist products.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.543-554
• /
• 1995

This paper describes the improvement of driving stability and the control system for INMEL-VII which is motorized manual wheelchair to satisfy requirements of the disabled The INMEL-VI was based on high maneuverability of the omnidirection drive and safety But the results of field tests about two years showed some problems to the disabled in daily life such as driving stability, Pm switching noise, and rotation of motor without driving command on negative slope. To solve the problems due to an increased DC motor power and applied to direct connection method in INMEL- VII. It improved the driving circuits and set switching frequency to 5KHz to eliminate the switching noise caused by PWM control of DC motor, As compare with the INMEL-VI, INMEL-VII is improved in driving stability by transfer the weight center to forward. The results of field testing proved the improvement of the driving stability and software algorithm It has been estimated to have a hlgh practical use for powered walking aids to the disabled's daily life.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.12 no.12
• /
• pp.427-434
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the job-performance of manual wheelchair post-management and to find out the relationship between job-performance and vocational ability of people with developmental disabilities. In this study, situational evaluation and vocational evaluation were conducted for 9 subjects participated in the vocational training program about manual wheelchair post-management. The data was analyzed by non-parametric statistical processing. As a result, the job-performance was an average of 80.87%. The job-performance had a positive correlations with visual closure, kinesthetic integration, and basic concepts(p<.05). The relationship between job-performance and vocational abilities can be used as basic data for vocational training program and job assignment. It is expected to be useful of spreading the post-management job for assistive technology devices in the local community activated through the convergence of assistive technology and vocational rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
• /
• v.52 no.7
• /
• pp.153-161
• /
• 2015

In the present study, as part of the technology development (Quality of Life Technology, QoLT) to improve the socio-economic status of people with disabilities as an extension of these studies, we propose the development of the smart wheelchair system and navigation technology for stable and safe driving in various environments. For the disabled and the elderly make driving easy and convenient with manual/autonomous driving condition, we firstly develop the user-oriented smart wheelchair system with optimized sensors for environment recognition, and then we propose a navigation framework of a hierarchical structure to ensure real-time response, as well as driving stability when traveling to various environmental changes, and to enable a more efficient operation. From the result of several independent experiments, we ensure efficiency and safety of smart wheelchair and its navigation system.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.119-124
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lifting equation (NLE) is a useful tool to ergonomically analyze a workload. The NLE has high reliability and it can assess tasks by analyzing the work process. The purpose of this case study was to try using the NLE to analyze the workload of transferring patients by physical therapists in the hospital setting. Methods: We observed a physical therapist (PT) transferring patients from a wheelchair to a tilt table and a therapeutic table in one day. Two types of patient transferring methods were evaluated; (1) the manual single person method of stand, pivot and transfer, and (2) manual two person lifting under the thigh and grasping the waist for totally dependent patients. Results: The NIOSH lifting indexes of a person grasping the waist during the manual two person lifting were 5.52~4.48 according to the patient's weight. The NIOSH lifting indexes were 3.34 and 4.48 for the tasks performed by the manual single person method. Conclusion: Because transferring patients is not done very frequently, patients transferring tasks by a PT are not included as one of the musculoskeletal disorder related risky work criteria of the Korea Ministry of Labor. But the NIOSH lifting indexes of a person grasping the waist during the manual two person lifting and the manual single person method were over the NIOSH recommended weight limit threshold.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.1533-1536
• /
• 2018

The purpose of present study was to investigate the effect of kinesio taping on pulmonary function in stroke patients using manual wheelchairs. Twenty stroke patients were divided into a wood chair group (WCG, n=10), a wheelchairs group (WG, n=10), and a kinesio taping with wheelchairs group (KWG, n=10). Taping with wheelchairs group was applied kinesio taping on back muscles (vertical paraspinal strips and oblique strips). All three groups were trained in upright seated posture for 30 minutes. Pulmonary function tests were performed with forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow as spirometer. There was a significant increase in forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity only in KWG. The results of this study demonstrate that kinesio taping has an immediate effect on the improvement of pulmonary function in stroke patients using manual wheelchairs.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.23 no.6 s.78
• /
• pp.67-77
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accessibility of existing multi-household multi-studio type house for developing Senior Congregate Housing. At present, in Korea, 'the Act of Promotion of Convenience and SEcurity for Disabled, Aged, Expectant Mothers, etc.' is applied to only public facilities. Therefore, this study evaluated 7 units -2 multi-household house and i multi-studio type house- in order to grasp the problems caused if the aged would dwell in that type of house, by the items of 'manual for improving the residency of the disabled' which was stipulated by the act above. The data was collected from May to June, 2005. The results were as follows: Firstly, the main entrances, exits and width of stairways had narrow spaces, the handles and bars did not conform with the terms presented in the manual above. Front doors should be opened like a bay for wheelchair use. Secondly, additional lighting apparatus and furniture should be added properly Thirdly, there were several inconformity to the manual for bathroom: improper handles, inadjustable washing-stands, unavailable spaces in front of toilet bowls, and out-of-place showers and taps. Finally kitchen cabinet design improper for wheelchair user. In conclusion, accessibility of existing multi-household or multi-studio type house was not good enough for the aged reside in. Those insufficiencies suggest that more specified standards to enhance accessibility to develop senior congregate housing should be added.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide logical basis on enlargement of toilet floor space for the disabled by "ACT ON GUARANTEE OF PROMOTION OF CONVENIENCE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THE AGED, PREGNANT WOMEN. ETC" Revised Enforcement regulation [Asterisk 1] (2018.2.10.) and to help with making plans, designs and establishing policies by conducting experimental study with the enhanced floor area regulations. Methods: We conduct Experimental study, field work and interview for this paper. In experimental study, verification of the effective floor area was proceeded by measuring activity space for people in manual wheelchair, electric wheel chair and electric scooter and also reviewed useable area with the space expanded 0.2m both width and depth. In filed work, conducted an observation what other things (ex. sanitary equipment, hand rail and so on) can also affect the active space as well as effective floor space. In the interview, other problems and requirements that were not revealed were experimental study and observation of field work. Results : it's expected to provide better access to toilets for the disabled with the law revision of effective floor area. But, with the usage increasement of enlarged wheel chair and electric wheel chair, expanding side areas of toilet is also highly likely to be required going forward. Implications : Additional research is required on locations of exists and internal arrangement that effect the usage of toilet. It should be led to Universal design by making additional investigation and verification of the users patterns.