The Symmetry of the Muscle Tension Signal in the Upper Limbs When Propelling a Wheelchair and Innovative Control Systems for Propulsion System Gear Ratio or Propulsion Torque: A Pilot Study

Warguła, Łukasz; Marciniak, Agnieszka

doi:10.3390/sym14051002

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The values of the moments of resistance selected in the study have been estimated experimentally [35] and correspond to the resistance to motion occurring when riding a wheelchair on an even hard surface inside a building (m = 8.14 Nm), on pavements in an urban area contaminated with loose sand (m = 9.67 Nm) and approaching a paved hill with a slope of 4° (m = 11.1 Nm). The research fits into the modern trend of designing machines and devices using the analysis of EMG signals of the upper limb muscles, and the recorded values of this signal are similar to the results obtained by other researchers [37][38][39].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Influence of a Hybrid Manual–Electric Wheelchair Propulsion System on the User’s Muscular Effort

Wieczorek

Warguła

Kukla

2023

Acta Mechanica Et Automatica

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Self-propelled wheelchairs favour the rehabilitation process, forcing the user to be physically active. Unfortunately, in most cases, the manual propulsion is not adapted to the individual needs and physical capabilities of the user. This paper presents the results of operational tests of a wheelchair equipped with a hybrid propulsion system in which the muscle strength generated by the user is assisted by two independent electric motors. The research aimed to investigate the influence of the applied control algorithm and the assistance factor (W) on the value of the muscular effort (MA) while propelling the wheelchair with the use of push rims. A modified ARmedical AR-405 wheelchair equipped with two MagicPie 5 electric motors built into the wheelchair’s hubs with a power of 500 W was used in this research. The tests were carried out on a wheelchair test bench simulating the moment of resistance within the range of 8–11 Nm. Surface electromyography was employed for the measurement of MA, specifically, a four-channel Noraxon Mini DTS apparatus. The research was carried out on five patients from the group of C50 anthropometric dimensions. The effort was measured for four muscles: deltoid–anterior part, deltoid–posteriori part, and triceps brachii and extensor carpi radialis longus. The effectiveness of the hybrid propulsion system was observed based on the extensor carpi radialis longus muscle. In this case, for the standard wheelchair, the MA ranged from 93% to 123%. In contrast, for a wheelchair equipped with the hybrid propulsion system, at W = 70%, the MA was within the range of 43%–75%.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Influence of a Hybrid Manual–Electric Wheelchair Propulsion System on the User’s Muscular Effort

Wieczorek

Warguła

Kukla

2023

Acta Mechanica Et Automatica

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“…In the δ avg analysis performed following the research methodology, it was assumed that the value of the damping decrement of subsequent amplitudes (from A 1 to A n ) is constant if it falls within the range of δ(n = 6) ± 0.5%. This assumption means that the ratio of the first measured amplitude to the n-th consecutive amplitude is approximately equal (5).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A person using a wheelchair forms an anthropotechnical system that can be modeled with many related biomechanical and mechanical parameters and causal effects [1][2][3]. One such parameter relation is the movement of the human body combined with the movement of a wheelchair [4,5]. This connection results from the cyclical propelling of the wheelchair using the upper limbs and the transfer of mechanical energy to the human body through the body support system of the moving wheelchair [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Impact of Carbon Fiber as a Wheelchair Frame Material on Its Ability to Dissipate Kinetic Energy and Reduce Vibrations

Wieczorek,

Warguła,

Adamiec

et al. 2024

Materials

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Using a wheelchair over uneven terrain generates vibrations of the human body. These vibrations result from mechanical energy impulses transferred from the ground through the wheelchair components to the user’s body, which may negatively affect the quality of the wheelchair use and the user’s health. This energy can be dissipated through the structure of the wheelchair frame, such as polymer and carbon fiber composites. This article aims to compare a wheelchair with an aluminum alloy frame and a carbon fiber frame in terms of reducing kinematic excitation acting on the user’s body. Three wheelchairs were used in the study, one with an aluminum alloy frame (reference) and two innovative ones with composite frames. The user was sitting in the tested wheelchairs and had an accelerometer attached to their forehead. The vibrations were generated by applying impulses to the rear wheels of the wheelchair. The obtained results were analyzed and compared, especially regarding differences in the damping decrement. The research shows that using modern materials in the wheelchair frame has a beneficial effect on vibration damping. Although the frame structure and material did not significantly impact the reduction in the acceleration vector, the material and geometry had a beneficial effect on the short dissipation time of the mechanical energy generated by the kinematic excitation. Research has shown that modern construction materials, especially carbon fiber-reinforced composites, may be an alternative to traditional wheelchair suspension modules, effectively damping vibrations.

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“…The limitation of the design of wheelchairs using gears is an increased resistance to motion, as demonstrated by Warguła et al 2021 [56]; however, advanced gear shifting systems in the transmission can compensate for these losses and represent a new trend in wheelchair gear applications [57].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manual Wheelchair Equipped with a Planetary Gear-Research Methodology and Preliminary Results

et al. 2022

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The purpose of the study was to create a research methodology for testing the newly developed wheelchair drive, which allows the operator to choose the gear ratio and, thus, makes it possible to change the propulsion torque value. The aim was to choose such conditions in the experiment, that would result in great enough changes in the participant’s muscle load and body kinematics for it to be possible to register them with applied measuring methods. Surface electromyography was used to assess the effort that was required for the propulsion of a wheelchair under different conditions. Additionally, upper limb motion capture measurements were also performed. The preliminary results show that the muscular effort of the participant propelling the wheelchair increases with the load—resulting from both the gear ratio and the inclination angle. At the same time, the position of the motion range of upper limb individual segments changes significantly. Simultaneously, the mean value of the shoulder displacement and its angle of rotation decreases.

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The Symmetry of the Muscle Tension Signal in the Upper Limbs When Propelling a Wheelchair and Innovative Control Systems for Propulsion System Gear Ratio or Propulsion Torque: A Pilot Study

Cited by 7 publications

References 43 publications

Influence of a Hybrid Manual–Electric Wheelchair Propulsion System on the User’s Muscular Effort

Influence of a Hybrid Manual–Electric Wheelchair Propulsion System on the User’s Muscular Effort

Investigating the Impact of Carbon Fiber as a Wheelchair Frame Material on Its Ability to Dissipate Kinetic Energy and Reduce Vibrations

Manual Wheelchair Equipped with a Planetary Gear-Research Methodology and Preliminary Results

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