Article

Difficulty ascending ramps and inclines with a manual wheelchair
adversely affects the everyday mobility and overall quality of life of manual
wheelchair users. Currently, various anti-rollback devices are available to
assist manual wheelchair users to ascend ramps and inclines. However, these
devices have 2 main shortcomings : restriction to backward motion limiting
recovery from an overturning wheelchair, which is a safety concern; and
difficulty in engaging/disengaging the device while on the ramp.
OBJECTIVE: To
evaluate the functionality and usability of 2 novel wheelchair anti-rollback
devices developed to address these shortcomings (prototypes "Wheel" and "Brake").
DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Rehabilitation research facility. PARTICIPANTS:
Twelve adult participants with chronic spinal cord injury. METHODS: Participants
completed training and tested with both the wheelchair anti-rollback devices on a
7.3-m-long ramp. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Number of stops, perceived physical
exertion, pain, and ease of use of these devices as participants maneuvered their
wheelchairs up a 7.3-m ramp were assessed. Participants also evaluated their
satisfaction with the usability of both the devices using the Quebec User
Evaluation of Satisfaction With Assistive Technology
(QUEST 2.0). RESULTS: Both
prototypes evaluated overcame the limitations of the existing anti-rollback
devices. Nonparametric statistical tests showed that participants rated both
prototypes similarly for the overall functional and usability aspects. However,
the participants' satisfactory rating were higher for the prototype "Brake" than
for the prototype "Wheel" based on a functional aspect (ie, engaging/disengaging
easiness), and higher for Wheel than for Brake, based on a usability aspect
(prototype size). CONCLUSIONS: The qualitative and quantitative outcomes of this
investigation, based on the usability and functional evaluations, provided useful
information for the improvement in the design of both anti-rollback devices,
which may allow manual wheelchair users to manage ramp ascent more safely and
easily. Further evaluations with a different SCI population is recommended.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.
CI - Copyright (c) 2017 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS