Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 489-495).

MSc, Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / Introduction Disabled sport has become very popular over the last decade with a variety of sports now available for persons with disabilities to compete in. Wheelchair basketball is a fast growing sport in South Africa. However, it is also considered a high-risk sport with most reported injuries coming from participating in the game along with tennis, road racing, rugby and soccer (Nunome et al, 2002, Ferrara and Peterson, 2000 and Curtis, 1997). The sport is characterised by high intensity propulsion and manoeuvring as well as reaching overhead for shooting, passing and rebounding (Goosey-Tolfrey et al, 2002 and Curtis et al, 1999). The athletes are thus at risk of developing in particular shoulder injuries. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of shoulder pain in South African; Gauteng based professional male wheelchair basketball players. It aimed to highlight predisposing factors contributing to the prevalence of shoulder pain as well as establish whether there is a difference in shoulder pain between the wheelchair bound athletes vs. the otherwise ambulatory athletes. By quantifying the magnitude of the problem it was hoped that awareness would lead to measures taken to rectify any problems highlighted by the research. Methods Twenty-nine professional South African: Gauteng male wheelchair basketball players took part in a cross sectional descriptive survey based study. The researcher, following signed informed consent, administered a piloted valid and reliable questionnaire to gain information regarding demographics, medical history and lifestyle habits. Results were expressed in the form of tables and graphs with frequencies, percentages and averages used to describe findings. Results Prevalence of shoulder pain was found to be 72.4% with 21 of 29 participants having experienced shoulder pain since using a wheelchair and 11 of the 29 (37.9%) having current shoulder pain. The number of years using a wheelchair significantly influenced the prevalence iv of shoulder pain (p = 0.03). One hundred percent (nine out of nine) of participants who had been using a wheelchair for longer than 10 years had experienced the problem, while of those who had been using a wheelchair for less than 10 years, 57.14% (four out of seven) had experienced shoulder pain. Time spent at work was found to be significantly associated with the presence of shoulder pain. Of the 12 people who worked more than 30 hours per week, 12 (100%) had experienced shoulder pain (p = 0.05). In the comparison of the ambulatory vs non ambulatory athletes, the wheelchair bound participants tended to be more likely to experience shoulder pain with 12 out of 15 having shoulder problems and 7 of the 12 ambulatory participants having experienced shoulder pain. This was however not a significant finding (p = 0.22). Conclusion It was found that the prevalence of shoulder pain in professional wheelchair basketball athletes in Gauteng was 72.4%. This was significantly associated with hours spent at work as well as years spent using a wheelchair. There were no significant findings regarding shoulder pain prevalence in the otherwise ambulatory vs wheelchair bound wheelchair basketball athletes. Shoulder pain is an important problem in the wheelchair basketball athlete. More education is needed regarding prevention of shoulder problems in our athletes with an emphasis on posture and ergonomic handling.

With the rise in aging population, about 6.8 million American residents are depen- dent on mobility devices for their day to day activity. More than 40% of these users have di?culty in moving the mobility device on their own. These numbers serve as a motivation on developing a system than can help in manipulation with simple muscle activity and localize the mobility device in the user's home in case of medical emergencies. This research is aimed at creating a user interface of Elec- tromyographic Sensor, attached to the forearm, incorporated with present smart wheelchairs and a simple localization technique using ducial markers. The main outcome of the research is a simulator of the smart wheelchair to analyze the results of my research.

Current one-handed manual wheelchairs are difficult to propel because one arm can only provide half the power that is ascertained in a two-handed manual wheelchair. A power-assisted hemiplegic (one-sided paralysis) wheelchair was developed that can effectively be propelled with one arm while remaining maneuverable, lightweight, and foldable. An existing manual wheelchair was minimally modified and fitted with powerassisted components that could alternatively be attached to a wide range of manual wheelchairs. The design implements a motor and gear train to power the wheel on the user’s affected side, encoders on both rear wheels to track wheel position, and a heel interface on the footrest to control steering. A controls program was developed that analyzes wheel position and steering to respond to the motion of the hand-driven wheel. Extensive testing was performed to ensure design integrity. Testing results showed that the prototype successfully met and exceeded predetermined design specifications based on industry standard testing procedures. The design has the potential to deliver increased freedom to a considerable consumer base.

"This research introduces the structure and elements of the system used to predict the user's interested location. The combination of DBSCAN (Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise) algorithm and GMM (Gaussian Mixture Model) algorithm is used to find locations where the user usually visits. In addition, the testing result of applying other clustering algorithms such as Gaussian Mixture model, Density Based clustering algorithm and K-means clustering algorithm on actual data are also shown as comparison. With having the knowledge of locations where the user usually visits, Discrete Bayesian Network is generated from the user's time-sequence location data. Combining the Bayesian Network, the user's current location and the time when the user left the other locations, the user's interested location can be predicted."

The wheelchair is an unmistakeable sign of bodily damage. It is the universal symbol of disability. How then do wheelchair users feel about themselves? How do they manage their relationship with others? How do people maintain a satisfactory self-image in the face of the highly visible chair and its associated symbolism? Some people will always see the wheelchair as a tool, just like any other piece of equipment that they may use to get a job done. However, for other people, wheelchair is more than just a tool; it becomes embodied, it becomes a part of them.

The manual wheelchair (MWC) and power wheelchair (PWC) each present advantages and disadvantages to participation and occupational performance. Consequently, some individuals choose to use both devices, depending upon the activity. A pushrim-activated, power-assisted wheelchair (PPW) may provide an alternative to the PWC for these users. This study utilized a two-phase, mixed methods design, comparing the performance and satisfaction of wheelchair users carrying out self-selected activities with their current PWC and with a PPW. There was no statistically significant difference in outcome measures between the PWC and PPW; however, many participants reported a preference for the PWC. Less accessible environments, particularly when transporting a wheelchair, were identified as opportunities for PPW use. Rather than replacing the PWC for all of their identified activities, participants indicated the PPW improved upon the MWC. As a result, participants expressed a willingness to try more (and new) activities, including some previously performed with the PWC. / October 2006

The main purpose of this thesis is to detect pedestrian crossing by static and dynamic image processing. This technique can help the blind and the disabled people to find the pedestrian crossing and walk through it safely. Until now there is no research about detecting pedestrian crossing in Taiwan. Therefore, this article applies the algorithm of Bipolarity feature in an image-based technique. In this thesis, the Bipolarity is regarded as the main feature in detecting pedestrian crossing. At first, it uses the features of pedestrian crossing, the black road surface is painted with constant-width periodic white stripes. After computation, the analysis and comparison in an image of intensity distribution is obtained. And the background will be eliminated. Secondly, Connected Component Labeling is used to extract the most similar region, and the marked region will be detected by the image. Finally, this thesis will detect whether the crossing exist or not in the marked region and measure the length of crossing. In dynamic model, the real-time image processing technique combines with wheelchair robot in order to walk through pedestrian crossing automatically, and image processing technique provides real-time offset and angle of displacement for the wheelchair robot to control and reach the destination. In this thesis, the image processing is in PC-base, and it receives the information by using a digital camera to record the real scene of pedestrian crossing. Keywords:pedestrian crossing , image processing, wheelchair robot

Wheelchairs are the most important mobility-aided device for those who cannot walk independently with moderate or severe physical disabilities, the elder, and the person with chronic diseases in their daily activities. Six-wheel Power Wheelchair has great functions, such as large sphere of actions, has the good capability of traversing step obstacles, great stability, and small radius of gyration. A good chassis mechanism should provide the following characteristics including good support, high stability, easy steering, high comfort for rider, and has the capability of traversing step obstacles. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develop the basic theories of analysis and design of six-link chassis mechanism of power wheelchairs, and produce the prototype of some novel chassis mechanisms. First, the kinematic analysis of six-link chassis mechanisms will be derived, and then a computer program will be developed. Next, the structures of six-link chassis mechanisms will be synthesized according to the creative design methodology of mechanism proposed by C. H. Hsu. Then, the structural and kinematic characteristics of chassis mechanisms proposed in patent documentation will be investigated and clarify. The optimization theory will be used to develop a feasible designing program such that the dimensions of the chassis mechanism can be determined. Finally, The results of this designs presents the three-dimension graph. The results of this paper will provide a complete theory for the systematic design of six-link chassis mechanisms for power wheelchairs, and will promote the design competency of the domestic industrial circle.

The wheelchair is an auxiliary tool for people who have defective legs. In comparison with the power wheelchair, the manual wheelchair has the advantage of low price and easy carrying. The regular, standard manual wheelchair is only suitable for residential environment and short-distance movement, and it¡¦s unsuitable for outdoor recreation and long-distance movement. The purpose of this study is to develop the manual wheelchair for outdoor recreation and long-distance movement, so that the users can expand their living space beyond the residential areas. In order to enhance the efficiency of propulsion for manual wheelchairs, a systematic designing method for propulsive mechanisms is proposed in this study in which the propulsive way of the traditional manual wheelchair is replaced by propelling the propulsive mechanism. In order to let the wheelchair be adapted to all kinds of environments, the multi-speed drive hub is applied to the manual wheelchair to enhance the users¡¦ force with more flexibility. In addition, this study also designs and manufactures a wheelchair to test the functions. The results of the test are then recorded and examined to provide the references for the future design.