A propulsão manual representa a principal forma de locomoção das pessoas que necessitam de cadeira de rodas, e tem sido relacionada com a alta prevalência de dor e inflamação nos membros superiores, devido principalmente à carga elevada e aos movimentos repetitivos durante a atividade de propulsão da cadeira de rodas. O aro de propulsão convencional é um tubo metálico circular instalado lateralmente à roda, através do qual o usuário impulsiona e freia a cadeira, e apresenta diâmetro insuficiente para preensão adequada das mãos, oferecendo superfície de contato e atrito insuficientes, o que exige maior força para segurar o aro, diminuindo a eficiência da propulsão. Este estudo tem como objetivo desenvolver um aro de propulsão manual ergonômico para cadeira de rodas. Os procedimentos metodológicos foram divididos em três etapas: desenvolvimento do conceito, que envolve a criação do design do produto, com base em dados antropométricos e ergonômicos; confecção de um modelo, através da técnica de prototipagem rápida e moldagem para reprodução seqüencial de peças; avaliação do equipamento, composta de experimentação feita por usuários de cadeira de rodas seguida de aplicação de questionário para da percepção de qualidade do equipamento. A técnica utilizada de prototipagem rápida e moldagem para reprodução de peças mostrou-se adequada a este estudo, ao produzir um modelo idêntico ao projetado em software de CAD. O modelo, produzido em poliuretano, apresentou acoplamento adequado com a mão, e cumpriu os objetivos de minimizar a postura flexora dos dedos e oferecer maior superfície de contato, através de seu desenho ergonômico baseado em medidas antropométricas da mão. Os usuários de cadeira de rodas consideraram que o aro ergonômico oferece, em comparação ao aro original: maior conforto na propulsão e frenagem da cadeira; melhor encaixe para as mãos; menor exigência de força nas mãos para segurar o aro; maior facilidade para propulsionar e manobrar a cadeira. Ainda que os resultados indiquem boa adequação da mão ao aro ergonômico, com conforto e facilidade na locomoção referidos pelos pacientes, há a necessidade de melhor avaliação do equipamento, através de estudos que explorem os aspectos cinéticos e cinemáticos da propulsão manual com o aro ergonômico. Ainda, há a necessidade de compreender os efeitos do uso prolongado do aro ergonômico, com o usuário utilizando-o em seu ambiente, realizando suas atividades e enfrentando as dificuldades rotineiras de locomoção com a cadeira de rodas. A utilização de conceitos inovadores no design de produtos de tecnologia assistiva, característica que define a essência deste trabalho, sinaliza a tendência de desenvolvimento de produtos e soluções cada vez mais avançados e personalizados para pessoas com necessidades especiais. / The manual propulsion represents the main form of locomotion of persons who need a wheelchair, and has been associated with high prevalence of pain and inflammation in the upper limbs, due mainly to high load and repetitive movements during wheelchair propulsion. The wheelchair pushrim is a circular metal tube installed laterally on the wheel, through which the user pushes and breaks the wheelchair. The conventional wheelchair pushrim has insufficient diameter to proper grip of the fingers, providing insufficient surface contact area and friction, which requires greater strength to hold the pushrim, reducing the efficiency of propulsion. This study aims to develop an ergonomic wheelchair pushrim. The methodological procedures were divided into three stages: concept development, which involves the design of the product, based on anthropometric and ergonomic data; construction of a model, using the technique of rapid prototyping and molding for reproduction of parts; equipment evaluation, consisting of experimentation by wheelchair users, followed by a questionnaire for assessing the perceived quality of the equipment. The technique of rapid prototyping and molding for reproduction of parts of the pushrim was appropriate to this study by producing a model identical to that designed in CAD software. The model, made of polyurethane, showed adequate coupling with the hand, and fulfilled the objective of minimizing the flexor posture of the fingers and providing greater contact surface, through its ergonomic design based on anthropometric measures of hand. The wheelchair users found that the ergonomic pushrim design offers, compared to the conventional pushrim: greater comfort in propelling and braking the wheelchair; better fit for the hands; lower demand for force in the hands to hold the pushrim; easier to propel and maneuver the wheelchair. Although the results indicate good adaptation of the hand to the ergonomic pushrim, with comfort and ease of locomotion reported by patients, there is a need for better assessment of the equipment, through studies that explore the kinetic and kinematic aspects of manual wheelchair propulsion with the ergonomic pushrim. Still, there is a need to understand the effects of prolonged use of the ergonomic pushrim, with the users using it in their environment, making their activities and facing the difficulties of locomotion with a wheelchair. The use of innovative concepts in the design of assistive technology products, a characteristic that defines the essence of this study, indicates the trend of developing products and solutions increasingly advanced and customized for people with special needs.

This thesis aims to understand how en-wheeled women engaged in hyperfemininity as a stigma management technique in order to diminish asexualization. Grounding my work in the tradition of Goffman and symbolic interaction, I argue that women who do hyperfemininity as a stigma management technique do so in an attempt to make their identity as a woman more salient then their identity as someone who is disabled. As most of the research surrounding disability focuses on masculinity and disabled women‘s heterosexuality it is imperative to continue the expansion of scholarship at the intersection of disability and gender. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of back and seat rest inclination on the kinematics of manual hand-rim wheelchair propulsion in subjects with spastic type cerebral palsy. Subjects ranged in age from nine to twenty-one and were classified as USCPAA Class III or IV functional ability. Subjects were required to propel a standardized wheelchair at six seat positions from combinations of back rest angles of 0, 3 and -5 degrees from vertical and thigh angles of 0 and 5 degrees from horizontal. Combinations of thigh/seat rest angles were 0/-5, 5/-5, 5/0, 5/3, 0/3, 0/0 constituting the six different conditions. Subjects were filmed while wheeling in each seat position. Wheeling was performed at two and three kilometers per hour on a low friction roller system. It was hypothesized that since individuals with spastic type cerebral palsy have improved functional upper extremity performance as the body center of mass is positioned over the ischial tuberocities and hip flexion angle is maintained at 90 degrees (0/0), that similar results would be found in wheelchair propulsion. Based on the results of kinematic data analyzed in this study there was no indication that the 0/0 seat position was superior for subjects with cerebral palsy under the conditions of this study. Larger elbow flexion/extension range of motion (p = .06) exhibited by the 5/3 and 5/0 seat orientations suggests that these positions provide a more effective wheelchair propulsion orientation for subjects in this study. / Graduation date: 1996

Thesis (M.Sc.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Computer Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-117). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38843

M. Tech. Electrical Engineering. / Wheeled Mobile Platforms have considerable acceptance and dominance in the field of transportation. While most of these platforms have been designed for able users, very few special designs are available for the physically disabled persons. With increasing numbers of disabled peoples around the world, accommodative and safer displacement means are called for. A normal wheelchair platform with two front castor wheel and two independently driven rear wheels is therefore considered in this study for modelling and control. Based on the nature of persons using wheelchairs, better and much easy to control wheelchair platforms are necessitated. To achieve such objective, this research is focused on two main threads: dynamic modelling and control. In modelling, the aim is to present a dynamic model of wheelchair platform that takes into account slipping parameters and frictional/traction forces experienced on motion. It also intends to account for the effects of gravitational forces that would be experienced by the wheelchair and its effect on the platforms during uphill and downhill movements. Lagrange formalism is utilised in the design of this dynamic model. In control, the objective is to ensure that the platform tracks the reference linear velocity and the reference angular orientation as desired. With such control commands, a simple access device may be employed to ensure that people with severe disability also have a chance of controlling the wheelchair. Since no zero dynamics arise with linear velocity and angular orientation as the platforms outputs, standard input-output feedback linearisation is considered and applied in the linearisation of the model and in the development of the control law. Successfully simulated results demonstrating the performance of the proposed dynamic model and control law are presented for verification. The entire dynamic model and the controller are simulated in a software tool MATLAB and SIMULINK.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the arm joint angle at contact-release with peak velocity in experienced cerebral palsied athletes during wheelchair propulsion. The subjects (n = 5) exercised for a few minutes to familiarize themselves with the roller set up. After practice, each subject was asked to push the wheelchair as fast as possible up to 10 seconds. A tach-generator was attached to the core of the roller and interfaced to a computer via an eight bit A/D converter. The sampling rate of the roller speed was 200Hz. One video camera operating at 30 frames per second, and posisioned 7 m from the roller side was used. The data were analyzed for shoulder, elbow, and wrist angles with the Peak Performance program in I.B.M. compatible computer. Subjects' peak velocities were 8.85, 4.49, 4.19, 3.66, and 4.09 m/s, and the mean percent of contact and release times were 32.8% vs 67.2%. Shoulder, elbow, and wrist contact angles were not statisticaly in this study. Results indicate that contact-release angle on hand-handrim was effected for peak velocity. Also there was no significantrelationship between speed and cycle time.Key WordsRacing wheelchair, cerebral palsy, Peak velocity, Propulsion, Joint angle. / School of Physical Education

From preschool through the end of high school, accommodation and success rather than self-advocacy and student development are the predominant frameworks for students with physical disabilities. Many students with physical disabilities who use wheelchairs are assisted by their family members with daily life activities such as getting out of bed, showering, eating, dressing, and toileting. For most of these students college is the first time they will have to use his or her own voice. Once in college, the students are responsible for finding their own personal care. Students are challenged with becoming responsible for the process of hiring an attendant for themselves, taking the next step to becoming independent, and being socialized into a new environment. Many factors affect the transition and experiences from high school to college and for students with physical disabilities, that transition may involve attendant care. The purpose of this study was to explore the transitional attendant care issues and experiences of college students with physical disabilities who use wheelchairs. A phenomenological approach grounded in qualitative methodology was used in this study. In a mid-sized public doctoral-granting Midwestern institution, twelve participants were interviewed who were undergraduates with a physical disability using a wheelchair and having attendant care. Seven themes emerged regarding transitional issues for students with attendant care: time management, preparing for attendant care, training attendants, first feelings, accepting responsibility, parental involvement, and financial considerations. Four themes emerged regarding their collegiate experiences: attendant care preferences, relationships with attendants, supportive friends, and characteristics of attendants. Recommendations for future studies, future researchers, student affairs educators, and future college students were provided. While students with disabilities that use wheelchairs and attendant care have similar experiences with many other students, they also have experiences that are completely different than the average college freshman. It is important to understand the unique challenges this subpopulation of college students has, and what they can do, and not do, to meet those challenges. Students with disabilities that use a wheelchair and will use attendant care need to consider the implications of attendant care and plan ahead prior to coming to college. / Department of Educational Studies

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science - Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on October 23, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Notre Dame, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 277-280). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M. S.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. / Singhose, William, Committee Chair ; Sanborn, David, Committee Member ; Sprigle, Stephen, Committee Member.