title: Controllability and physiological evaluation of three unilaterally-propelled wheelchairs for patients with hemiplegia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the controllability of, and physiological responses to, 2 newly designed unilaterally-propelled wheelchairs for patients with hemiplegia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within-subject comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 15 patients after stroke were recruited from the rehabilitation centre of Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two newly designed wheelchairs (an ankle-propelled wheelchair and a knee-propelled wheelchair) were compared with a commercially available 2-hand-rim propelled wheelchair. Patients propelled the 3 wheelchairs along an oval pathway. Videotapes were made for analysis. The following parameters: total propulsion time, deviation frequency, deviation percentage, physiological cost index (VO2) and rating of perceived exertion were measured and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The knee-propelled wheelchair gave the best results for controllability, cardiopulmonary and perceived exertion. However, the gear ratio of this wheelchair's force transmission was fixed, and some patients felt that its propulsion was heavy when starting off.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The knee-propelled wheelchair showed good controllability and physiological responses for hemiplegic patients. If some details were improved, it would suitable for use by patients with hemiplegia.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of System Engineering, National University of Tainan, No.33, Sec. 2, Shu-Lin Street, Tainan 700, Taiwan. tsaikh@mail.nutn.edu.tw
authors.forename: Kuen-Horng
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chun-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Hsin-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Shih-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000592:standards