Development of an algorithm to predict comfort of wheelchair fit based on clinical measures.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to develop an algorithm to predict the comfort of a subject seated in a wheelchair, based on common clinical measurements and without depending on verbal communication. [Subjects] Twenty healthy males (mean age: 21.5 ± 2 years; height: 171 ± 4.3 cm; weight: 56 ± 12.3 kg) participated in this study. [Methods] Each experimental session lasted for 60 min. The clinical measurements were obtained under 4 conditions (good posture, with and without a cushion; bad posture, with and without a cushion). Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between a visual analogue scale and exercise physiology parameters (respiratory and metabolism), autonomic nervous parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary amylase level), and 3D-coordinate posture parameters (good or bad posture). [Results] For the equation (algorithm) to predict the visual analogue scale score, the adjusted multiple correlation coefficient was 0.72, the residual standard deviation was 1.2, and the prediction error was 12%. [Conclusion] The algorithm developed in this study could predict the comfort of healthy male seated in a wheelchair with 72% accuracy.
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Keisuke
K
Kon
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Yasuyuki
Y
Hayakawa
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Shingo
S
Shimizu
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Toshiya
T
Nosaka
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Takeshi
T
Tsuruga
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Matsubara
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Tomohiro
T
Nomura
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Shin
S
Murahara
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Hirokazu
H
Haruna
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Takumi
T
Ino
Department of Information Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Jun
J
Inagaki
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Japan.
Toshiki
T
Kobayashi
Multivariate analysis; Posture maintenance; Wheelchair seating