Wheelchair vibration: origin, implications and reduction for manual wheelchairs

这项建议的目的是了解和减少在推进过程中发生的振动，这些振动会导致手动轮椅使用者疼痛/痉挛。我们计划在未来5年研究轮椅振动的三个方面。在第一个目标中，我们将致力于探索轮椅上哪些区域有助于抑制振动。越来越多的人正在使用由钛或铝制成的刚性框架设计的轮椅，这些轮椅被开发成更轻、更耐用、更高效。与折叠框架相比，刚性框架允许轮椅使用者将更多的推进努力传递到轮子上并向前移动。如果在这个系统中存在振动，那么这种设计也可以更容易地以不同的频率通过椅子传递振动，而不是使用折叠框架。在第二个目标中，我们将探讨轮椅推进过程中的振动与痉挛患者肌肉反应之间的关系。使用肌电技术，我们将测量在不同的振动频率和幅度下的神经肌肉反应，记录什么类型的振动引起最大的反应，以及记录个体对疼痛的主观体验。我们的第三个目标是分解轮椅的每个部件，以检查在不影响轮椅框架完整性的情况下，在什么水平上可以进行减振。知道什么样的振动水平对脊髓损伤患者最具挑战性，我们就可以开发针对该范围的减振系统。

The objective of this proposal is to understand and reduce the vibrations and that occur  during propulsionwhich cause pain/spasms in manual wheelchair users. We plan to study three aspects of wheelchair vibrationover the next 5 years.In the first goal, we will work at exploring what areas on the wheelchair contribute to dampen vibration. More individuals are using rigid frame designed wheelchairs made from titanium or aluminium that are developed to be lighter, more durable and more efficient. The rigid frame versus the folding frame allows for more of the propulsion effort from the wheelchair user to be transmitted to the wheel and forward movement. IF there is vibration within this system, then this design, too, may transmit vibration more easily through the chair at adifferent frequency than with a folding frame. Using accelerometers mounted to the frame and foot rest andbite bar, we can measure the different effects wheelchair design has on vibration transmission.In the second goal we will explore the relationship between vibration during wheelchair propulsion and themuscle response in spinal cord injured subjects who experience spasms. Using electromyography techniqueswe will measure the neuromuscular response during various vibration frequencies and magnitudes recordingwhat type of vibration elicits the greatest response as well as record what the individual is subjectivelyexperience for pain. This will then give us an idea of what vibration frequency need to be dampened.Our third goal is to break down each component of the wheelchair to examine at what level vibrationdampening is possible without compromising the integrity of the wheelchair frame. Knowing what vibrationlevels are most challenging for the individuals with SCI, we can develop dampening systems to target thatrange.