Optimizing the Seating Position and Driving Force of a Manual Wheelchair using the FEMS Program
Details
The conformance of a manual wheelchair used to be evaluated from the viewpoint of human engineering but can now be evaluated biomechanically. However, the musculoskeletal motions of the upper limbs are very complicated, and evaluating the relationship between muscular strength and driving force is theoretically possible but not easy. Recently, the FEMS Program was developed to analyze the relationship between functionally effective muscular strength (FEMS) and output force. This program simplifies the complicated musculoskeletal system of human limbs into a Two-joint link model with three pairs of functionally effective muscles (FEM). In the present study, the relationship between seating position and driving force was clarified from the output force distribution of upper limbs using the FEMS Program, hi addition, wheelchair driving feasibility at the optimized seating positions was verified from the average velocity and heart rate during slope ascension. Thus, the FEMS Program may be of use when prescribing a manual wheelchair.
