Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the physical load of the wheelchair users by the oxygen uptake values and the wheelchair driving force while they are propelling a wheelchair upward on a slope. Unimpaired adult subjects were asked to propel the wheelchair on the slope that was used for the emergency escape route. The profile of the slope was 8% gradient, 120m distance, and 7.6m height. The Oxygen Cost Index of the wheelchair users while propelling manual wheelchair upward on the slope indicated approximately 0.017 (litter/one meter) and it was about three times higher than that of by flat floor in the room (0.006 l/meter). The averaged wheelchair driving power while ascending the slope presented approximately 58W, and it was needed by about four times as large as flat floor (15W). We conclude that 8% gradient and 120m distance of the slope cause extremely high physical load for the wheelchair users even in the case of unimpaired persons. So, we should improve the slope of sidewalk to reduce the physical load of wheelchair users.
