Comparison of Driving Performance between the Competition Wheelchairs having different Masses

Abstract

Tokyo Paralympics holding is decided in 2020, and competition wheelchair research and development have been conducted to win many medals of Japan. As competition wheelchair research, light-weighting of wheelchair mass has progressed, the influence on human by changes of wheelchair mass is not clarified. In this study, electromyography (EMG) and acceleration of center position of wheelchair mass were measured and compared, aimed to elucidate influence on human by changes of wheelchair mass. 3 kinds of competition wheelchair having different masses were used in measure. In the experiment, subjects ran 20 m in fixed speed of 10 km/h using competition wheelchairs having different masses. Wheelchair driving was performed 5 times in each wheelchair. Then, integral EMG in each muscles and 2-axis composite acceleration composed by vertical direction of wheelchair (Z-axis) and horizon direction (Y-axis) which was vertical direction against running direction were measured and compared in each competition wheelchair. The result of the study led to the conclusion as follow: influence on human by changes of competition wheelchairs masses was varied by subjects.