IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i15p8016-d603922.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Wheelchair Propulsion Performance in an Immersive Virtual Reality Simulator

Author

Listed:
  • Yu-Sheng Yang

    (Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan)

  • Alicia M. Koontz

    (The Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA
    Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA)

  • Yu-Hsuan Hsiao

    (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan)

  • Cheng-Tang Pan

    (Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
    Institute of Medical Science and Technology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan)

  • Jyh-Jong Chang

    (Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan)

Abstract

Maneuvering a wheelchair is an important necessity for the everyday life and social activities of people with a range of physical disabilities. However, in real life, wheelchair users face several common challenges: articulate steering, spatial relationships, and negotiating obstacles. Therefore, our research group has developed a head-mounted display (HMD)-based intuitive virtual reality (VR) stimulator for wheelchair propulsion. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of this VR stimulator for wheelchair propulsion performance. Twenty manual wheelchair users (16 men and 4 women) with spinal cord injuries ranging from T8 to L2 participated in this study. The differences in wheelchair propulsion kinematics between immersive and non-immersive VR environments were assessed using a 3D motion analysis system. Subjective data of the HMD-based intuitive VR stimulator were collected with a Presence Questionnaire and individual semi-structured interview at the end of the trial. Results indicated that propulsion performance was very similar in terms of start angle ( p = 0.34), end angle ( p = 0.46), stroke angle ( p = 0.76), and shoulder movement ( p = 0.66) between immersive and non-immersive VR environments. In the VR episode featuring an uphill journey, an increase in propulsion speed ( p < 0.01) and cadence ( p < 0.01) were found, as well as a greater trunk forward inclination ( p = 0.01). Qualitative interviews showed that this VR simulator made an attractive, novel impression and therefore demonstrated the potential as a tool for stimulating training motivation. This HMD-based intuitive VR stimulator can be an effective resource to enhance wheelchair maneuverability experiences.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu-Sheng Yang & Alicia M. Koontz & Yu-Hsuan Hsiao & Cheng-Tang Pan & Jyh-Jong Chang, 2021. "Assessment of Wheelchair Propulsion Performance in an Immersive Virtual Reality Simulator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:8016-:d:603922
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/15/8016/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/15/8016/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Meyers, Allan R. & Anderson, Jennifer J. & Miller, Donald R. & Shipp, Kathy & Hoenig, Helen, 2002. "Barriers, facilitators, and access for wheelchair users: sbstantive and methodologic lessons from a pilot study of environmental effects," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(8), pages 1435-1446, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cheng Chia-Hsin, 2020. "The Satisfaction Study of People with Disabilities Regarding the Restaurant with Barrier-Free Environment in Taiwan Tourism Area," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(4), pages 1-1, April.
    2. David S. Vale & Fernando Ascensão & Nuno Raposo & António Pedro Figueiredo, 2017. "Comparing access for all: disability-induced accessibility disparity in Lisbon," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 43-64, January.
    3. Aarhaug, Jørgen & Elvebakk, Beate, 2015. "The impact of Universally accessible public transport–a before and after study," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 143-150.
    4. Darcy, Simon & Burke, Paul Francis, 2018. "On the road again: The barriers and benefits of automobility for people with disability," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 229-245.
    5. Dogan Kumtepe, Elvan & Çorbacıoğlu, Eda & Başoğlu, Ahmet Nuri & Daim, Tugrul Unsal & Shaygan, Amir, 2021. "Design based exploration of medical system adoption: Case of wheelchair ramps," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    6. Kristin Ystmark Bjerkan & Liv Rakel Øvstedal, 2020. "Functional requirements for inclusive transport," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 1177-1198, June.
    7. Levine, Kaylyn & Karner, Alex, 2023. "Approaching accessibility: Four opportunities to address the needs of disabled people in transportation planning in the United States," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 66-74.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:8016-:d:603922. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.