Abstract
A vertical and cross slope, waves (unevenness) of a sidewalk are significant barrier to the mobility of wheelchair users. In Japan, the Law for Promoting Barrier-free Transport and Facilities for the Elderly and the Disabled specifies that a cross slope in sidewalk is recommended to be 1% gradient or less and it is allowed to be no greater than 2% when it is unavoidable. However, it is necessary to clarify the evidence for the guidelines how changes in a cross slope gradient affect the accessibility and the physical load of wheelchair users. And the objective assessment of barrier-free road construction to resolve wave-road should be investigated. The objective of this study was to experimentally clarify the relationship between the cross slope of an actual sidewalk environment and the physical load of wheelchair users by the oxygen uptake and the wheelchair propelling force. Our experimental results showed that the physical load of a wheelchair user in the 2% cross slope was not so strong statistically compared with the level surface. On the other hand, the required force of a downhill side handrim was significantly greater than that of an uphill side handrim. This unbalance of propelling force caused by the cross slope would increase the physical load of wheelchair users especially with hemiplegia. The reduced oxygen cost index indicated that the barrier-free road construction was effective for improving the accessibility of wheelchair. Based on these findings, we propose the evidence of a wheelchair user's physical load while propelling a cross slope and a wave-road.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Assistive Technology Research Series |
| Pages | 183-189 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Volume | 33 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Publication series
| Name | Assistive Technology Research Series |
|---|---|
| Volume | 33 |
| ISSN (Print) | 1383813X |
| ISSN (Electronic) | 18798071 |
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Keywords
- Barrier-free
- Cross Slope
- Manual Wheelchair
- Mobility
- Physical Load
- Wave Road
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering (miscellaneous)
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
Cite this
Evaluation of physical load while propelling manual wheelchair on cross slope road and wave road. / Hashizume, Tsutomu; Kitagawa, Hiroshi; Lee, Hokyoo; Ueda, Hisatoshi; Miyamoto, Tadayoshi; Yoneda, Ikuo; Fujisawa, Shoichiro.
Assistive Technology Research Series. Vol. 33 2013. p. 183-189 (Assistive Technology Research Series; Vol. 33).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Evaluation of physical load while propelling manual wheelchair on cross slope road and wave road
AU - Hashizume, Tsutomu
AU - Kitagawa, Hiroshi
AU - Lee, Hokyoo
AU - Ueda, Hisatoshi
AU - Miyamoto, Tadayoshi
AU - Yoneda, Ikuo
AU - Fujisawa, Shoichiro
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - A vertical and cross slope, waves (unevenness) of a sidewalk are significant barrier to the mobility of wheelchair users. In Japan, the Law for Promoting Barrier-free Transport and Facilities for the Elderly and the Disabled specifies that a cross slope in sidewalk is recommended to be 1% gradient or less and it is allowed to be no greater than 2% when it is unavoidable. However, it is necessary to clarify the evidence for the guidelines how changes in a cross slope gradient affect the accessibility and the physical load of wheelchair users. And the objective assessment of barrier-free road construction to resolve wave-road should be investigated. The objective of this study was to experimentally clarify the relationship between the cross slope of an actual sidewalk environment and the physical load of wheelchair users by the oxygen uptake and the wheelchair propelling force. Our experimental results showed that the physical load of a wheelchair user in the 2% cross slope was not so strong statistically compared with the level surface. On the other hand, the required force of a downhill side handrim was significantly greater than that of an uphill side handrim. This unbalance of propelling force caused by the cross slope would increase the physical load of wheelchair users especially with hemiplegia. The reduced oxygen cost index indicated that the barrier-free road construction was effective for improving the accessibility of wheelchair. Based on these findings, we propose the evidence of a wheelchair user's physical load while propelling a cross slope and a wave-road.
AB - A vertical and cross slope, waves (unevenness) of a sidewalk are significant barrier to the mobility of wheelchair users. In Japan, the Law for Promoting Barrier-free Transport and Facilities for the Elderly and the Disabled specifies that a cross slope in sidewalk is recommended to be 1% gradient or less and it is allowed to be no greater than 2% when it is unavoidable. However, it is necessary to clarify the evidence for the guidelines how changes in a cross slope gradient affect the accessibility and the physical load of wheelchair users. And the objective assessment of barrier-free road construction to resolve wave-road should be investigated. The objective of this study was to experimentally clarify the relationship between the cross slope of an actual sidewalk environment and the physical load of wheelchair users by the oxygen uptake and the wheelchair propelling force. Our experimental results showed that the physical load of a wheelchair user in the 2% cross slope was not so strong statistically compared with the level surface. On the other hand, the required force of a downhill side handrim was significantly greater than that of an uphill side handrim. This unbalance of propelling force caused by the cross slope would increase the physical load of wheelchair users especially with hemiplegia. The reduced oxygen cost index indicated that the barrier-free road construction was effective for improving the accessibility of wheelchair. Based on these findings, we propose the evidence of a wheelchair user's physical load while propelling a cross slope and a wave-road.
KW - Barrier-free
KW - Cross Slope
KW - Manual Wheelchair
KW - Mobility
KW - Physical Load
KW - Wave Road
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84889061745&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84889061745&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/978-1-61499-304-9-183
DO - 10.3233/978-1-61499-304-9-183
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84889061745
SN - 9781614993032
VL - 33
T3 - Assistive Technology Research Series
SP - 183
EP - 189
BT - Assistive Technology Research Series
ER -