An investigation into the effectiveness of a novel wheelchair seat-cover assembly for the reduction of forces exerted onto the buttocks

Abstract

Purpose

This purpose was to investigate developed seat-cover assemblies’ effect on decreasing the fluctuation of the shear force exerted onto the buttocks as the factors causing decubitus ulcers when the back-support was inclined.

Materials and Methods

The participants were 10 wheelchair users. The force plate was used to measure the horizontal force as the shear force. The back-support was inclined at increasing angles, starting from the upright position (IUP), then proceeding to a fully reclined position (FRP), and returning to the upright position (RUP). The experimental conditions were two conditions; the seat-cover assembly conditions and without the seat-cover assembly as the control conditions.

Results

The average values in the seat-cover assembly condition were 14.4 ± 3.3, 13.9 ± 2.3, and 17.3 ± 3.3% body weight in the IUP, FRP, and RUP, respectively. The average values in the control condition were 14.8 ± 2.6, 11.4 ± 1.7, and 24.0 ± 6.7% body weight in the IUP, FRP, and RUP, respectively. In the FUP and the RUP, there were significant differences between two conditions (p < .01).

Conclusion

These results suggested that the shear force exerted onto the buttocks may to be decreased by using novel seat-cover assembly.

Implications for rehabilitation

• It is possible to decrease the fluctuations in the shear force by moving the body up and down according the novel seat-cover assembly attached the back-support incline.

• Disabled, older individuals can be provided with a comfortable life on a reclining wheelchair while preventing decubitus ulcers.

Keywords:

• Decubitus ulcers
• reclining wheelchair
• wheelchair seat-cover assembly
• horizontal force
• normal force

Disclosure statement

The sponsor of this study had no control over the interpretation, writing, or publication of this work.

Additional information

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: this work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI [grant number 17K13107]. This study was also funded by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Co., Ltd.

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: this work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI [grant number 17K13107] and Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Co., Ltd.