Development and evaluation of a body weight support treadmill for use with locomotor training on pediatric spinal cord injury patients.

The consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI) are devastating regardless of the age of a patient. When the injury occurs in children five years old or younger, however, the impact is magnified due to the inevitable development of scoliosis (96%) and hip dysplasia (57%) (Schottler et al., 2012). To reduce occurrence of these complications and improve the quality of life for these patients, specialized activity-based therapies such as locomotor training (LT) are being increasingly used to improve overall trunk control and muscle activity in the lower extremities (Harkema et al., 2012; Howland et al., 2014). The aim of this therapy is to activate the neuromuscular networks below and across the level of the lesion via intense practice and repetition of the task of walking and standing. To conduct LT, the re-training of the neuromuscular network occurs during training on a specialized treadmill with an integrated system for monitoring, controlling, and recording the patient’s body weight support (BWS) (via a patented force feedback system) and manual trainers that promote a task-specific, sensorimotor experience. While body weight support treadmills (BWST) exist for LT with adults, none have been developed specifically for children. Adult systems are neither suited to the needs of the pediatric population, nor to the needs of the physical therapist and trainers providing the therapy. This thesis reports on the development of a body weight support treadmill specifically designed to enable pediatric LT. Evaluation of this prototype will lead to further system development with the end goal to develop a marketable clinical ready body weight support treadmill for use with the pediatric population

Development and Validation of the Wheelchair Seating Discomfort Assessment Tool (WcS-DAT).

Wheelchair seating discomfort is an important but poorly understood negative outcome for long duration wheelchair users. A major impediment to the study of this problem is the lack of a validated tool for quantification of wheelchair seating discomfort. The goal of this dissertation research was to develop and validate an assessment tool appropriate for the quantification of wheelchair seating discomfort among long duration (more than 8 hours per day) wheelchair users. This was accomplished through the completion of three research phases, each described within the body of this dissertation. Phase I consisted of a qualitative research study involving in-depth interviews with experienced wheelchair users. Data from these interviews resulted in the development of the Wheelchair Seating Discomfort Assessment Tool (WcS-DAT), a three-part tool to allow wheelchair users to quantify their level of seating discomfort. Phase II of the research assessed the reliability and concurrent validity of this assessment tool through a test/re-test reliability study. Intra class correlation (ICC) coefficient scores ranged from 0.83 to 0.97, indicating adequate reliability of the two discomfort scores in the WcS-DAT. Internal item consistency, assessed using Cronbach's alpha, indicated that all items were consistent and not redundant, with scores ranging from 0.82 to 0.92. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to assess the concurrent validity of the WcS-DAT and all of these correlations were significant at a minimum of p less than 0.05, with many significant results at the 0.01 and 0.001 levels. These results indicated good concurrent validity of the WcS-DAT. In Phase III, the WcS-DAT was evaluated for its ability to show changes in discomfort over time and with the introduction of novel, user adjustable wheelchair seating. Both the General Discomfort Assessment score (GDA) and the Discomfort Intensity Score (DIS) were sensitive to changes in seating discomfort level and were adequate for use in detecting differences associated with changes in duration of sitting as well as those associated with use of different seating equipment. Results of this final phase indicated that the WcS-DAT is a useful tool for evaluation of wheelchair seating discomfort in a research or clinical environment

Shuttle passenger couch

Conceptual design and fabrication of a full scale shuttle passenger couch engineering model are reported. The model was utilized to verify anthropometric dimensions, reach dimensions, ingress/egress, couch operation, storage space, restraint locations, and crew acceptability. These data were then incorported in the design of the passenger couch verification model that underwent performance tests

Including plus size people in workplace design

Over 60% of the adult population in the United Kingdom is now overweight or obese or classed as plus size . This is higher than almost all other developed countries in the world. Even with numerous public health interventions, the incidence of being plus size continues to rise potentially changing the demographics of the working population. This presents a challenge to those involved in workplace design as the design process relies upon the utilization of appropriate anthropometric data to establish the percentage of the user population that will be accommodated by the design. The aim of this thesis is to identify issues affecting plus size people in the working environment, not previously explored within the literature. Furthermore, by understanding the size and shape of this population via the collection of key anthropometric data, this will help inform the design of safe, comfortable, inclusive and productive working environments for plus size people within the United Kingdom. A first stage Scoping Study (n=135) found that fit (equipment, tools, furniture, uniforms and personal protective equipment) and space (circulation and shared spaces within the working environment) were issues of concern to plus size people. This suggests that aspects of the current design of the workplace are not suitable, and may even exclude plus size people. A better understanding of the anthropometric requirements of plus size workers is therefore required. Self-reported anthropometric data is an acceptable way of studying large and geographically diverse populations and may assist in accessing the hard to reach plus size working population. A validation study (n=20) established that self measurement of 14 key anthropometric measurements, using a self measurement instruction guide, was a feasible and acceptable data collection method for a larger scale anthropometric study to further understand the body size and shape of plus size people at work. A unique measure of knee splay (for a non-pregnant population) was included. Defined as the distance between the outer borders of the knees whilst seated in the preferred sitting position it represents the observed sitting postures of plus size individuals not captured in existing anthropometric data sources. The larger scale Plus Size Anthropometry Study (n=101) collected anthropometric data of plus size working age people via self measurement. The findings indicated that the study population was substantially larger in circumference, depth and breadth measurements than the population of existing anthropometric data sources. Knee splay was also identified as a key anthropometric variable for plus size people, however, it is not included in any datasets or literature relating to plus size people at work. These factors may contribute to high exclusion rates from current design practices that seek to accommodate the 5th to 95th or 99th percentile of users and may explain the high incidence of fit and space issues reported by participants with a BMI over 35kg/m2 . Finally, semi structured interviews with stakeholders (n=10) explored how they would like the data from the plus size anthropometry study communicated and any additional requirements of a resource aimed at supporting stakeholders in meeting the needs of plus size people within the working environment. The primary concern from stakeholders was the lack of existing data on the size and shape of the plus size working population and the importance of access to such data in whatever format. A range of ideas were suggested including case studies, guidance and access to training which may assist them in understanding the needs of their end users ultimately supporting the inclusion of plus size people in workplace design

Driving ergonomics for an elevated seat position in a light commercial vehicle

With more legislation being enforced to achieve a reduction in road transport CO2 emissions, automotive companies are having to research and develop technologies that deliver greener driving . Whilst emissions from passenger vehicles have dropped over recent years, there has been an increase in emissions from light commercial vehicles (LCVs). The nature of LCV delivery work is a routine of ingress/egress of the vehicle, changing from a standing to a seated posture repetitively throughout the day. One research focus is packaging occupants in to a smaller vehicle space, in order to reduce the amount of vehicle emissions over its lifecycle. For LCVs, benefits from space saving technology could be an increase in overall loading space (with the same vehicle length) or a reduction in the overall length/weight of the vehicle. Furthermore, an elevated seat posture could reduce the strain on drivers during ingress/egress, as it is closer than that of a conventional seat to a standing posture. Whilst space saving technology has obvious benefits, current driving conventions and standards are not inclusive of new and novel seated postures when packaging a driver in to a vehicle. The fundamental purpose of a vehicle driver s seat is to be comfortable and safe for the occupant and to facilitate driving. It has been shown that a seat needs both good static and dynamic factors to contribute to overall seat comfort. Additionally, comfortable body angles have been identified and ratified by studies investigating comfortable driving postures; however, this knowledge only applies to conventional driving postures. For an elevated posture , defined as having the driver s knee point below the hip point, there is little research or guidance. The overall aim of this thesis is to identify the ergonomic requirements of a wide anthropometric range of drivers in an elevated driving posture for LCVs, which was investigated using a series of laboratory based experiments. An iterative fitting trial was designed to identify key seat parameters for static comfort in an elevated posture seat. The results showed that in comparison with a conventional seat: Seat base length was preferred to be shorter (380mm compared with 460mm); Seat base width was preferred to be wider (560mm compared with 480mm); Backrest height was preferred to be longer (690mm compared with 650mm). These findings provided a basis for a seat design specification for an elevated posture concept seat, which was tested in two subsequent laboratory studies. A long-term discomfort evaluation was conducted, using a driving simulator and a motion platform replicating real road vibration. Discomfort scores were collected at 10-minute intervals (50-minutes overall) using a body map and rating scale combination. The results indicated that in comparison with the conventional posture, the elevated posture performed as well, or better (significantly lower discomfort for right shoulder and lower back; p<0.05, two-tailed), in terms of long-term discomfort. Furthermore, the onset of discomfort (i.e. the time taken for localised discomfort ratings to be significantly higher than the baseline ratings reported before the trial) occurred after as little as 10 minutes (conventional posture) and 20 minutes (elevated posture) respectively. A lateral stability evaluation was conducted using low-frequency lateral motion on a motion platform (platform left and right rolls of 14.5°). Stability scores were reported after each sequence of rolls, comparing scores on a newly developed lateral stability scale between three seats: Conventional posture seat; Elevated posture concept seat (EPS1); Elevated posture concept seat with modifications aimed at improving stability (EPS2). Participants reported being more unstable in EPS1, compared with the conventional posture seat (p<0.05, Wilcoxon). However, the EPS2 seat performed equally to the conventional posture seat. These findings suggest that the elevated posture seat developed in this research is a feasible and comfortable alternative to a conventional posture seat. Furthermore, the final elevated seating positions showed that real space saving can be achieved in this posture thus allowing for more compact and lighter vehicles and potentially reducing strain on drivers during ingress/egress

FIMCAR XI: FIMCAR Final Assessment Approach

The objectives of the FIMCAR (Frontal Impact and Compatibility Assessment Research) project are to answer the remaining open questions identified in earlier projects (such as understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of force based metrics and barrier deformation based metrics, confirmation of specific compatibility issues such as structural interaction, investigation of force matching) and to finalise the frontal impact test procedures required to assess compatibility. Research strategies and priorities were based on earlier research programs and the FIMCAR accident data analysis. The identified real world safety issues were used to develop a list of compatibility characteristics which were then prioritised within the consortium. This list was the basis for evaluating the different test candidates. This analysis resulted in the combination of the Full Width Deformable Barrier test (FWDB) with compatibility metrics and the existing Offset Deformable Barrier (ODB) as described in UN-ECE Regulation 94 with additional cabin integrity requirement as being proposed as the FIMCAR assessment approach. The proposed frontal impact assessment approach addresses many of the issues identified by the FIMCAR consortium but not all frontal impact and compatibility issues could be addressed

Configurable Seat Track Latching Mechanism

The reconfigurable seating system is a flexible seating solution for transit vehicles that allows operators to change the configuration of the floor plan in a timely manner in order to accommodate change in needs. This project consists of three senior project teams each working on a component of the design: system, track & latch, and articulation. Descriptions of the responsibilities of each team will be discussed below

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PEDIATRIC WHEELCHAIR WITH TILT-IN-SPACE SEATING

The Pediatric Adjustable Lightweight Modular (PALM) wheelchair project consisted of three design iterations, full-scale working prototypes, durability testing and user evaluation, and technology transfer activities. User input was crucial to developing design requirements. A handful of concepts developed for this design are novel in the wheelchair market and potentially beneficial to pediatric wheelchair users and their caregivers. Some of the concepts could be applied to other wheelchair designs in the future, including adult tilt-in-space wheelchairs and seating for both adults and children. The PALM's primary construction consists of modular plastic injection molded components and straight tubes. This feature allows it to be easily customized on site by a therapist who can swap components and make adjustments. The modular design also allows it to be packed more compactly thereby decreasing manufacturing and shipping costs. Second, the tilt-in-space mechanism utilizes a unique four-bar linkage design that decreases the need for small moving parts such as rollers and spring loaded mechanisms used in other tilt-in-space center-of-gravity chairs. Third, the PALM's modular design allows for greater flexibility in the configuration of the wheelchair and adaptation to different-sized bodies. Fourth, the PALM is highly adjustable and selectable: The seat depth, seat width, back rest height, back rest angle, leg rest angle, footrest angle, seat-to-floor height, and axle position are all adjustable. Finally, the PALM converts from an attendant-style wheelchair to a self-propelled wheelchair. These features create a variety of characteristics that clearly distinguish the PALM from other currently available pediatric wheelchairs

Space requirements for people performing office tasks

This study was concerned with the application of human anthropometry to the design of office spaces. Pertinent literature, available to the writer, relating to space requirements for people performing office tasks was reviewed and noted. Information on basic body measurements, spatial requirements for individual work areas, spatial relationships between individuals including physical features of offices, and spatial organization of office areas, was summarized. This information was presented as a slide series with accompanying script