Displacement between the seating surface and hybrid test dummy during transitions with a variable configuration wheelchair: A technical note

Changing seating posture can extend the amount of time a person can safely remain seated without damaging tissue or becoming fatigued. The Excelsior i s an electrically powered wheelchair that utilizes sit-to-stand (STS) and s it-to-recline (STR) motions to aid in pressure relief. The motion of the wh eelchair seating system must closely follow anatomical paths or ulcers may develop from the resulting shear forces. Displacement between the person an d the wheelchair seating surface is one measure of these shear forces. The displacement between a Hybrid II 50th percentile anthropometric test dummy (ATD) and the seating surface of the Excelsior wheelchair was examined duri ng STS and STR with two cushions, a Jay Active and a low-profile Roho cushi on. The difference between the backrest and ATD back angles were 4.29 degre es +/- 2.13 degrees and 1.78 degrees +/- 1.73 degrees for the Roho and Jay cushions respectively during STS and 3.32 degrees +/- 4.21 degrees and 10.7 1 degrees + 6.20 degrees during STR. These were statistically significant a t p<.05. During STS, shear displacement between the Hybrid II back and Exce lsior backrest did not exceed 1.5 cm for either cushion. ATD thigh-to-seat displacements were 2.5 cm for the Jay and 3.0 cm for the Roho cushion. STR produced dummy thigh-to-seat displacements of 1.5 cm and 3.5 cm for the Jay and Roho cushions respectively. Shear displacement in the ATD back was abo ut 3.5 cm for the Roho and 6 cm for the Jay. The latter displacement should be reduced; however, the other conditions are marginal or acceptable. Hyst eresis was acceptable or better for all cushion/motion combinations, with t he highest net displacement of about 2.5 cm.