Evaluation of an exercise-enabling control interface for powered wheelchair users: a feasibility study with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation

Antonio Rodríguez-Fernández¹  Aure Enkaoua¹  Josep M. Font-Llagunes²  Nariman Sharifrazi³  David J. Reinkensmeyer⁴  Julita Medina-Cantillo⁵  Carme Torras⁶  Joan Lobo-Prat⁷ 

[1] Biomechanical Engineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Diagonal 647, 08028, Barcelona, Spain;Biomechanical Engineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Diagonal 647, 08028, Barcelona, Spain;Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain;Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Irvine, Engineering Gateway 4200, 92617, Irvine, USA;Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California Irvine, Engineering Gateway 4200, 92617, Irvine, USA;Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain;Servei de Rehabilitació i Medicina Física, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain;Institut de Robòtica i Informàtica Industrial, CSIC-UPC, Llorens i Artigas 4-6, 08028, Barcelona, Spain;Institut de Robòtica i Informàtica Industrial, CSIC-UPC, Llorens i Artigas 4-6, 08028, Barcelona, Spain;Biomechanical Engineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Diagonal 647, 08028, Barcelona, Spain;Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain;

关键词: Powered wheelchair;    Physical exercise;    Duchenne muscular dystrophy;    Driving performance;    Rare disease;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12984-020-00760-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPowered wheelchairs are an essential technology to support mobility, yet their use is associated with a high level of sedentarism that can have negative health effects for their users. People with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) start using a powered wheelchair in their early teens due to the loss of strength in their legs and arms. There is evidence that low-intensity exercise can help preserve the functional abilities of people with DMD, but options for exercise when sitting in a powered wheelchair are limited.MethodsIn this paper, we present the design and the feasibility study of a new version of the MOVit device that allows powered-wheelchair users to exercise while driving the chair. Instead of using a joystick to drive the wheelchair, users move their arms through a cyclical motion using two powered, mobile arm supports that provide controller inputs to the chair. The feasibility study was carried out with a group of five individuals with DMD and five unimpaired individuals. Participants performed a series of driving tasks in a wheelchair simulator and on a real driving course with a standard joystick and with the MOVit 2.0 device.ResultsWe found that driving speed and accuracy were significantly lowered for both groups when driving with MOVit compared to the joystick, but the decreases were small (speed was 0.26 m/s less and maximum path error was 0.1 m greater). Driving with MOVit produced a significant increase in heart rate (7.5 bpm) compared to the joystick condition. Individuals with DMD reported a high level of satisfaction with their performance and comfort in using MOVit.ConclusionsThese results show for the first time that individuals with DMD can easily transition to driving a powered wheelchair using cyclical arm motions, achieving a reasonable driving performance with a short period of training. Driving in this way elicits cardiopulmonary exercise at an intensity found previously to produce health-related benefits in DMD.

【 授权许可】

CC BY