Investigation of Vibration and User Comfort for Powered Wheelchairs

Disabled users who use powered wheelchairs for mobility may suffer back and neck pain. Prolonged exposition to whole-body vibration due to different terrain surfaces may negatively impact the user’s health and comfort. This study investigates the impact of whole-body vibration on powered wheelchair users following the ISO-2631 standard. The ISO-2631 standard defines the whole-body vibration limits and quantifies its impact on the user’s health and comfort. Four users with a range of different weights drive an electrical powered wheelchair (EPW) on five different terrain surfaces. Results indicate that users’ weights can impact vibration perception. Additionally, outdoor surfaces generally produce high vertical accelerations, which can negatively impact the user’s health and comfort when the EPW is driven for a long period.