Developpement et evaluation d'un nouveau concept de dossier flexible pour usagers de fauteuils roulants

Conventional manual wheelchairs are generally equipped of sling backrest. However, the use of this kind of backrest may compromise the users' posture and health. Recently, adjustable-tension backrests are available on the market. These kind of backrests were designed in order to keep the advantages of sling backrests while offering better posture and comfort. However, it has been clinically recognized that the posture offered by this kind of backrest should be improved.

The purpose of this study is to design a new backrest for wheelchair which would offer more comfort and better back and lateral trunk support than actual flexible backrests do. Also, the new backrest had to keep as much as possible the advantages of the sling backrests. Using a specific methodology, many design criteria were established and pondered. Following a brainstorming session, many solutions were proposed and the concept which optimised the whole design criteria was made. The new flexible contour backrest accommodates a person's back contours (from normal geometry to mild kyphosis) by using vertical aluminium stays and horizontal straps. Lateral trunk support is offered by using curved back posts which can be rotated. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Alternate abstract:

Conventional manual wheelchairs are generally equipped with sling backrest. However, the use of this kind of backrest may compromise the users' posture and health. Recently, adjustable-tension backrests are available on the market. These kind of backrests were designed in order to keep the advantages of sling backrests while offering better posture and comfort. However, it has been clinically recognized that the posture offered by this kind of backrest should be improved.

The purpose of this study is to design a new backrest for wheelchair which would offer more comfort and better back and lateral trunk support than actual flexible backrests do. Also, the new backrest had to keep as much as possible the advantages of the sling backrests. Using a specific methodology, many design criteria were established and weighted. Following a brainstorming session, many solutions were proposed and the concept which optimized the whole design criteria was made. The new flexible contour backrest accommodates a person's back contours (from normal geometry to mild kyphosis) by using vertical aluminum stays and horizontal straps. Lateral trunk support is offered by using curved back posts which can be rotated. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)