Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26935331›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2016

The dynamics of electric powered wheelchair sideways tips and falls: experimental and computational analysis of impact forces and injury.

Brett Erickson, Masih A Hosseini, Parry Singh Mudhar, Maryam Soleimani, Arina Aboonabi, Siamak Arzanpour, Carolyn J Sparrey

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Impact forces in backward falls: Subject-specific video-based rigid body simulation of backward falls.Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine · 2023
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Brett EricksonSchool of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Simon Fraser University, 250-13450 102 Ave., Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3, Canada. brette@sfu.ca.
Masih A HosseiniSchool of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Simon Fraser University, 250-13450 102 Ave., Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3, Canada. lukedmassey@gmail.com.
Parry Singh MudharSchool of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Simon Fraser University, 250-13450 102 Ave., Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3, Canada. pmvanbc@gmail.com.
Maryam SoleimaniMobiSafe Systems Inc., Room 5330 250-13450 102 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3, Canada. maryam7741@gmail.com.
Arina AboonabiMobiSafe Systems Inc., Room 5330 250-13450 102 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3, Canada. arinaaboonabi@gmail.com.
Siamak ArzanpourSchool of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Simon Fraser University, 250-13450 102 Ave., Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3, Canada. arzanpour@sfu.ca.
Carolyn J SparreySchool of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Simon Fraser University, 250-13450 102 Ave., Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3, Canada. csparrey@sfu.ca.
Simon Fraser University · CASt Mary's Hospital Centre · CASurrey Memorial Hospital · CAUniversity of British Columbia · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTo reduce the occurrence of wheelchair falls and to develop effective protection systems, we aimed to quantify sideways tip and fall dynamics of electric power wheelchairs (EPWs). We hypothesized that driving speed, curb height and angle of approach would affect impact forces and head injury risk for wheelchair riders. We further expected that fall dynamics and head injury risk would be greater for unrestrained riders compared to restrained riders.

methodsSideways wheelchair tip and fall dynamics were reconstructed using a remotely operated rear wheel drive EPW and a Hybrid III test dummy driving at different approach angles (5 to 63°) over an adjustable height curb (0.30 to 0.41 m) at speeds of 0.6-1.5 m/s. Rigid body dynamics models (Madymo, TASS International, Livonia, MI) were developed in parallel with the experiments to systematically study and quantify the impact forces and the sideways tip or fall of an EPW user in different driving conditions.

resultsShallower approach angles (25°) (p < 0.05) and higher curbs (0.4 m) (p < 0.05) were the most significant predictors of tipping for restrained passengers. Unrestrained passengers were most affected by higher curbs (0.4 m) (p < 0.005) and fell forward from the upright wheelchair when the approach angle was 60°. Head impact forces were greater in unrestrained users (6181 ± 2372 N) than restrained users (1336 ± 827 N) (p = 0.00053). Unrestrained users had significantly greater head impact severities than restrained users (HIC = 610 ± 634 vs HIC = 29 ± 38, p = 0.00013) and several tip events resulted in HICs > 1000 (severe head injury) in unrestrained users.

conclusionsSideways tips and forward falls from wheelchairs were most sensitive to curb height and approach angle but were not affected by driving speed. Sideways tips and falls resulted in impact forces that could result in concussions or traumatic brain injury and require injury prevention strategies. Seat belts eliminated the risk of falling from an upright chair and reduced head impact forces in sideways wheelchair tips in this study; however, their use must be considered within the ethical and legal definitions of restraints.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsSeat BeltsAlgorithmsComputer SimulationCraniocerebral TraumaHumansManikinsModels, AnatomicRiskWheelchairs

Identifiers

PMID26935331
PMCPMC4776350
OpenAlexW2290758868

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.