Experimental study of the influence of using polyurethane cushion to reduce vibration received by a wheelchair user

Abstract

Purpose Experimental studies on comparing the ability of polyurethane cushions of three arbitrary selected thicknesses to minimize vibrations transmitted from the wheelchair to its user. Methods Measurements were made during passive motion on five different surfaces often found in public spaces. Two tests were carried out during the measurements. In the first test, the sensor was located directly on the surface of the wheelchair seat. In the second test, a polyurethane cushion was placed on the seat, on which the measuring sensor was then placed. Results The study showed that regardless of the surface on which the wheelchair user moves, the threshold defined in the ISO standard for frequencies in the range from 4 to 40 Hz is exceeded. However, thanks to the use of polyurethane cushions, vibration damping is visible for frequencies ranging from 10 to 40 Hz. The impact of the user’s weight on the magnitude of the perceived vibrations was also observed. Conclusions Studies show that wheelchair users are exposed to whole body vibration that can negatively affect their health. Cushions made of polyurethane seems to be a promising solution to reduce whole body vibration in the frequency range that is burdensome and harmful to human health.