A study of the space requirements of wheelchair users.

Abstract

Ninety-one male and 36 female paraplegic and tetraplegic patients at the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville, were the subject of a study to determine the body dimensions and space requirements of wheelchair users with spinal cord lesions.Apparatus was designed to measure nine anthropometric body dimensions, including head height, eye height, shoulder height, elbow height, shoulder and thigh widths, and lower leg length. Measurements were taken with the subjects sitting upright in their usual chairs and relevant details of age, time spent in chair, level of spinal cord lesion, whether complete or incomplete, and the type of wheelchair used were recorded.In making measurements of reaching distances for 76 male and 28 female paraplegic subjects with full use of their arms, the aim was to determine the boundaries of a three-dimensional shell which would outline the space in which wheelchair users could manipulate objects and use equipment around them. Comfortable and maximum reaching distances in various directions were measured and a total of 35 reaching measurements for each subject was recorded.The data obtained were analysed by computer programmed to derive means, standard deviations and 5th and 95th percentile values for males and for females. These values are presented in a series of tables and diagrams.These anthropometric measurements are of importance to designers and also for comparison with other data.