Development of a 2D biomechanical model to simulate seated multidirectional arm strength of people with C5-C7 tetraplegia

Type of content
Conference Contributions - Published
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2023
Authors
Stilwell, George
Symons, Digby
Gooch , Shayne
Abstract

People living with tetraplegia experience a significant loss of sensory and motor function; with the severity depending on their injury level and completeness. To complete tasks independently, people with tetraplegia often rely on assistive devices. To avoid upper extremity pain, designs should not require applications of force near the limits of the user's physical strength. This paper establishes a 2D biomechanical model using static equilibrium and joint torque limits to predict multidirectional strength patterns in the sagittal plane for people with C5 to C7 tetraplegia in a seated position. The results from the biomechanical model highlight the areas and directions of high strength. The strength patterns observed in this paper provide an opportunity for designers to evaluate strength requirements and take advantage of areas and directions of high strength and ensure that users are not required to apply force near their physical limit. In doing this, designs such as assistive devices can be developed that enable users with a reduction in strength to operate them independently.

Description
Citation
Stilwell G, Symons D, Gooch S (2023). Development of a 2D biomechanical model to simulate seated multidirectional arm strength of people with C5-C7 tetraplegia. Bordeaux, France: ICED23 24th International Conference on Engineering Design. 24/07/2023-28/07/2023. Proceedings of the Design Society. 3. 1435-1444.
Keywords
inclusive design, evaluation, simulation, human model, tetraplegia
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
40 - Engineering::4003 - Biomedical engineering::400303 - Biomechanical engineering
40 - Engineering::4003 - Biomedical engineering::400310 - Rehabilitation engineering
Rights
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work. Copyright The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press