EXERCISE MACHINE FOR PEOPLE THAT USE WHEELCHAIRS

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A HIGH-QUALITY, LOW-COST, SAFE, AND EASY-TO-USE WHEELCHAIR-BASED EXERCISE MACHINE. THE MACHINE WILL BE ESPECIALLY USEFUL FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF A WHEELCHAIR ON THEIR OWN. IT WILL PROVIDE CONTINUOUS PASSIVE MOTION OF THELEGS, ARMS, AND TORSO AT VARIABLE RATES, AND ALSO ALLOW VOLUNTARY MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS TO BE PERFORMED SIMULTANEOUSLYWITH PASSIVE EXERCISE. PHASE I RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING THEDESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN EXISTING PROTOTYPE DEVICE TO ENHANCE ITS PERFORMANCE, TO REFINE SAFETY FEATURES, AND TO REDUCE MANUFACTURING COSTS. PHASE II RESEARCH WILL CONCENTRATE ON CLINICAL TESTING. SENSORS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO PERMIT FEEDBACK ON THE LEVELS OF MUSCLE ACTIVITY AND TO PREDICT JOINT REACTION FORCES. THE APPLICATIONS OF THIS DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF ORTHOPEDIC INJURIES AND FOR THE REHABILITATION OF NEUROMUSCULAR DEFICITS ARE WIDE RANGING.