Wheelchair attachment for leg-strengthening therapy
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Many patients experience a physical event that sends them to a wheelchair, from which recovery requires physical therapy. Physical therapy often consists of a few 15 min sessions per week, which may be inadequate for a speedy recovery or, in cases that involve elderly patients, may be insufficient for them to recover out of the wheelchair.
There is need for a device that patients can use outside physical therapy sessions to strengthen their standing leg muscles (e.g., leg press machine). Custom-made exercise wheelchairs exist), but they are expensive, not easily adapted to use by multiple patients (requiring “musical chairs” changing for every patient to use) and involve complex possibly difficult movements that are not specific to standing muscles. A preferred option is to bring leg-specific exercise to the patient’s wheelchair as an attachable leg press device. The device will be designed to be easily moved from one wheelchair to the next, thereby making it accessible to many patients. Patients would gain time flexibility and location opportunity (e.g., in their room, in a social or TV area, outside, etc.) with the practicality of remaining in their own chair to carry out more exercise outside their physical therapy sessions.
Team Picture
Contact Information
Team Members
- Shan Gill - Team Leader
- Spencer Ortyn - Communicator
- Daniel Wildner - BSAC
- David Luzzio - BWIG
- Samuel Parmentier - BPAG
Advisor and Client
- Dr. Aaron Suminski - Advisor
- Dr. Dan Uhlrich - Client
- Lisa Steinkamp - Alternate Contact
Related Projects
- Fall 2018: Wheelchair Attachment for Leg-Strengthening Therapy
- Spring 2018: Wheelchair attachment for leg-strengthening therapy
- Fall 2017: Wheelchair attachment for leg-strengthening therapy