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Creating Newer, Better Wheelchair Seats

Imagine long hours in a poorly designed seat. Now imagine that you’re unable to shift your weight to make yourself more comfortable. That’s what many wheelchair users face every day, and it’s one of the many design challenges currently before researchers at the School of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences (SHRS). Here at the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wheelchair Transportation, faculty and students use a soft tissue seat cushion loader to simulate human anatomy and weight distribution.
Like other projects in this lab, this work combines engineering, design, and health science—all with a focus on increasing comfort and mobility for people with disabilities.