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ABSTRACT: BIOMECHANICS ARE BEEN APPLIED IN MANY AREAS OF DESIGN. THIS PAPER FOCUSES THE APPLICATION OF BIOMECHANICS IN THE DESIGN OF WHEELCHAIRS TO PREVENT LESIONS AND DEFORMATIONS IN WHEELCHAIRS DEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS AND TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PROPULSION CHARACTERISTICS OF STANDARD AND RACE WHEELCHAIRS. FIRSTLY, A REVIEW OF THE MAIN FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE WHEELCHAIR PROPULSION IS SHOWED. THEN, A KINEMATIC MODEL OF THE SUBJECT IS DEVELOPED, AS AN "ANTHROPOMORPHIC ROBOT", USING THE ROBOTIC METHODOLOGY FOR MANIPULATORS MODELING AND MOTION ANALYSIS. THE MODEL OBTAINED CAN BE USED IN FUTURE WORKS TO ANALYSE THE KINEMATIC MOTION OF WDI S JOINTS, FORCE AND MOMENT APPLICATION ON HAND-RIMS, TO PREVENT LESIONS ON MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM DUE TO LONG-TERM OR INCORRECT USE OF WHEELCHAIR ETC.
KEYWORDS: BIOMECHANICS, MANUAL WHEELCHAIR, DISABLED PEOPLE, KINEMATIC MODEL.
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