Ergonomic analysis for people with physical disabilities when the wheelchair is considered as their workstation

Abstract

An ergonomic study was performed using the RULA and MAPFRE methods, the assessment is centered on the relationship between the user and his wheelchair analyzed as their inevitable workstation rather than on the performed tasks. The sample is conformed of 22 people who: are wheelchairs users, are capable of performing professional activities with their upper limbs, have acquired the disability after reaching their physical maturity, are in working-age and that lives in the city of Ambato, Ecuador. Since there are few studies that approach the assessment of the wheelchair as a workstation; this is emphasized in this research where the evaluations are made during the performance of job and/or home tasks since not all the wheelchair users evaluated have a remunerated job but all perform a variety of -s during the day. The results show the urgent need of the user to be able to change the sitting position during the working hours and the postural risk associated to reach objects from that position. Other interesting finding is the high percentage of users that made rudimentary changes in order to adjust the wheelchair to their body size or to facilitate the accomplishment of some tasks, evidencing the need of these types of studies and the development of technical solutions that prioritize the health preservation and the promotion of their capabilities.