An innovative wheelchair designed by Taiwanese students has won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award in the design concept category. The wheelchair, called “Age-Distance,” helps the elderly get in and out of the chair without physical exertion. The two students, Liao Min-hui and Hsu Chao-sheng, attend TransWorld University of Douliu City in Yunlin County, Taiwan and designed the chair under the supervision of their instructor, Chiang Chun-hsien. The wheelchair design focuses on air pressure as the core of the design. The key innovation is the seat of the chair, which is set at a 35- to 40-degree angle so that the user can make full contact with the seat before sitting down, versus falling into a flat seat or excessive bending. As the user sits, the seat gently eases into a flattened position. Air pressure provides the resistance necessary to make the motion smooth and safe. Once the user is finished with the chair and wishes to rise, the air pressure pushes the seat back up.
This motion allows the user to avoid overloading knees or other joints while returning to a standing position. An innovative addition is also found in the wheelchairs braking system, which works in conjunction with the seat’s motion to ensure that the wheelchair is locked until the user is fully seated. This feature helps prevent common falls that happen when elderly users sit or rise from manual wheelchairs. Entries from all over the globe compete against each other for the titles in the product design category, the communication design category, and the design concept category. The students from TransWorld University competed against entries from 50 other countries, making the award, which was presented in a ceremony in Singapore, just that much more of an accomplishment.Sign in to personalize your visit. Liebert Librarian Resource Center Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is committed to working closely with librarians to create collections of content that fulfill the informational needs of institutions while providing excellent value.
Liebert in Your Library The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Seated T'ai Chi in Older Taiwanese People Using Wheelchairs: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Mood States and Self-Efficacy To cite this article:Hsu Chen-Yuan, Moyle Wendy, Cooke Marie, and Jones Cindy. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Published in Volume: 22 Issue 12: December 1, 2016 Online Ahead of Print: September 15, 2016 Author information, ,1,2 , ,1,3 , ,1,3 and , 11.2.3.ABSTRACT Objective: There is growing interest in t'ai chi, but little research has addressed whether t'ai chi is effective in older people using wheelchairs for mobilization. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of seated t'ai chi exercise and usual standard activities on mood states and self-efficacy in older people living in a long-term care facility and using wheelchairs for mobilization. Design: Randomized controlled trial (trial registration no. Setting: One long-term-care facility in Taiwan.
Participants: Sixty participants were randomly assigned by a computer-generated random sequence to a t'ai chi group (n = 30) or a usual exercise and entertainment activities group (n = 30). Intervention: Seated t'ai chi exercise for 40 minutes three times a week for 26 weeks was provided. Main outcome measures: Mood states (Profile of Mood States Short Form [POMS-SF]) and self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy for Exercise [SEE]). Results: At week 26, participants in the t'ai chi group reported significantly lower mood states on the fatigue-inertia dimension of the POMS-SF (mean score ± standard deviation, 3.56 ± 3.71) than did the control group (mean score, 7.16 ± 6.36) (F [1, 58] = 7.15; p < 0.05). The t'ai chi group recorded significantly higher SEE levels (mean, 35.66 ± 36.83) than did those in the control group (mean, 15.30 ± 26.43) (F [1, 58] = 6.05; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of t'ai chi for a reduction in the fatigue-inertia mood state and an increase in self-efficacy for older people using wheelchairs.
Users who read this article also read , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Abstract | Full Text PDF or HTML | PermissionsT'ai Chi, Abstract | Permissions, , , , , , Abstract | Full Text PDF or HTMLPermissions, , , , Abstract | Permissions, , , Abstract | Add to my favorites Email to a colleague Sign up for TOC alerts Recommend this title to your librarian Most recently read articles Most recently cited articles Liebert OnlineSearch:Liebert Online forAuthors: Hsu Chen-Yuan Moyle Wendy Cooke Marie Jones Cindy Keywords:older adultsexerciset'ai chimoodlong-term careGo to Advanced Searche-Throne Portable/Foldable e-Wheelchairs: Re-definition of Electric Wheelchair Technologies High Quality Materials & Workmanship, Super Light, Comfortable Riding Quick & Easy Folding, Inclinable Back Rest, User Customizable Width/Length/Height 50% Battery Saving, Safe Lithium Battery, 28km Travel Range, 10x Longer Working Life 3-D Animation Video for Quick Understanding of e-Throne Folding Wheelchairs
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