A Participatory Risk-Matrix Framework for User-Centered Validation of a Manual Standing Wheelchair

Alief Wikarta, Rizkhi Nurirawan

Abstract


This study presents a participatory, risk-based validation framework for a manually actuated standing wheelchair. The standing function offers both physical and psychosocial benefits, including greater independence, improved social interaction, and better access to vertical space. However, adoption of such devices remains limited, especially in low-resource settings, due to concerns about usability, comfort, and safety. Rather than emphasizing technical novelty, the contribution of this study lies in applying a user-centered risk-matrix approach to systematically translate stakeholder concerns into design priorities. Through engagement with eight stakeholders, including direct users and institutional representatives, the study collected qualitative feedback on user experience. This feedback was organized into eight thematic risk categories. Among them, stability during transitions and the level of physical effort required were identified as the most pressing concerns. Each risk type was then evaluated using a qualitative 5×5 matrix to assess its likelihood and potential impact. This structured process enabled the design team to prioritize and implement targeted improvements, effectively reducing the likelihood of tipping-related risks. However, physical accessibility, particularly for users with limited upper-body strength, remained a high, unmitigated risk due to inherent limitations of manual operation. The study highlights the importance of integrating structured risk analysis with real user input to inform assistive technology development that is not only functional, but also contextually responsive.


Full Text:

PDF

References


A. Liampas, P. Neophytou, M. Sokratous, G. Varrassi,

C. Ioannou, G. M. Hadjigeorgiou, and P. Zis, “Mus

culoskeletal pain due to wheelchair use: A system

atic review and meta-analysis.,” Pain and Therapy,

vol. 10, pp. 973–984, Dec 2021.

I. Garate, J. Yanci, J. Ascondo, A. Iturricastillo,

and C. Granados, “Reliability and validity of lab

oratory and field cardiorespiratory exercise tests for

wheelchair users: A systematic review,” International

Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,

vol. 22, no. 3, p. 384, 2025.

C. Paquin, F. Nindorera, M. Gagnon, M.-È. Lamon

tagne, and F. Routhier, “Personal risk factors for

pressure injuries among wheelchair users: an um

brella review of new insights in 2024,” Disability and

Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology, vol. 20, pp. 1–16,

Jan 2025.

M. Rasoulivalajoozi, C. Cucuzzella, and M. Farhoudi,

“Domains of wheelchair users’ socio-emotional expe

riences: Design insights from a scoping review,” Dis

ability and Health Journal, vol. 18, no. 3, p. 101829,

C. L. Flemmer, “Improving the built environment for

manual wheelchair users: A review,” IOP Conference

Series: Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 1101,

p. 032031, nov 2022.

N. S. Poulsen, L. R. Kraglund, and J. Vissing, “Physi

cal training of wheelchair users with neuromuscular

disorders: A systematic review.,” Journal of Neuro

muscular Diseases, vol. 12, pp. 330–341, May 2025.

S. Selph, A. Skelly, N. Wasson, J. Dettori, E. Brodt,

E. Ensrud, D. Elliot, K. Dissinger, and M. McDon

agh, “Physical activity and the health of wheelchair

users: A systematic review in multiple sclerosis, cere

bral palsy, and spinal cord injury,” Archives of Physi

cal Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 102, pp. 2464

, 10 2021.

R. E. Cowan, S. L. Silveira, T. Helle, U. Læssøe,

K. R. Gøeg, J. Bangshaab, and R. W. Motl, “Lifestyle

physical activity in manual wheelchair users

an overlooked public health opportunity.,” Spinal

Cord, vol. 60, pp. 190–192, Feb 2022. Grant

F32HD101214/U.S. Department of Health & Human

Services | NIH | Eunice Kennedy Shriver National

Institute of Child Health and Human Development

(NICHD)/.

K. Charlton, C. Murray, N. Layton, E. Ong, L. Farrar,

T. Serocki, and S. Attrill, “Manual wheelchair train

ing approaches and intended training outcomes for

adults who are new to wheelchair use: A scoping

review.,” Australian Occupational Therapy Journal,

vol. 72, p. e12992, Feb 2025.

G. Fasipe, M. Goršiˇ c, M. H. Rahman, and J. R. Ram

mer, “Community mobility and participation assess

ment of manual wheelchair users: a review of cur

rent techniques and challenges,” Frontiers in Human

Neuroscience, vol. 17, p. 1331395, 2024.

J. Duvall, S. Satpute, R. Cooper, and R. A. Cooper,

“A review of adaptive sport opportunities for power

wheelchair users.,” Disability and Rehabilitation. As

sistive Technology, vol. 16, pp. 407–413, May 2021.

K. E. Griggs, “Wheelchair satisfaction and recom

mended improvements of manual wheelchairs in the

uk.,” Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technol

ogy, vol. 20, pp. 163–170, Jan 2025.

R. Togni, A. Kilchenmann, A. Proffe, J. Mullarkey,

L. Demkó, W. R. Taylor, and R. Zemp, “Turning in

circles: Understanding manual wheelchair use to

wards developing user-friendly steering systems,”

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, vol. 10,

p. 831528, 2022.

G. da Silva Bertolaccini, F. E. Sandnes, F. O. Medola,

and T. Gjøvaag, “Effect of manual wheelchair type on

mobility performance, cardiorespiratory responses,

and perceived exertion.,” Rehabilitation Research and

Practice, vol. 2022, p. 5554571, 2022.

S. J. Briley, R. J. K. Vegter, V. L. Goosey-Tolfrey, and

B. S. Mason, “The longitudinal relationship between

shoulder pain and altered wheelchair propulsion

biomechanics of manual wheelchair users.,” Journal

of Biomechanics, vol. 126, p. 110626, Sep 2021.

M. Khalili, A. Eugenio, A. Wood, M. Van der Loos,

W. B. Mortenson, and J. Borisoff, “Perceptions

of power-assist devices: interviews with manual

wheelchair users.,” Disability and Rehabilitation. As

sistive Technology, vol. 18, pp. 693–703, Jul 2023.

N. Krayn-Deckel, K. Presaizen, and A. Kalron, “Cog

nitive status is associated with performance of man

ual wheelchair skills in hospitalized older adults.,”

Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology,

vol. 19, pp. 24–29, Jan 2024.

L. K. Kenyon, K. L. Harrison, M. K. Huettner, S. B.

Johnson, and W. C. Miller, “Stakeholder perspectives

of pediatric powered wheelchair standing devices: a

qualitative study,” Developmental Medicine & Child

Neurology, vol. 63, no. 8, pp. 969–975, 2021.

C. Schofield, K. Evans, H. Young, S.-G. Paguinto,

K. Carroll, E. Townsend, M. Kiefer, M. McGuire,

J. Sodhi, P. Bray, K. Bayley, N. M. Vorster, and

J. Downs, “The development of a consensus state

ment for the prescription of powered wheelchair

standing devices in duchenne muscular dystrophy.,”

Disability and Rehabilitation, vol. 44, pp. 1889–1897,

May 2022.

S. Merai, D. Shah, B. Trivedi, P. Joshi, and S. Kush

wah, “A study and design of standing wheelchair,”

Materials Today: Proceedings, vol. 65, pp. 3787–3792,

J. Shaikh-Mohammed, S. S. Dash, V. Sarda, and

S. Sujatha, “Design journey of an affordable manual

standing wheelchair.,” Disability and Rehabilitation.

Assistive Technology, vol. 18, pp. 553–563, Jul 2023.

J. S. Ortiz, G. Palacios-Navarro, V. H. Andaluz,

and B. S. Guevara, “Virtual reality-based frame

work to simulate control algorithms for robotic as

sistance and rehabilitation tasks through a standing

wheelchair,” Sensors, vol. 21, no. 15, p. 5083, 2021.

V. Sarda, S. S. Dash, D. S. Mohan Varma, J. Shaikh

Mohammed, and S. Sujatha, “Design of a low-cost,

reconfigurable, standing wheelchair with easy and

stable sit-stand-sit transition capability.,” Disabil

ity and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology, vol. 18,

pp. 1056–1065, Oct 2023.

S. Daniel, N. Rawat, R. Iyer, J. Shaikh-Mohammed,

S. S. Dash, V. Sarda, and S. Sujatha, “User experience

study of an affordable manual standing wheelchair.,”

Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology,

vol. 18, pp. 1536–1543, Nov 2023.

M. Z. U. Rahman, I. Ali, A. Ishfaque, M. T. Riaz,

N. Ahmad, M.M.S.AlMahmud,andR.Tanveer, “De

sign, analysis, and control of biomedical healthcare

modular wheelchair with posture transformation,”

Complexity, vol. 2023, p. 7310265, 2023.

F. Taoheed, S. Parvez, M. A. Rahman, M. Hossain,

M. A. Hossain, M. O. Haque, V. A. Taylor, M. S. Hos

sain, and M. Alam, “Feasibility, usability, and ac

ceptability of a novel open-source manual standing

wheelchair in low resource settings,” medRxiv, 2025.

M. Zeeshan, M. A. Aslam, A. Waleed, and M. Asif,

“Comprehensive featured based standing wheelchair

using voice and gesture control for enhancing mobil

ity and accessibility,” in 2024 International Confer

ence on IT and Industrial Technologies (ICIT), pp. 1–5,

S.Daniel Frederick, J. Shaikh Mohammed, G. Suresh,

and S. Sujatha, “Long-term community integration

study of an affordable manual standing wheelchair.,”

Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology,

vol. 19, pp. 2698–2707, Oct 2024.

M. A. Alapakkam Govindarajan, P. S. Archambault,

and Y. Laplante-El Haili, “Comparing the usability

of a virtual reality manual wheelchair simulator

in two display conditions.,” Journal of Rehabilita

tion and Assistive Technologies Engineering, vol. 9,

p. 20556683211067174, 2022.

R. K. Hansen, A. Samani, U. Laessoe, R. G. Larsen,

and R. E. Cowan, “Sociodemographic characteris

tics associated with physical activity barrier percep

tion among manual wheelchair users,” Disability and

Health Journal, vol. 14, no. 4, p. 101119, 2021.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12962%2Fj25807471.v9i2.23228

Creative Commons License
JMES The International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences by Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (LPPM) ITS is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://iptek.its.ac.id/index.php/jmes.