Abstract:

This theses provides an objective assessment of manual support fixture properties, in particular on the assesment of grabrails because of the precise way in which they provide assistance during the sit-to-stand transfer. To analyse the impact of grabrail properties on performance, two areas were investigated: stability at the hand/handle interface and the impact of grabrail position and orientation on the mechanics of the sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit transfers. Two functional tests of friction involving a handgrip action determined the interaction at the hand/handle interface. Both assessments involved the investigation of friction characteristics of five commercially available grabrails with palmar skin that was dry, wet and soapy.