anthropometry of indian manual wheelchair users research - vikas sharma

7/31/2019 Anthropometry of Indian Manual Wheelchair Users Research - Vikas Sharma

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Anthropometry of Indian Manual Wheelchair Users: a validation study of Indian

accessibility standards

- Vikas Sharma, Access Consultant, AccessAbility, India

Statement of Problem

There are several accessibility guidelines in India that provide slightly differinganthropometric standards and design recommendations. However, it is unclear whether

any of the standards available are based on original anthropometric research done on the

Indian disabled population. Despite advancements in assistive technology and increasingavailability of customised wheelchairs, there has been no study to validate the Indian

accessibility standards and to check if they continue to meet the functional

anthropometric needs of Indian manual wheelchair users.

Objective

The overall aim of the study is to establish whether the Indian accessibility standards

continue to meet the anthropometric needs of the current population of manual

wheelchair users. This will identify if a need for further research in the anthropometricsof Indian disabled population or a review of the existing accessibility codes is indicated.

MethodologyThe study aims to review the existing literature to analyse the current anthropometric

recommendations in the Indian accessibility standards and guidelines and also comparethese with the corresponding publications produced by the International Organisation for

Standardisation (ISO) and those in use in UK and USA. It is intended to investigate if the

Indian standards were based on any original anthropometric research done on the localpopulation of Indians with disabilities.

Static and Dynamic anthropometric data of a sample group of 15 Indian manualwheelchair users will be collected during the study to identify the design needs of the

current population. These findings will then be compared with the existing Indian

standards and a critical analysis done.

Summary of Literature Review

Person with Disabilities Act (1995) is a landmark legislation that recognises the rights of

Indians with disabilities and creates opportunities for equal participation in allgovernment run infrastructure and services. There are several access standards and

guidelines published by the different departments of the Government of India but the Act

does not comment on them and does not endorse any particular publication.

Table: Indian Accessibility Standards and Guidelines

Name Developed by Published Revised Enforcement

IS 4963: Recommendations

for Buildings and Facilities

for the Physically

Handicapped

Bureau of Indian

Standards (BIS)

1968 1992 Standard


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National Building Code BIS 1970 2005 Standard

IS 7454: Rehabilitation

Equipment-Wheelchairs,Folding, Adult Size

Specification

BIS 1974 1997 Standard

Guidelines and SpaceStandards for Barrier Free

Built Environment forDisabled and Elderly

Persons

Central PublicWorks Department

(CPWD)

1998 1998 Guideline

Planning a Barrier Free

Environment

Office of Chief

Commissioner for

persons withdisabilities (CCD)

2001 2001 Guideline

New Delhi Building

Byelaws

Delhi Municipal

Corporation

2005 --------- Standard

The following tables illustrate a comparative analysis of Guidelines and Standards for

accessible design used in India, UK and USA. Also comparison has been done with thestandard ISO 7193: Wheelchairs - Maximum overall dimensions and ISO/ TR 9527:

Building Construction Needs of disabled people in buildings Design guidelines

published by the International Organisation for Standardisation. For USA Americanswith Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) were reviewed whereas for

UK, BS 8300: Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled

people Code of practice and InclusiveMobility, which are accessibility guidelinesproduced by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)

were included in this study. The analyses was limited to wheelchair dimensions, clear

floor area provisions, space requirements for maneuvering, knee and toe clearances andreach limits.

The columns in light green background represent the Indian anthropometric

recommendations and the columns in lavender background represent the internationalones. Figures in red indicate exact matches and figures in blue indicate close similarity

between the Indian and international access standards and guidelines. The various exact

matches and several close similarities for the dimensional data clearly hint that the Indianrecommendations may be a negotiated settlement of international minimum guidelines

and requirements.

Table: Comparison of Structural Anthropometry of wheelchair users (in mm)Country India UK USA ISO

Standard BIS (IS

7454 & IS4963)

CPWD CCD Inclusive

Mobility(DETR 1999)

& BS 8300

ADAAG ISO

7193& ISO

9527


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Wheelchair Measurements

Unoccupied width 650 720 750 680 750 660 700

Occupied width X 800 900 800 760 800

900

Unoccupied length 1000-

1100

1050 1200 1200 1065 1200

Occupied length X 1200 1150

1250

1250 1220 1250

Handle height 910 950 X 920 X 915 1090

Eye height X X 1100

1300

960 1250 1090

1295

X

Total seated height X X X 1300 1400 X 1350

Armrest height 700 740 X 760 794 760 X

Seat height 480 510 X 480

500

460 490 485 500

Knee height X X 675 691 685 X

Toe height X X 200 X 205 XKnee clearance depth X X X 260 280 X

Toe clearance depth X X X X 150 X

Combined knee + toe

clearance depth

400

450

350 480 490 X 600

Table: Comparison of Functional Anthropometry of wheelchair users (in mm)

Country India UK USA ISO

Standard BIS (IS

7454 & IS

4963)

CPWD CCD Inclusive

Mobility

(DETR 1999)

& BS 8300

ADAAG ISO

7193

Reach Ranges Forward

High 1350 1600

1200 1200 X 1220 1200

Low X 400 400 X 380 400

Obstructed high 715 - 830 1100 1100 1000 1150 1120 X

Obstructed low X X X 650 X X

Reach Ranges Lateral

High 1350

1770

1300 1300 1060 1170 1370 X

Low X 250 250 630 665 230 X

Obstructed high X 1200 1200 X 1220 X

Maneuvering Clearances

Width 90

L-turn X X X 1450 - 1550 915 X

Circular diameter

360turn

1500 1500

2000

1800 1600 - 2150 1525 1500


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Review of research behind developing the standards reveals that the Indian standards,

except IS 7454, and accessibility guidelines are not based on any original anthropometric

research done on the local disabled population. The Indian Standard IS 7454 was basedon research done on static anthropometry of unoccupied wheelchairs in late 1974.

Advances in wheeled mobility technology, the ongoing demographic shift towards an

ageing society, and changes in stature of the population due to nutritional improvementsand genetic shift since that time suggest that the Indian standards may be out of date.

Recent research on the anthropometry of wheeled mobility users has been conducted in

Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada. Most of these countries have already revisedor are revising their standards based on that research. Unfortunately no similar

anthropometric research has been done in India to establish needs of the present

population.

There are a number of studies on basic anthropometry of people with disabilities and of

the elderly. Most of these have relatively small sample sizes (under 100), which make it

difficult to generalize to a whole population for design purposes. Some have larger

samples, but are not from Indian populations. Still others have adequate sample sizes, buthave dimension lists that are focused on specific applications such as ergonomics for

workplace design, so the usefulness of the resulting data base in terms of designinginclusive environments is restricted.

The range of wheelchairs in use in India includes tricyles and caster-carts which haveingeniously been designed to resolve local cultural needs. A lack of anthropometric

study of these devices, despite their popularity, has led to poor representation of the needs

of their users in the present Indian accessibility standards and building codes. The reviewof existing literature indicates that there has been no anthropometric research to verify the

effectiveness and validity of the Indian accessibility standards.

To date, the majority of wheelchair research stems from research groups based in western

countries and obviously is directed towards populations of users and wheelchairs in

predominantly western countries and their environment. As such, apart from the works of

Chakrabati, Mukherjee et al and Goswami et al, little research is available that addressesspecific non-western populations of users or wheelchairs. Owing to differences in

anthropometry among user populations and among populations of wheelchairs studied,

the application of anthropometrical data from wheelchair research originating fromstudies in western countries will therefore be limited for the specific Indian

environmental context. This stresses at least part of the importance of the much needed

local anthropometric research in India.

Summary of Findings from Anthropometric Field Study

The data collected from the field study was compared with the anthropometricrecommendations in the various Indian accessibility standards and guidelines. The

following tables compare this study with the Indian Standard IS 4963: Recommendations

for Buildings and Facilities for the Physically Handicapped (1987, Reaffirmed 1992),Indian Standard IS 7454: Rehabilitation Equipment - Wheelchairs, Folding, Adult Size


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User Measurements

Occupied

width

645 666 734 828 860 X 800 900

Occupied

length

980 983 1112 1246 1260 X 1200 1150-

1250

Eye height 1030 1065 1141 1208 1240 X X 1100

1300

Total seated

height

1155 1186 1249 1310 1310 X X X

Knee height 570 573 654 718 725 X X 675

Toe height 180 190 239 301 305 X X 200

Combinedknee + toe

depth

265 279 359 448 455 400 450

350 480 *

b) Functional AnthropometryThe most significant differences between the recommendations in the Standards and thedata collected from the field study were in the High Reach ranges, in both the categories

i.e. forward and sideways, and also the 360 degree maneuvering clearances.


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Table: Summary of Findings: Functional Anthropometry

Standard Field Study IS

4963

CPWD CCD Significant

Difference

Min 5th

%ile

50th

%ile

95th

%ile

Max

Reach Ranges - Forward

High 830 886 1158 1449 1470 1350-

1600

1200 1200 *

Low 290 297 427 574 595 X 400 400

Obstructed

high

865 886 1111 1352 1380 715

830

1100 1100

Reach Ranges Lateral

High 920 1126 1331 1496 1510 1350

1770

1300 1300 *

Low 230 233 289 329 375 X 250 250Obstructed

high

860 898 1086 1237 1290 X 1200 1200

Maneuvering Clearances

Width

90L-turn

770 787 950 1134 1155 X X X

Circular

diameter 360

turn

1400 1431 1643 1874 1930 1500 1500

2000

1800 *

Conclusions

a) Summary of Key IssuesThe key issues that affect the anthropometry and access needs of Indians with disabilities

as identified by this research are as follows:-

1. None of the standards and guidelines is based on any original anthropometricresearch done on the local Indian population of people with disabilities.

2. There is no database on functional anthropometry of the elderly Indianpopulation.

3. The structural anthropometric data on wheelchair dimensions in the Indianaccessibility standard IS 4963 does not include anthropometry of contemporary

wheeled mobility devices such as tricycles and caster-carts.

4. The standards do not provide minimum guidelines and requirements on severalessential dimensional variables such as occupied device dimensions, eye height,90 degree turn width, knee and toe heights and clearance depths, low reach

ranges, etc.5. None of the Indian standards correlate strength with anthropometrics.6. No validation study has ever been done to check efficacy of the Indian standards.


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7. There is poor documentation of the research methodology and sample populationstudied in the standards and guidelines.

8. Most of the anthropometric design recommendations in the standards haveremained unchanged since the first publication.

9. Research results from the field study clearly indicate a variation in anthropometryof wheelchair users from that described in the standards. The deviation issignificant in certain variables such as the knee and toe clearance dimensions, seat

heights, armrest heights, high reach ranges and 360 degree circular turning

diameters.10.The dimensional data has only been presented as an absolute value, occasionally

as a range where only the maximum and the minimum values have been specified.

Also, none of the dimensional recommendations have been stratified by thegender type.

11.Anthropometric dimensional data are included in the main document of thestandards.

12.Previous studies have only focussed on conventional anthropometry and noattempt has been made to collate a 3-dimensional database to develop computerhuman modeling techniques.

b) Implication of ResultsAn anthropometric database of disabled and elderly population is vital for designing

inclusive environments. The present knowledgebase of anthropometry of disabledIndians, as reflected in the standards and guidelines, lacks data on several essential

dimensional variables such as occupied device dimensions, eye height, 90 degree turn

width, knee and toe heights and clearance depths, low reach ranges, etc. Moreover, thereis no database on anthropometry of the elderly Indian population. Also, the exclusion of

anthropometry of contemporary rural mobility devices such as caster-carts and tricycles

from the standards has not helped in encouraging accessibility in the built environmentfor the users of these devices.

There is poor documentation of definitions of the landmarks and dimensions used in the

standards and guidelines. Additionally, there is no mention of the measurement methodsused, characteristics of the study population or the sampling techniques employed in the

research. A detailed description of the research methodology used and sample population

studied enables pooling of data across future studies and also helps in establishingreliability and validity of the study.

Strength is a key variable in the ability to complete different functions and should be asignificant consideration in functional anthropometry. Unfortunately, Indian standards do

not correlate strength with anthropometrics and this severely limits designing of hardware

that is easily operable by people with disabilities.

There has been no validation study to check the efficacy of the Indian standards and

guidelines Moreover, most of the anthropometric design recommendations in thestandards have remained unchanged since the first publication. Population demographics


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change over time from decade to decade and also the assistive technology keeps

evolving. It is, therefore, critical that updates and revisions be made to anthropometric

data tables periodically. In the absence of validation studies and any significant revisionto the standards it is unlikely that the design recommendations in the standards will meet

the needs of the present population.

Including anthropometric dimensional data in the main document of the standards makes

it very difficult to revise the dimensional recommendations on a regular basis as doing so

requires changing the main document of the standards. This may possibly be one of thefactors why the much needed changes in anthropometry have not been reflected in the

standards.

The research results from the field study clearly indicate that the dimensions of a standard

wheelchair and the functional anthropometry of wheelchair users vary from those

described in the standards. This reveals that the design needs of the present population of

wheelchair users are not adequately reflected in the regulatory standards and, therefore, a

significant proportion of disabled Indians are likely to find the built environmentinaccessible.

All the Indian standards and guidelines lack in providing the data in a format that may be

useful for designers and policy makers. The dimensional data has only been presented as

an absolute value, occasionally as a range where only the maximum and the minimumvalues have been specified. Moreover, although it is well known that anthropometry

varies with gender, none of the dimensional recommendations have been stratified by the

gender type. The designers and policy makers need to know the 5th

and the 95th

percentilevalues as also the mean and the mode values to enable them to cater to specialist

populations such as when designing a rehabilitation centre or an aisle chair for use by

disabled people in airplanes.

c) Recommendations

Guidelines and standards for accessible design are based on data derived fromanthropometric research of people with disabilities. This research indicates that the

available regulatory and guidance documents in India do not represent needs of the

present range of wheeled mobility users. Changes in codes and standards are needed to

truly reflect the needs of the local Indian population.

Studies of anthropometric needs of wheeled mobility users in rural areas are important

and remain to be undertaken as differences in cultural and economic prerequisites mustbe taken into consideration when representing the access needs of an entire country in the

national standards. It is important to study the anthropometrics of tricycles, caster-carts

and other contemporary wheeled mobility devices so that the needs of their users may beincorporated in the standards so as to address the reality of local contemporary wheeled

mobility use.


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Results from the field study suggest that the clear floor areas and seat heights be

increased in the standards to address the actual size of wheelchairs in use. Also radical

changes are indicated in the knee and toe clearance dimensions, seat heights, armrestheights, high reach ranges and 360 degree circular turning diameters

To provide a realistic guidance for designers, information on wheelchair accessibilitydimensions should include occupied sizes as well and also include more information on

the structural anthropometry of the users. Occupied sizes and user dimensions are most

valuable for designers for establishing clear floor area and other space requirements thanthe unoccupied wheelchair dimensions but the existing standards and guidelines only

provide very limited information on these. Other dimensional variables that specifically

need to be added to the standards include eye height, 90 degree turn width, low reachranges, knee and toe heights and clearance depths. There is also a need for studying

strength, in its various dimensions and the need to study the correlation between strength

and anthropometrics in the accomplishment of activities of daily living in order to design

enabling environmental hardware.

The anthropometric specifications and dimensional recommendations should be included

either in a supplementary document which is not part of the standards or be included inan appendix to the main document. This is crucial as later revisions in the anthropometric

recommendations, which will be essential as our understanding of the anthropometrics of

disability increases and also as the assistive technology advances, may be incorporatedeasily without needing to change the main standards.

The importance of the much needed local anthropometric research in India can not beover-emphasised. A major nationwide anthropometric survey is recommended to provide

specific anthropometric data on the general Indian population of people with disabilities

and the elderly across urban and rural India. This will provide the groundwork to supportimprovements in the accessibility guidelines and standards so that they more accurately

reflect the functional abilities and needs of the local Indian population of people with

disabilities.

Anthropometric studies conducted today will need to address the design challenges of

tomorrow and therefore it is essential that anthropometric research is undertaken

periodically to review the standards as the assistive technology keeps evolving and thedemographics of disability keep changing.

Limitations of the StudyThe sample described in this study was not representative of the Indian wheelchair

population in terms of gender, ethnic diversity, wheelchair type and disability type. The

field study only included anthropometric research on manual wheelchair users who havebeen disabled due to spinal cord injury and, therefore, may not necessarily represent the

needs of all wheelchair users. Moreover, since the study was conducted in New Delhi, it

does not have representation from other geographic areas whereas it is well establishedthat people in the Southern and Eastern states of India have significant anthropometric


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differences from the population of Northern India. Also power wheelchair users have

been excluded from this study. All results from this research will only relate to the

sample group studied but are expected to provide insights and inferences to the needs ofgeneral population of Indian manual wheelchair users regarding the relationships

established in the study.

Conventional anthropometric tools such as tape measure and ruler were used in this study

rather than more accurate anthropometric instruments designed for such a purpose. This

was done to match the tools and techniques used in the research preceding thedevelopment of Indian standards in 1974. The research was focused on testing the

adequacy of current standards. Many of the findings therefore can not be used to make

generalisations or to determine the ideal space requirements for ensuring accessibility.

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anthropometry of indian manual wheelchair users research - vikas sharma

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