|
|
 |
|
|
Research |
|
 Our products are partly based on the scientific research carried out by Dr.ir. H.A.M. Staarink.
He studied Industrial Design at what is now the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands and graduated in 1974 with a study on ‘Developing a universal wheelchair system’. Ever since the beginning of that project, he has continued to work together with Ton Tournier, physiotherapist and manual therapist, who had defined the baselines for that project. Right up to the present day, they are still both fascinated by the phenomenon 'sitting' and continue to probe the subject in all its aspects.
In 1996, Staarink started his own research to find objective and measurable criteria with which to define a sound sitting posture. For the purpose of this research he developed a multifunctional fitting chair with which a great number of parameters can be measured and tweaked. At about this point, Jaap van Wijngaarden, GP, joined the team. Together, these three carried out a great number of experiments with test subjects and discussed the whys and wherefores of the results at great length. It was soon apparent that specific sitting postures were more similar in the various (and very diverse) test subjects than one would initially have expected. The stability of the trunk and the position of the head with respect to the trunk proved to be the determining factors for each individual’s perception of comfort. In understanding the test subjects’ individually preferred postures, the definition of a sitting posture developed by Staarink plays an important role. With his definition, it is possible to explain simply both the biomechanical and the neurophysiological aspects of sitting. The final result of this exploration for objective and measurable criteria for sound sitting postures was as simple as it was surprising.
Even more surprising was the fact that the results could be validated by earlier work done by other researchers (Sitting Posture, Grandjean (ed.), 1969) simply by analysing their results using Staarink’s definition of a sitting posture. The results proved to be to a degree the same for equivalent specific sitting postures. Staarink and his team had not only confirmed the earlier research, but their own research had also provided a sound explanation for the results.
In 2001, Staarink started working with PR Sella, Louis Huttenhuis’ company. Huttenhuis and Staarink first met many years earlier through the GMD: Gemeenschappelijke Medische Dienst. This institute has changed its name but is still under the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Society. Staarink was on the staff and responsible for improving the quality of wheelchairs.
In 1995, Staarink gained his PhD with research carried out for the GMD. His thesis was on the functional quality of cushions for wheelchairs, especially as regards the quality of the pressure distribution. In 2001, PR Sella had already started to develop software to enable easy analysis of the results of interface pressure measurements. Staarink was asked to carry on with this project and to further the development. He did not only base the software on a different and improved principle but also made the link with the phenomenon sitting posture at the same time. After all, optimum pressure distribution begins with an optimal sitting posture. This was, in fact, the beginning of what is now called SMS Seating Advice.
In 2007, Staarink set down all of his analyses, explanations and experience of the phenomenon 'sitting and sitting behaviour' and the consequences for (the design of) seats and wheelchairs in his book: Zo zit het! Over zitten, stoelen en rolstoelen. This book is soon to be published in English under the title: All there is to know about sitting – sitting behaviour, seats and wheelchairs.
In 2006 and 2007, PR Sella and Staarink worked with the rehabilitation centre Het Roessingh in Enschede in the Netherlands on the evaluation and further improvement of the SMS seating advice and analysis software.
If you would like more information about the scientific research on sitting in a wheelchair, pressure distribution and cushions, download the documents ‘Scientific research’ and 'Manual of definitions' via the ‘Downloads’ button on the right hand side of this page.
|
|
|
