When designing office chairs and wheelchairs, most attention is paid to geometry to adjust chairs to individual body dimensions. The aim of this study is to gain insight in biomechanical sound design criteria for the backrest. Out of a biomechanical model and tests on a healthy population it was concluded that free shoulder space of at least 6 cm is needed when designing a backrest for a wheelchair. And when focussing at the inclination of the backrest, an opening angle between seat and backrest of 90° degrees is wanted.
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