The segway personal transporter as an alternative mobility device for people with disabilities: a pilot study

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the functional measures that best correlate with the skill levels of people with disabilities who operate a Segway Personal Transporter, and-using a qualitative analysis-to explore subjects' experience with the Segway.

Design: A prospective study encompassing 3 training sessions with the Segway to correlate subjects' functional ability (eg, cognition, balance, mobility, muscle strength) with their skill level on the device.

Setting: A provincial adult rehabilitation center.

Participants: Twenty-three subjects (age range, 19-65y) with a wide range of disabilities (eg, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, amputation) who could walk at least 6m with or without assistance.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: Segway Task Assessment, Berg Balance Scale, and Timed Up & Go test.

Results: No correlation was found because all participants successfully completed the final Segway Task Assessment, regardless of scores on functional assessments.

Conclusions: The Segway is a useful device for a broad range of populations with functional disabilities. Subjects found the Segway easy to use and were excited about its potential as an assistive device for use in their communities.