Conceptual design framework as a model for wheelchair users’ sportswear comfort

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study is to propose the necessary design framework to assess sportswear attributes in terms of comfort and enhanced performance for wheelchair users. The design framework, which is to integrate CCM (Clothing Comfort Model) into MCSN (Model for Clothing for Special Needs), determines the physical nature of personal characteristics to evaluate clothing comfort needs for wheelchair users. This newly suggested design model contains personal characteristics, degree of physical disability and physical dimension. Within the physical dimension category, there are activity and fit attributes which come from the comfort concept. In this new design framework, the activity including having wheelchair users’ own special activity and fit related to clothing comfort show the necessary comfort attributes. The new design model is applied with some previous study cases and further analyzed. This study provides clear strategies for identifying the comfort aspect when designing sportswear for wheelchair users and does so by offering a new conceptual model. These examinations would allow development of useful guidelines for both best comfort and appropriate design dimensions for sportswear for wheelchair users.

Keywords

• Sportswear
• Comfort
• Design model
• Wheelchair users
• Physical disability
• Clothing attributes