Comparison of Virtual Wheelchair Driving Performance of People With Traumatic Brain Injury Using an Isometric and a Conventional Joystick

Abstract Mahajan H, Spaeth DM, Dicianno BE, Collins DM, Boninger ML, Cooper RA. Comparison of virtual wheelchair driving performance of people with traumatic brain injury using an isometric and a conventional joystick. Objective To compare wheelchair driving performance in a driving simulator using a conventional joystick and an isometric joystick. Design Randomized, cohort study. Setting A research facility based in a hospital or in an independent living center. Participants Participants (N=20; 12 men, 8 women; mean age ± SD, 30.62±10.91y) who were at least 1 year post-TBI. Interventions Driving performance using an isometric joystick compared with a conventional movement joystick. Main Outcome Measures Average trial completion time, and trajectory-specific measures measured orthogonal to the center of driving tasks: root mean squared error, movement offset, movement error, and number of significant changes in heading. Results After statistically controlling for driving speed, participants were able to complete the driving tasks faster with an isometric joystick than while using a conventional movement joystick. Compared with the conventional joystick, an isometric joystick used for driving forward demonstrated fewer driving errors. During reverse driving the conventional joystick performed better. Conclusions The customizable isometric joystick seems to be a promising interface for driving a powered wheelchair for individuals with TBI.