The Segway Personal Transporter as an Alternative Mobility Device for People With Disabilities: A Pilot Study

Abstract 

Sawatzky B, Denison I, Langrish S, Richardson S, Hiller K, Slobogean B. The Segway Personal Transporter as an alternative mobility device for people with disabilities: a pilot study.

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.

Key Words: Assistive technology, Disabled persons, Rehabilitation, Residential mobility