Development and Evaluation of Passive Exoskeleton (SolatExo) for Assisting Muslims with Physical Disability in Salah
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumej.v26i1.3430Keywords:
Human Factors Engineering, Exoskeleton Design, Muslim Prayer, User TestingAbstract
Performing Salah (Islamic prayer) is a fundamental practice for all Muslims worldwide, involving physical movements such as standing, bowing, and prostrating. However, these movements can be challenging for individuals with physical disabilities, who often rely on conventional chairs to support their bodies during Salah. Using conventional chairs presents limitations in mosques, disrupting congregation alignment and hindering mobility due to their bulky size and lack of portability. To address these challenges, this study aimed to design and develop SolatExo, a passive exoskeleton prototype tailored to assist Muslims with physical disabilities during Salah. The study evaluated SolatExo’s impact on range of motion (ROM), muscle contraction using electromyography (EMG), usability, and user experience. Key findings indicated no significant reduction in ROM between wearing and not wearing SolatExo. The EMG analysis revealed reduced muscle contraction with SolatExo, suggesting its potential to alleviate muscular effort during Salah. Usability assessments yielded a moderate to good System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 68, although user feedback highlighted operational difficulties, particularly during transitions between Salah postures. This study underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between biomechanics, assistive technology design, and religious studies to develop inclusive solutions for enhancing Salah accessibility. Future research should focus on refining SolatExo’s design to improve usability and user experience, addressing comfort issues and incorporating advanced ergonomics principles better to serve the diverse needs within the Muslim community.
ABSTRAK: Mendirikan solat merupakan amalan wajib bagi semua umat Islam di seluruh dunia. Solat melibatkan pergerakan fizikal seperti berdiri, rukuk, dan sujud. Pergerakan ini sukar dilakukan oleh Muslim yang mempunyai kecederaan fizikal. Mereka akan menggunakan kerusi konvensional untuk solat. Walau bagaimanapun, kerusi konvensional akan mencetus beberapa kelemahan ketika solat di dalam masjid, seperti menjejaskan lurusnya saf jemaah, menghalang mobiliti dan mengganggu ruang jemaah lain kerana saiznya yang agak besar. Untuk menangani kelemahan ini, kajian ini bertujuan mereka bentuk dan membangunkan SolatExo, sebuah eksoskeleton pasif yang dicipta untuk membantu individu Muslim yang mempunyai kecederaan fizikal mendirikan solat. Kajian ini telah menilai kesan SolatExo terhadap julat pergerakan, penguncupan otot menggunakan elektromiografi, kebolehgunaan, dan pengalaman pengguna. Penemuan utama menunjukkan tiada perbezaan ketara dalam julat pergerakan di antara memakai dan tidak memakai SolatExo. Analisis elektromiografi menunjukkan pengurangan penguncupan otot ketika menggunakan SolatExo, bermakna ianya berpotensi mengurangkan usaha otot semasa solat. Penilaian kebolehgunaan menghasilkan skor Skala Kebolehgunaan Sistem yang sederhana tinggi iaitu 68. Dari aspek maklum balas pengguna, SolatExo memerlukan penambahbaikan terutamanya peralihan pergerakan solat yang lancar. Kajian ini menekankan kepentingan kerjasama pelbagai disiplin seperti biomekanik, reka bentuk teknologi bantuan, dan fiqh untuk membangunkan SolatExo yang berimpak tinggi. Penyelidikan masa depan perlu memberi tumpuan kepada memperhalusi reka bentuk SolatExo untuk meningkatkan kebolehgunaan dan pengalaman pengguna, aspek keselesaan dan menggabungkan prinsip ergonomik supaya memenuhi keperluan komuniti Muslim.
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