Updated on 2026/03/06

Information

 

写真a

 
Heloisa Seratiuk Flores
 
Organization
Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies Assistant Professor
Title
Assistant Professor
Profile
Heloísa Seratiuk Flores (DEng/PhD) is a Specially Appointed Assistant Professor at the Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies (Q-AOS), Kyushu University. Her main areas of study are design for healthcare, accessible design, biomechanics, human factors, and interdisciplinary research related to culture, arts, healthcare, and wellbeing. Her research has addressed the design of specially-made lower limb prostheses for sports practice, as well as aesthetic interventions to these devices in order to improve embodiment and rehabilitation outcomes. Currently, she is researching healthcare approaches and outcomes for healthcare services implemented in different countries, and what are the barriers for their implementation. This approach utilises co-design and participatory action research.
External link

Research Areas

  • Humanities & Social Sciences / Design

  • Life Science / Rehabilitation science

  • Life Science / Medical assistive technology

  • Informatics / Life, health and medical informatics

  • Humanities & Social Sciences / Aesthetics and art studies

Degree

  • Doctor of Engineering (Doctor of Philosophy in Design) （ 2025.6 Kyushu University ）

  • Master of Design （ 2022.3 Kyushu University ）

  • Bachelor of Product Design （ 2018.6 Universidade Federal do Parana ）

Research History

  • Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies Specially Appointed Assistant Professor 

    2025.8 - Present

  • Kyushu University Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies Academic Researcher 

    2025.4 - 2025.7

  • Kyushu University School of Design Academic Researcher 

    2019.4 - 2020.3

Education

  • Kyushu University   School of Design   Doctoral Programme in Design

    2022.4 - 2025.6

    　 More details

    Country：Japan

  • Kyushu University   School of Design   Human Life Design and Science

    2020.4 - 2022.3

    　 More details

    Country：Japan

  • Universidade Federal do Paraná   Department of Arts, Communication, and Design   Product Design

    2013.3 - 2018.7

    　 More details

    Country：Brazil

Research Interests・Research Keywords

  • Research theme： Remote Healthcare Solutions for Underserved Areas in Japan and in the Philippines

    Keyword： Service Design, Co-Design, Participatory Action, Applied Research, Cultural Ergonomics

    Research period： 2025.8 - Present

  • Research theme： Creation of Lower Limb Prostheses for Recreational Cycling

    Keyword： Biomechanics, Ergonomics, Applied Scientific Research, Product Development, Mechanical Engineering

    Research period： 2019.4 - 2025.3

  • Research theme： Development of Aesthetic Covers for Lower Limb Prostheses

    Keyword： Prostheses, Product Design, Human Centred Design, Design for Disabilities, Rehabilitation

    Research period： 2017.1 - 2018.12

Awards

  • Dean Award for Research Excellence

    2025.3   Kyushu University, School of Design  

    　More details

    Country：Japan

  • Woman in Digital Human Modelling Award

    2023.9   Technical Committee of Digital Human Modelling and Simulation of the International Ergonomics Association  

    　More details

    Award type：International academic award (Japan or overseas)  Country：Belgium

  • Design Award, 1st place

    2019.2   Tomie Ohtake Institute, Leroy Merlin  

    　More details

    Award type：Award from publisher, newspaper, foundation, etc.  Country：Brazil

  • Product Design Thesis Award, 2nd Place

    Universidade Federal do Paraná  

    　More details

    Country：Brazil

Papers

  • Sharing Power by Participant Co-Research: A Scoping Review Investigating the Interconnection of Participatory Action Research, Co-Design, Engagement and Technology Invited Reviewed International coauthorship

    Monica Aejmelaeus, Ville Louekari, Hanna Gröndahl, Heloísa Seratiuk Flores, Mari Suoheimo and Petri Nokelainen

    Increasing Participatory Engagement through Technology and Design New Approaches for Participation   2026.7   （ ISBN:9781041130543 ）

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Part of collection (book)  

  • Lower Limb Prostheses: Co-Designing Form and Function Invited Reviewed International coauthorship

    Heloísa Seratiuk Flores; Ana Christina Cabral Wasen; Kosuke Morinaga

    Exploring Research Through Co-Design Multiple Perspectives for Collaborative Inquiry   2026.5   （ ISBN:9781032900049 ）

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    Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Part of collection (book)  

  • Enabling Ankle Movement in Unilateral Leisure Cycling Prostheses: Joint Kinematics and Power Application to the Pedals Reviewed

    Heloísa Seratiuk Flores; Wen Liang Yeoh; Ping Yeap Loh; Kosuke Morinaga; Satoshi Muraki

    The Japanese Journal of Ergonomics   61   2025.5

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    Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (conference, symposium, etc.)  

    DOI： https://doi.org/10.5100/jje.61.2F04-01

    DOI： https://doi.org/10.5100/jje.61.2F04-01

  • Biomechanical effects of saddle height changes in leisure cycling with unilateral transtibial prostheses: A simulated study Reviewed

    Seratiuk Flores H, Wen Liang Y, Loh PY, Morinaga K, Muraki S

    PLOS ONE   20 ( 1 )   e0317121   2025.1   （ ISSN:1932-6203 ）

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    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

    Cycling is a beneficial physical activity for rehabilitating individuals with lower-limb amputations and serves as a feasible leisure sport. However, the optimal bicycle configuration for cycling with a unilateral transtibial prosthesis at leisure levels has not been investigated. For saddle height at professional cycling levels, existing literature suggests utilizing the same configuration as that used by intact cyclists, where the knee reaches 25–35° at maximum extension. However, leisure cyclists tend to select lower saddle heights, and cycling with a unilateral transtibial prosthesis infers altered biomechanics during cycling practice. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cycling at different saddle heights with a simulated unilateral prosthesis. Ten able-bodied participants wore orthoses to simulate prosthetic conditions. The experimental task was performed on an ergometer at 40 W resistance, 60 rpm to simulate leisure cycling. Standard saddle height was defined as maximum knee extension of 45°. This height was used as the control condition and its trials were performed without orthoses. The variable heights were set as height percentage variations (-7%, -3.5%, 0, +3.5%, and +7%). Muscle activity, joint movement, force application to the pedals, perceived exertion, and comfort were evaluated. The -3.5% and -7% saddle heights resulted in joint movement and muscle activity levels closer to those in the control conditions, which also showed improved power symmetry between the affected and non-affected legs. In addition, the -3.5% height increased comfort level in participants. In conclusion, selecting lower saddle heights may be beneficial for unilateral transtibial amputees during leisure cycling. The optimal saddle height for this population may maintain maximum knee extension within the 37–45° range, dynamically measured on the affected side.

    DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0317121

    DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0317121

    PubMed

  • Biomechanical Analysis of Recreational Cycling with Unilateral Transtibial Prostheses Reviewed

    Prosthesis   2023.8   （ ISSN:2673-1592 ）

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    Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

    <jats:p>Leg prostheses specially adapted for cycling in patients with transtibial amputation can be advantageous for recreational practice; however, their required features are not fully understood. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of unilateral cycling with a transtibial prosthesis and the characteristics of different attachment positions (middle and tip of the foot) between the prosthetic foot and the pedal. The cycling practice was performed on an ergometer at 40 W and 60 W resistance levels while participants (n = 8) wore custom-made orthoses to simulate prosthesis conditions. Using surface electromyogram, motion tracking, and power meter pedals, biomechanical data were evaluated and compared with data obtained through regular cycling. The results showed that power delivery became more asymmetrical at lower workloads for both orthosis conditions, while hip flexion and muscle activity of the knee extensor muscles in the sound leg increased. While both pedal attachment positions showed altered hip and knee joint angles for the leg wearing the orthosis, the middle of the foot attachment presented more symmetric power delivery. In conclusion, the middle of the foot attachment position presented better symmetry between the intact and amputated limbs during cycling performed for rehabilitation or recreation.</jats:p>

    DOI： 10.3390/prosthesis5030052

    DOI： 10.3390/prosthesis5030052

  • Simulating Prosthesis Conditions in Cycling: a Comparative Study Reviewed

    24th Congress of International Society of Biomechanics   2023.8

  • Joint Movement Assessment Applied to Unilateral Amputee Cycling Reviewed

    Heloísa Seratiuk Flores; Wen Liang Yeoh; Kosuke Morinaga; Satoshi Muraki

    Advances in Digital Human Modeling   2023

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Part of collection (book)  

    DOI： 10.1007/978-3-031-37848-5_18

    DOI： 10.1007/978-3-031-37848-5_18

  • 日常でのサイクリングのための下腿義足のバイオメカニクス的研究

    第 7 回 アダプテッドスポーツ・ライフ 科学研究会   2022.8

  • Transtibial Leg Prostheses: Applications to the Practice of Cycling

    SERATIUK FLORES Heloísa, YEOH Wen Liang, MORINAGA Kyosuke, MURAKI Satoshi

    The Japanese Journal of Ergonomics   58 ( Supplement )   2E2-01 - 2E2-01   2022.7   （ ISSN:05494974 eISSN:18842844 ）

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    Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publisher：Japan Human Factors and Ergonomics Society  

    DOI： 10.5100/jje.58.2e2-01

    CiNii Research

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Presentations

  • The Blink of an Eye: An Autoethnography on Using Art & Portraiture as a Tool for Emotional Recognition in Autism International conference

    INTERFACEing 2025   2025.9 

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    Event date： 2025.9

    Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

    Country：Turkey  

  • Service Design Blueprints for Remote Healthcare Invited International conference

    2025.9 

    　More details

    Event date： 2025.9

    Language：English   Presentation type：Public lecture, seminar, tutorial, course, or other speech  

    Venue：University of Lapland   Country：Finland  

  • Enabling Ankle Movement in Unilateral Leisure Cycling Prostheses: Joint Kinematics and Power Application to the Pedals

    66th Annual Conference of Japan Human Factors and Ergonomics Society  2025.5 

    　More details

    Event date： 2025.5

    Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

  • Introduction to Prosthesis Research Invited International conference

    2024.12  University of the Philippines

    　More details

    Event date： 2024.12

    Language：English   Presentation type：Public lecture, seminar, tutorial, course, or other speech  

    Country：Philippines  

  • Biomechanical Effects of Saddle Height in Cycling with Unilateral Transtibial Prostheses International conference

    22nd Triennial Congress of The International Ergonomics Association  2024.8 

    　More details

    Event date： 2024.8

    Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

    Country：Korea, Republic of  

  • Cycling With a Lower Limb Amputation: Creating Guidelines Invited

    Kyushu University Graduate School of Design Doctoral Colloquium  2023.10 

    　More details

    Event date： 2023.10

    Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

  • Joint Movement Assessment Applied to Unilateral Amputee Cycling

    8th International Digital Human Modeling Symposium  2023.9 

    　More details

    Event date： 2023.9

    Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

    Country：Belgium  

  • From Brazil to Japan: Lower Limb Amputation and Prostheses Invited International conference

    2023.9  Italian Institute of Technology

    　More details

    Event date： 2023.9

    Language：English   Presentation type：Public lecture, seminar, tutorial, course, or other speech  

    Country：Italy  

  • Simulating Prosthesis Conditions in Cycling: A Comparative Study International conference

    24th Congress of The International Society of Biomechanics  2023.8 

    　More details

    Event date： 2023.8

    Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

    Country：Japan  

  • Biomechanical Study of Transtibial Prostheses for Everyday Cycling

    7th Adapted Sports Life Science Research Conference  2022.8 

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    Event date： 2022.8

    Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

  • Transtibial Leg Prostheses: Applications to the Practice of Cycling

    63rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Ergonomics Society  2022.7 

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    Event date： 2022.7

    Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

  • Biomechanics of Cycling Applied to the Design of Transtibial Leg Prostheses

    42nd Kyushu-Okinawa Conference of the Japan Ergonomics Society  2021.12 

    　More details

    Event date： 2021.11

    Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

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Works

  • 13th Brazilian Biennial of Graphic Design

    Heloisa Seratiuk Flores, Ana Cristina Cabral Wasen

    　More details

    Work type：Artistic work  

  • Motion Analysis 2D

    Wen Liang Yeoh, Heloísa Seratiuk Flores

    　More details

    Work type：Software  

Professional Memberships

  • Japanese Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics

    2025.4 - Present

  • Human Factors Transforming Healthcare Network

    2025.4 - Present

Committee Memberships

  • Universidade Federal do Parana   Design Academic Centre   Foreign country

    2014 - 2015   

    　 More details

    Committee type：Other

Academic Activities

  • Kyushu University Forum KYUDAI NOW Manila

    Role(s)： Planning, management, etc.

    Q-AOS  2026.2

    　More details

    Type：Competition, symposium, etc. 

    Number of participants：100

  • Soviet Film: Connecting Asia Through the Work of Viktor Tsoi International contribution

    Role(s)： Planning, management, etc.,　Panel moderator, session chair, etc.

    Q-AOS Asia Week  2025.11

    　More details

    Type：Competition, symposium, etc. 

    Number of participants：50

  • 66th Annual Conference of Japan Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

    Role(s)： Planning, management, etc.

    Japan Human Factors and Ergonomics Society   2025.5

  • The Transformative Nature of Food Adaptation, Connectivity and Identity International contribution

    Role(s)： Review, evaluation

    　More details

    Type：Peer review 

Research Projects

Educational Activities

  • Ongoingly, aiding in the organisation of weekly seminars (Brown Bag Seminars) covering varied topics and areas for science communication. Participating in the organisation of the Kyushu University Forum "Kyudai Now" across Asia, fomenting research collaborations. Was main organiser of an academic event about Soviet cinema and its cultural aspects and impact. With presenters from six different countries, and participants from fifteen. Was invited lecturer at the University of Lapland, University of the Philippines, and Italian Institute of Technology. Helped with the organisation of various design events, workshops, and classes, (Brazil: R Design and N Design, Japan: Sakura Science Programme, Estonia: Global PBL).

Award for Educational Activities

  • 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)

    2023.10   Kyushu University  

    First place in the 3MT award at Kyushu University. Awarded a 300.000 yen research grant.

Class subject

  • Academic Publishing and Dissemination Skills

    2025.10 - 2026.2   Second semester

  • Global PBL Program

    2025.4 - 2025.10   First semester

Visiting, concurrent, or part-time lecturers at other universities, institutions, etc.

  • 2025  Estonian Institute of the Arts (EKA)  Classification:Intensive course  Domestic/International Classification:Overseas 

Participation in international educational events, etc.

  • 2026.2

    Kyushu University

    Kyushu University Forum KYUDAI NOW Manila

    　 More details

    Venue：Philippines, Manila

  • 2022.8

    University of Taipei

    International Exchange Workshop IV – SDGs 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • 2019.9

    University of the Arts London

    Digital Design

Travel Abroad

  • 2026.4

    Staying countory name 1：Philippines   Staying institution name 1：University of the Philippines

  • 2025.9

    Staying countory name 1：Turkey   Staying institution name 1：Dogus University

  • 2025.9

    Staying countory name 1：Estonia   Staying institution name 1：Estonian Academy of the Arts

    Staying countory name 2：Finland   Staying institution name 2：University of the Arts Helsinki

    Staying institution name 3：University of Lapland

  • 2023.9

    Staying countory name 1：Italy   Staying institution name 1：Italian Institute of Technology

  • 2023.9

    Staying countory name 1：Belgium   Staying institution name 1：University of Antwerp