Article

Studies have not been conducted to investigate the influence of the
height of the rotational axis of a wheelchair's back support on the shear force
applied to the buttocks during the reclining motion.
The purpose of
this study was to investigate the influence of the difference in the rotational
axis position of back support in the vertical direction on the horizontal force
applied to buttocks for preventing decubitus ulcers. STUDY DESIGN: Repeated
measures design. METHODS: The subjects were 13 healthy adult men without leg
and/or trunk diseases. The shear force was measured using a force plate. A
comfortable sitting posture in the experimental chair was selected for
measurement. The rotational axis was positioned 13 cm forward on the horizontal
plane from the intersection between the seat and the back support. The axis
positions on the vertical plane as two experimental conditions were the seat
height and the 7.5-cm upward from the seat height which was nearer to the hip
joint. RESULTS: In returning the back support to an upright position, the
horizontal force was 12.4 +/- 1.6 (percent body weight) under the seat
height-axis condition and 10.1 +/- 1.8 (percent body weight) under the
upward-axis condition (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This result suggested that the
wheelchair might have to be capable of adjusting the height of the rotational
axis of the back support to reduce the horizontal force applied to buttocks.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study shows one of the suggestions regarding seating
approach for the prevention of decubitus ulcers. There is a possibility of
reducing horizontal force applied to buttocks after reclined back support, by
adjusting the height of the rotational axis position of wheelchair back support.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS