Comparison of handrail reaction forces between two different handrails during sit-to-stand movement in the elderly

Tomohisa Kato; Yusuke Sekiguchi; Keita Honda; Shin-Ichi Izumi; Hiroyasu Kanetaka

doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2020.105130

Comparison of handrail reaction forces between two different handrails during sit-to-stand movement in the elderly

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2020 Dec:80:105130. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2020.105130. Epub 2020 Jul 25.

Authors

Tomohisa Kato¹, Yusuke Sekiguchi², Keita Honda³, Shin-Ichi Izumi⁴, Hiroyasu Kanetaka⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Research and Development, TOTO LTD., 2-8-1 Honson, Chigasaki, Kanagawa 253-8577, Japan; Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan. Electronic address: tomohisa.kato@jp.toto.com.
² Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan. Electronic address: yusuke.sekiguchi.b2@tohoku.ac.jp.
³ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan. Electronic address: keita.honda.d2@tohoku.ac.jp.
⁴ Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan. Electronic address: izumis@med.tohoku.ac.jp.
⁵ Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan. Electronic address: kanetaka@dent.tohoku.ac.jp.

PMID: 32745704
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2020.105130

Abstract

Background: The handrail is an effective means of assisting sit-to-stand movements. As some elderly people need force to support their body during sit-to-stand movements because of instability and weakness; however, few handrails are specifically shaped to generate more force and support the body. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a newly designed curved-angled handrail on the reaction force during sit-to-stand movements in the elderly.

Methods: Twenty-one elderly subjects (age range, 72-84 years) participated in the study. They performed sit-to-stand movements using a conventional vertical handrail and then the curved-angled handrail five times each. For each subject, body coordinate data were acquired and the handrail reaction force was measured using motion analysis and load sensors on the handrail.

Findings: The reaction forces generated in the anterior-posterior and upward-downward directions during sit-to-stand movements using the curved-angled handrail were significantly greater than those generated using the conventional vertical handrail (p < .001).

Interpretation: Compared with using the conventional vertical handrail, using the curved-angled handrail enhances the generated force during sit-to-stand movements.

Keywords: Elderly people; Handrail; Reaction force; Sit-to-stand.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biomechanical Phenomena
Female
Humans
Male
Mechanical Phenomena*
Movement*
Self-Help Devices*
Sitting Position*
Standing Position*