Relationship between Foot Position and Lumbar Loads while Turning Patients on a Bed: An Investigation via Computational Simulation and Electromyography

Authors

  • Kodai Kitagawa Graduate School of Life Science and System Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology
  • Kotaro Yamamoto Department of Mechanical and Control Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology
  • Chikamune Wada Graduate School of Life Science and System Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v17i10.25161

Keywords:

caregiver, patient handling, foot position, lumbar load,

Abstract


Caregivers have lower back pain (LBP) since they must reposition patients in bed frequently. Thus, the low lumbar load posture for turning patients should be explored. In this study, we focused on foot position because it can be easily adjusted to reduce back pain. The hypothesis was that short anteroposterior foot distance could reduce lumbar loads because closer position to patient made smaller moments. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between foot position and lumbar loads while turning patients on beds. Furthermore, we compared compression stresses of L4–L5 via computational simulation and erector spinae muscle activities obtained from electromyography (EMG) in nine foot positions. The results showed that short anteroposterior foot distance reduced lumbar loads while turning a patient on a bed.

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Published

2021-10-19

How to Cite

Kitagawa, K., Yamamoto, K., & Wada, C. (2021). Relationship between Foot Position and Lumbar Loads while Turning Patients on a Bed: An Investigation via Computational Simulation and Electromyography. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE), 17(10), pp. 131–143. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v17i10.25161

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 10 (2021)

Section

Papers

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