title: Kinematic analysis of sit to stand by persons with rheumatoid arthritis supported by a service dog.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to quantify the kinesiological effect of the assistance provided by service dogs on transferring from sit to stand in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four participants performed a total of eight experimental transfers of sit to stand, including unassisted transfers, transfers with a cane and transfers with assistance from a service dog. We analysed movements at the lower extremity joints using a three-dimensional kinematics system and two force plates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the hip joints, the range of motion changes and energy expenditure with a cane and with the service dog were smaller than that of the unassisted transfers. Transfers with a service dog resulted in less joint movement and less energy used in movements at the knee and ankle joints; participants also scored themselves as requiring less effort on a self-rating scale than in the other conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A service dog provides benefits in assisting with transfers from sit to stand by persons with RA. Future studies should consider training the service dogs to assume correct positions and use appropriate timing to support their partners during these transfers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nagoya University School of Health Sciences, Daiko-minami, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, 461-8673 Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoshiyama
authors.forename: Yoshikatsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tagawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004285:Dogs; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D057566:Self Report; D013223:Statistics as Topic