title: Does a Novel-Developed Product of Wheelchair Incorporating Pelvic Support Prevent Forward Head Posture during Prolonged Sitting?
abstract: Disabled elderly individuals with kyphosis or loss of muscle strength often display forward head posture (FHP). This study aimed to determine the utility of a wheelchair incorporating pelvic support in preventing FHP in disabled elderly individuals. In this study, 14 disabled elderly individuals (87.1 ± 8.1 years) were selected. A wheelchair incorporating pelvic support (RX_ABS Lo) and a basic wheelchair (RX-1) were used. Each individual sat on both wheelchairs for 30 minutes. RX_ABS Lo has two belts to support the pelvic and thorax. Postures were recorded in the sagittal plane using a video camera. Cervical and trunk angles from horizontal were measured every 5 minutes. Simultaneously, contact areas and total pressures applied to the wheelchair seats and back supports were measured every 5 minutes. Comparisons of area under the curve values between the wheelchairs were performed using the paired t-test. Comparisons of time-dependent parameters for each wheelchair were performed using repeated one-way ANOVA. Cervical angles were greater when using RX_ABS Lo than RX-1. Although cervical angles were unchanged during 30 minutes when using RX_ABS Lo, the angles were significantly decreased after 30 minutes of using RX-1. Back support pressures and contact areas were greater for RX_ABS Lo than for RX-1. No significant difference in back support pressure distributions was observed during 30 minutes in the wheelchairs. The RX_ABS Lo may have utility in improving FHP by increasing cervical angles and improving stability with a back support to the upper thorax, lower thorax, and pelvis during prolonged sitting.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.|Japan Health Care College, Eniwa, Japan.|Nihon Welfare Rehabilitation School, Eniwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goda
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hatta
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kishigami
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Nihon Welfare Rehabilitation School, Eniwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009333:Neck / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D013909:Thorax / Q000503:physiopathology; D014910:Wheelchairs