Does a Novel-Developed Product of Wheelchair Incorporating Pelvic Support Prevent Forward Head Posture during Prolonged Sitting?

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 11; p. e0142617
• Main Authors: Goda, Hiroshi, Hatta, Tatsuo, Kishigami, Hirotoshi, Suzuki, Ayaka, Ikeda, Tamotsu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 18.11.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Aged; Archives & records; Biomechanical Phenomena; Contact angle; Contact pressure; Disability; Disabled persons; Equipment Design; Female; Geriatrics; Head - physiopathology; Health sciences; Humans; Kyphosis; Kyphosis - physiopathology; Long term health care; Male; Manipulative therapy; Muscle function; Muscle strength; Muscle Strength - physiology; Neck - physiopathology; Neck pain; Older people; Patient satisfaction; Pelvis; Pelvis - physiology; Physiological aspects; Posture; Posture - physiology; Product development; Psychological aspects; Rehabilitation; Seats; Thorax; Thorax - physiopathology; Variance analysis; Wheelchairs; Japan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142617

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.