Models of the Sit-to-Stand Movement for the Elderly

• Main Authors: Chih-Sheng Chang, 張志昇
• Other Authors: Cherng-Yee Leung
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/33170568844081112932

博士 === 大同大學 === 設計科學研究所 === 99 === The main contribution of this study is to examine, extend, and deepen the understanding of sit-to-stand (STS) movements in elderly people and then to establish an assessment method for the risks of falling. 28 elderly adults (M age = 70.1 years, SD = 4.1) and 36 young adults (M age = 19.6 years, SD = 0.8) with no known impairments or functional limitations were recruited for the study. During STS movement, the force platform system with two high-frequency vertical force platforms were used to measure the resultant ground reaction force (GRF), defined as the whole-body force, and its two components, the buttock and leg GRFs. To eliminate noise in the data from force platforms, the moving average method has been proposed. Three key points of the STS movement were confirmed as aspects of the GRF: the onset, maximum GRF, and seat-off. The onsets of the component GRFs identified the sequence of the important time points in the STS more precisely than the onset of the resultant GRF. Our data showed that the maximum whole-body GRF, the maximum GRF of both legs, and seat-off appeared in sequence and not simultaneously. Based on the characteristics indicated by the force data, the STS movement sequences were classified into three patterns: typical-modal pattern (smooth movement), multimodal pattern (unstable movement), and incompetent-modal pattern. Moreover, a quantification-based approach, impulse analysis, was introduced, with the goal of supplementing the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), which will thus provide a more precise analysis of STS movement in elderly people. Thus, elderly subjects who are expected to be at higher risk of injuries from falls can be provided with assistive devices and advice. Finally, these studies can provide information and suggestions for researchers, manufacturers, and rehabilitation professionals.