Development of New Soft Wearable Balance Exercise Device Using Pneumatic Gel Muscles
Decreased ability to control posture is correlated with the risk of falls among older individuals. In particular, reactive postural control ability response to even small perturbations is important for fall prevention of older individuals. The current study sought to design a new wearable assistive...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-08-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/15/3108 |
| _version_ | 1828396750641037312 |
|---|---|
| author | Masataka Yamamoto Yusuke Kishishita Koji Shimatani Yuichi Kurita |
| author_facet | Masataka Yamamoto Yusuke Kishishita Koji Shimatani Yuichi Kurita |
| author_sort | Masataka Yamamoto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Decreased ability to control posture is correlated with the risk of falls among older individuals. In particular, reactive postural control ability response to even small perturbations is important for fall prevention of older individuals. The current study sought to design a new wearable assistive device for improving balance function by generating small perturbations using pneumatic gel muscle (PGM). Furthermore, we investigated the effects of using the proposed device for balance training. The proposed wearable balance exercise device utilized PGMs possessing various features, such as a lightweight design and the ability to generate small perturbations with a small power source. We investigated the effects of the device on reactive postural control exercises. Seven healthy participants participated in this study. Three-dimensional acceleration data (Ax, Ay, and Az) were measured from participants during a single leg stance in each session. The peak Ax value generated by perturbations and responses significantly differed from baseline peak acceleration. The peak Ay value caused by perturbations was significantly decreased compared with baseline peak acceleration. In addition, the root mean square Ax value of the post-test significantly decreased compared with the pre-test value. Our results revealed that the proposed wearable balance exercise device was able to create small perturbations for assessing reactive postural balance control. Furthermore, the device was able to improve users’ stability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:35:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-233c3fdbbefd4738b3be5877ba949a8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:35:37Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-233c3fdbbefd4738b3be5877ba949a8a2022-12-22T01:55:58ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172019-08-01915310810.3390/app9153108app9153108Development of New Soft Wearable Balance Exercise Device Using Pneumatic Gel MusclesMasataka Yamamoto0Yusuke Kishishita1Koji Shimatani2Yuichi Kurita3Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8527, JapanGraduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8527, JapanFaculty of Health and Welfare, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Hiroshima 723-0053, JapanGraduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8527, JapanDecreased ability to control posture is correlated with the risk of falls among older individuals. In particular, reactive postural control ability response to even small perturbations is important for fall prevention of older individuals. The current study sought to design a new wearable assistive device for improving balance function by generating small perturbations using pneumatic gel muscle (PGM). Furthermore, we investigated the effects of using the proposed device for balance training. The proposed wearable balance exercise device utilized PGMs possessing various features, such as a lightweight design and the ability to generate small perturbations with a small power source. We investigated the effects of the device on reactive postural control exercises. Seven healthy participants participated in this study. Three-dimensional acceleration data (Ax, Ay, and Az) were measured from participants during a single leg stance in each session. The peak Ax value generated by perturbations and responses significantly differed from baseline peak acceleration. The peak Ay value caused by perturbations was significantly decreased compared with baseline peak acceleration. In addition, the root mean square Ax value of the post-test significantly decreased compared with the pre-test value. Our results revealed that the proposed wearable balance exercise device was able to create small perturbations for assessing reactive postural balance control. Furthermore, the device was able to improve users’ stability.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/15/3108postural controlperturbationsbalancewearable devicepneumatic artificial muscle |
| spellingShingle | Masataka Yamamoto Yusuke Kishishita Koji Shimatani Yuichi Kurita Development of New Soft Wearable Balance Exercise Device Using Pneumatic Gel Muscles Applied Sciences postural control perturbations balance wearable device pneumatic artificial muscle |
| title | Development of New Soft Wearable Balance Exercise Device Using Pneumatic Gel Muscles |
| title_full | Development of New Soft Wearable Balance Exercise Device Using Pneumatic Gel Muscles |
| title_fullStr | Development of New Soft Wearable Balance Exercise Device Using Pneumatic Gel Muscles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of New Soft Wearable Balance Exercise Device Using Pneumatic Gel Muscles |
| title_short | Development of New Soft Wearable Balance Exercise Device Using Pneumatic Gel Muscles |
| title_sort | development of new soft wearable balance exercise device using pneumatic gel muscles |
| topic | postural control perturbations balance wearable device pneumatic artificial muscle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/15/3108 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT masatakayamamoto developmentofnewsoftwearablebalanceexercisedeviceusingpneumaticgelmuscles AT yusukekishishita developmentofnewsoftwearablebalanceexercisedeviceusingpneumaticgelmuscles AT kojishimatani developmentofnewsoftwearablebalanceexercisedeviceusingpneumaticgelmuscles AT yuichikurita developmentofnewsoftwearablebalanceexercisedeviceusingpneumaticgelmuscles |