2025 Volume 21 Issue 1 Pages 10-14
Purpose: Patients forced to use only one hand find wearing a knit cap without a brim difficult. Therefore, we developed a self-help device using a string and clothespin. The device can immobilize the knit cap, making it easy to put on the cap with one hand. This study aimed to demonstrate the device's effectiveness by comparing the action of putting on the cap with the device (usage motion) and without the device (non-usage motion) in hemiplegic patients.
Methods: Twenty-eight hemiplegic patients were recruited as participants. After receiving explanations about the procedures for both the usage and non-usage motions, the participants were asked to put on the knit cap with one hand. Next, the success of the action was evaluated before hearing the feedback provided by participants regarding the ease of wearing. Finally, the time taken to put on the cap was measured from the video footage.
Results: The usage motion made it easier to wear the cap and had a higher success rate than the non-usage motion.
Conclusion: The experimental results suggest that the motion of putting on the cap using the device is an efficient method for hemiplegic patients. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that hemiplegic patients can comfortably wear a knit cap without difficulty using a self-help device combining inexpensive daily items.
