Evaluating the Impact of Caregiver Skill and Spatial Constraints on Postural Load in Care Tasks Using Robots: A Preliminary Study

抄録

Objective: This study examines how care robot use, spatial constraints, and caregiver proficiency affect torso and pelvic posture during toileting assistance, focusing on lower garment manipulation - a physically demanding task in excretion care.

Methods: Twenty-four participants (12 experts and 12 nonexperts) performed toileting assistance tasks using an excretion assistance device across three bathroom layouts: a 1.34 m² residential layout (1.34 plan), a 2.11 m² care facility layout (2.11 plan), and a modified 1.34 m² residential layout with a widened entrance (1.34 W plan). The IMU-based motion capture system measured the torso and pelvic angles during robot positioning and garment lowering.

Results: Significant differences were observed between experts and nonexperts across all movement types (flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation), with nonexperts exhibiting consistently higher angles, suggesting increased biomechanical loading. Spatial design significantly influenced rotational movements, with the modified residential layout (1.34 W plan) reducing angles compared to the standard residential layout (1.34 plan). However, no significant interaction effect was found between skill level and spatial conditions.

Conclusion: When implementing care robots, caregiver proficiency and environmental factors should be considered separately. The findings indicate that optimizing only the spatial design or training alone may not be sufficient, but addressing both factors can enhance caregiving efficiency and reduce physical burden. Specifically, appropriate spatial design alleviates movement strain, while skilled caregivers demonstrate more efficient motion patterns, even in constrained spaces. These insights contribute to optimizing caregiving environments in home and small-scale facilities, facilitating the effective utilization and adoption of excretion care robots.