Abstract
As pregnancy progresses, the abdomen increases and pregnant womenss daily activities are expected to change. This study aimed to reproduce the changes in the body shape of pregnant females in third trimester using a maternity-simulation jacket, clarify the changes in movement patterns before and after wearing the jacket, and obtain useful suggestions for health guidance in pregnancy. Seventeen females were asked to put on socks in the sitting position before and after wearing the jacket; the characteristic changes in their movement were observed and evaluated from the recorded video images. Joint positions were estimated using a pose estimation algorithm, and three-dimensional coordinate information was extracted. Joint angles were calculated, and trends in movement patterns were analyzed using principal component analysis. In the end-occupant position, 8 (47.0%) wore socks with their thighs parallel to the mid-plane before wearing the device, and 9 (52.9%) wore socks with their hip joints in abduction and external rotation after wearing the device. The results suggest the necessity of using hip stretching and a sock-wearing self-help device.
