頭部と足圧動揺を考慮した立位姿勢バランス計測方法と評価

抄録

In the elderly, falls and fractures resulting from declined exercise functions shorten the healthy life expectancy. We propose a new method of measuring balance in a standing posture to evaluate the risk of falling. Measurement is conducted with the subject in a quiet standing posture. An upper depth sensor and a lower foot pressure sensor measure the head and foot swaying for 30 seconds, and the data is used to assess the balance. In order to verify the accuracy of this measurement device, error factors were assigned to the orthogonal table to clarify how much error occurred. The results showed that the reading position error of the depth sensor was within 4 cm and the sway area error in a quiet state was within 2.8 cm². We used this device to evaluate the effect of a 3-month exercise and dietary intervention program. The age (average±SD) of 52 participants was 65.0 ± 9.7 years. The lower limb muscular strength was improved significantly after intervention in all the subjects. The standing balance was measured in three conditions: standing on both legs with eyes open, standing on both legs with eyes closed, and standing on one leg with eyes open. In the condition of standing on one leg with eyes open, both head and foot pressure sways showed significant and moderate effect size d (head:p =0.002, d=0.46, foot pressure:p =0.040, d=0.22).