The measurement of the relationship between sitting in a wheelchair with poor posture and physical stressors : A strategy for the effect of autonomic nerves

Abstract

In this study, we analyzed the physical stressor effect mainly from the point of view of autonomic nerve activity of subjects sitting in a wheelchair with poor posture. The subjects consisted of five each healthy men and women; different sitting postures (good posture and poor posture) in a wheelchair were measured using evaluation parameters such as the heart rate, the heart rate variability, the amylase activity value, the flicker value, NRS, the contact area of seating surface, and the seat pressure. By the different sitting postures, from the result of the contact area of seating surface, the maximal value of left-right seat pressure, and NRS, the effect of poor postures in wheelchairs was evident. Furthermore, the risk of bedsores and the mental burden of pain during the poor posture were quantitatively clarified. The impact on the autonomic nerve activity has the tendency for increasing sympathetic nerve activity during poor posture. However, no obvious difference was found from the other parameters.