2020 Volume 29 Issue 2 Pages 229-237
The use of Kelly pads is a less physical burden for hair shampooing in a supine position on a bed, but it is not clear how much flexion of the knee joint is comfortable for the subject. To clarify the appropriate posture for assisting hair shampooing in the supine position using the Kelly pad, the comfortable hip and knee flexion angles were examined for 51 healthy elderly people. In addition, the relationship between the angles and height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, thigh length, or lower leg length was also examined.
1) The flexion angle of the hip joint, which felt comfortable, was 34.7±9.6 degrees, and the flexion angle of the knee joint was 73.2±20.1 degrees.
2) There was a positive correlation (r=0.907) between the flexion angles of the hip and knee joints, which felt comfortable, and the flexion angle of the knee joint was 2.1±0.3 times the flexion angle of the hip joint.
3) Hip and knee flexion angles were not associated with sex, age, height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, or lower leg length.
4) The thigh length high value group showed a significantly (p<0.05) smaller hip flexion angle than the low value group.
These results can be used to determine the flexion angles of the hip and knee joints when assisting hair shampooing in the supine position using the Kelly pad.