Investigation of the effect of a 15-degree tilt-in-space on the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks when the back support is reclined

Kenichi Kobara, Yasuyuki Nagata, Daisuke Fujita, Hisashi Takahashi, Hiroshi Osaka, Tadanobu Suehiro

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effect of the combination of 15° tilt-in-space and recline angles on the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks. 

[Participants and Methods] The participants were 11 healthy adult males. The parameters of the shear forces were the parallel and perpendicular forces exerted on the buttocks as measured by a force plate. The two conditions tested were T0R100-130 and T15R100-130. The tilt-in-space angles were set to 0° and 15° in the T0R100-130 and T15R100-130 conditions, respectively. The reclining angles were determined to be 100° to 130° in both conditions. 

[Results] Upon comparing the two conditions, the parallel and the perpendicular forces exerted on the buttocks in the T15R100-130 condition were significantly lower than those in the T0R100-130 condition in all positions of back support. Upon comparing the fluctuation values of the parallel and perpendicular forces, those applied in the T15R100-130 condition were significantly higher than those in the T0R100-130 condition. 

[Conclusion] These results suggest that the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks could be decreased by using a combination of 15° tilt-in-space and reclining functions.

Access Article: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/33/11/33_2021-103/_article/-char/en