Walk Measurements Using a Novel Rollator with a Free Rotating Chest Pad and an Analysis of its Effectiveness in Walk Assistance

摘要

In recent years, many types of commercial rollators or gait-training devices are widely used by elderly people for their daily activities to avoid being bedridden and suffering dementia. However, the effectiveness of most of these commercial devices has not been investigated thoroughly. In this study, a novel rollator with a freely rotating chest pad integrated with two angular sensors and two load cells was developed. Walk measurements were carried out on four young healthy students who performed walk tests using the developed rollator. Two goniometers attached on the exteriors of both knees of the subject were also used to measure the knee extensions. The results of the pressing forces measured by the load cells, angles of pad rotations, and the knee extensions were demonstrated and frequency analyses of the obtained results were performed. The relationships between the pad rotation, body posture, and knee extensions were investigated and the effectiveness of the proposed device in walk assistance was discussed.