Measuring Range of Motion and Muscle Activation of Flower Arrangement Tasks and Application for Improving Upper Limb Function

摘要

The objectives of this study were to measure the range of motion for joints and muscle activation of upper limb for flower arrangement tasks for physical rehabilitation and to test horticultural therapy programs using flower arrangement tasks for improving upper limb function of the patients with stroke. Major flower arrangement tasks were classified with eight tasks (cutting 1, thick stem; cutting 2, thin stem; fixing 1, long stem; fixing 2, short stem; rolling a leaf; bending 1, thick stem; bending2, thin stem; and winding, using a wire) based on the occupational analysis. When eight male university students (mean age 24.1 +-2.5 years) conducted the eight flower arrangement tasks, range of motion for joints and muscle activation of upper limb were measured by a 3D motion analyzer and electromyography, respectively. Based on the results of the range of motion and muscle activation of upper limb, horticultural therapy programs using flower arrangement tasks (total 33 sessions) for improving upperlimb function of the patients with stroke was conducted at a rehabilitation hospital, Seoul, South Korea and then the range of motion, grip strength, and upper limb function of the patients were tested. Among the eight flower arrangement tasks, cutting 1, winding, and bending 1 induced the highest value for the range of motion in joints of shoulder, elbow, and wrist, respectively (P < 0.001). In terms of muscle activation, eight flower arrangement tasks performed in this study showed various patterns ofmuscle activation and several muscles were simultaneously used for each task (P < 0.001). In addition, thickness and length of the materials used in a task had a prominent effect on the range of motion for joints and muscle activation of upper limb (P <0.001). The stroke patients had positive effects for their range of motion of upper limb (shoulder, forearm, and elbow), grip strength, and overall upper limb function through the horticultural therapy program. Thus, this study suggested that flower arrangement tasks would be a potential horticultural activity for physical rehabilitation program. It would be interesting to apply a customized horticultural therapy program using flower arrangement tasks according to the symptoms of patient for physical rehabilitation.