• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.493-501
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• 2016

Objective: This study analyzes the effect of angle conditions of rehabilitation equipment used for supporting hemiplegic patients on their rehabilitation training for standing action. The study was performed by adjusting the rear angle of seat inclination through a motion analysis. Background: Owing to a loss of muscle rigidity and degradation of muscle control ability, hemiplegic stroke patients suffer from asymmetrical posture, abnormal body balance, and degraded balance abilities due to poor weight-shifting capacity. The ability to shift and maintain one's weight is extremely essential for mobility, which plays an important role in our daily life. Thus, to improve patients' ability to maintain weight evenly and move normally, they need to undergo orthostatic and ambulatory training. Method: Using a motion analysis system, knee movements on both hemiplegic side and non-hemiplegic side were measured and analyzed in five angles ($0^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $50^{\circ}$, $70^{\circ}$) while supported by the sit-to-stand rehabilitation equipment. Results: The knee movements on both sides increased as the angle increased in angle support interval to support a hemiplegic patient's standing up position. In standing up interval, a hemiplegic patient's knee movement deviations on both sides decreased, and the movement differences between hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic legs also decreased as the angle increased. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the rehabilitation effectiveness increases as the angle increases, leading to a balanced standing posture through the decrease of movement difference between hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic sides and an improved standing up ability through the increase of knee movement on both sides. However, angles higher than $50^{\circ}$ didn't provide a significant effect. Therefore, a support angle under $50^{\circ}$ was proposed in this study. Application: The results of this study are expected to be applicable to the design of sit-to-stand support equipment to improve the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process of hemiplegic patients.