歩行能力の評価･訓練のための足踏み測定器の開発

日常生活で杖をついたり,老人車などを押したりなど歩行能力の低下した人に対する簡便･安価で効果的な歩行訓練方法,訓練機器はない｡歩行能力の低下した人が体の移動を伴う歩行訓練をする場合,常に転倒の危険性を伴うために,介護者が必要であったり,転倒の不安のために動作が消極的になり,訓練の効果が半減する｡これに対して,ゆっくりとした足踏みは歩行能力の低下した人に対しては下肢筋力の強化,バランス訓練となり,歩行能力を向上させる｡しかし,足踏みが適切におこなわれているか,訓練の効果の程度についての評価ができなかった｡そこで,歩行能力の評価･訓練のために足踏み状態をモニタすることができる足踏み測定器を開発した｡本装置は,足踏みをするマット2枚およびノートパソコンなどから構成されている｡足踏み中における両脚立脚,左右それぞれの片脚遊脚の状態をマットスイッチのON,OFF状態にて判断する｡測定後,歩数,平均両脚立脚時間,平均片肺立脚時間などの解析･表示を行う｡最後に歩行能力が低下した被験者の足踏みを測定して,杖歩行など日常の歩行状態と足踏みの状態との関係を示し,足踏み測定の有効性についても検討した｡

Although gait training equipment such as the bicycle ergometer and treadmill exists for patients whose walking ability is high, there is no appropriate gait training method or training instrument for patients whose walking ability has become impaired, who often use a cane or walker, etc. in the course of daily life. In the case of gait training for persons whose walking ability involves impaired locomotion, there is always the danger of a fall. Consequently, a caregiver is required, and the effect of the training is cut by half because the patient's anxiety about falling is exacerbated. Slow stepping affords strengthening and balance training of the leg muscles for patients whose walking ability has become low, and walking ability is improved. However, whether such training appropriately carries out stepping and the degree of the effect of such training has not been evaluated. Therefore, we have developed a stepping measurement device that monitors stepping for evaluation and training of walking ability. This system consists of two mat switches for stepping, a measuring circuit for stepping detection, and a book-sized personal computer with a PC card-type AD converter. This system can detect a left or right single stance phase and a double stance phase relative to the ON, OFF condition of the mat switch. After measurement, the following items are analyzed and displayed: ・number of steps, ・average time of double stance phase, ・the average time of single stance phase, and so on. Finally, we measured the stepping of subjects whose walking ability is low, and showed the relationship between daily walking conditions and stepping conditions. The effectiveness of this system was considered in light of the results.