The Effects of Backward Adjustable Thoracic Support in Wheelchair on Spinal Curvature and Back Muscle Activation for Elderly People

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the effects of backward adjustable thoracic support on spinal curvature and back muscle activation during wheelchair sitting.

Methods

Twenty elderly people were recruited for this study. The backward adjustable thoracic support sitting posture was compared with the slumped, normal, and lumbar support sitting postures. Spinal curvatures (pelvic, lumbar, and thoracic angles) and muscle activations of 4 back muscles on both sides (maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the lumbar multifidus, lumbar erector spinae, iliocostalis lumborum pars thoracis, and thoracic erector spinae at T9) were measured and compared between the different sitting postures using one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures.

Results

The backward adjustable thoracic support sitting posture showed a relatively neutral pelvic tilt (−0.32±4.80°) when compared with the slumped (22.84±5.27°) and lumbar support (−8.97±3.31°) sitting postures ( P<0.001), and showed relatively higher lumbar lordosis (−23.38±6.50°) when compared with the slumped (14.77±7.83°), normal (0.44±7.47°), and lumbar support (−16.76±4.77°) sitting postures ( P<0.05). It also showed relatively lower back muscle activity when compared with the normal and lumbar support sitting postures ( P<0.05).

Conclusions

The backward adjustable thoracic support sitting concept was suggested because it maintains a more neutral pelvic tilt, higher lumbar lordosis, and lower back muscle activation, which may help maintain a better sitting posture and reduce the risk of back pain.

Related collections

Most cited references 30

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

The stabilizing system of the spine. Part I. Function, dysfunction, adaptation, and enhancement.

Manohar Panjabi (1992)

Presented here is the conceptual basis for the assertion that the spinal stabilizing system consists of three subsystems. The vertebrae, discs, and ligaments constitute the passive subsystem. All muscles and tendons surrounding the spinal column that can apply forces to the spinal column constitute the active subsystem. The nerves and central nervous system comprise the neural subsystem, which determines the requirements for spinal stability by monitoring the various transducer signals, and directs the active subsystem to provide the needed stability. A dysfunction of a component of any one of the subsystems may lead to one or more of the following three possibilities: (a) an immediate response from other subsystems to successfully compensate, (b) a long-term adaptation response of one or more subsystems, and (c) an injury to one or more components of any subsystem. It is conceptualized that the first response results in normal function, the second results in normal function but with an altered spinal stabilizing system, and the third leads to overall system dysfunction, producing, for example, low back pain. In situations where additional loads or complex postures are anticipated, the neural control unit may alter the muscle recruitment strategy, with the temporary goal of enhancing the spine stability beyond the normal requirements.

0 comments Cited 286 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Weight change and the conservation of lean mass in old age: the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.

Michael Nevitt, Brian J. Lee, Bret Goodpaster … (2005)

Weight loss may contribute to the loss of lean mass with age. The objective was to evaluate the relation between weight loss or weight gain and changes in lean mass and fat mass in older adults. We observed changes in weight and body composition during a 4-y period in 2163 men (47%) and women (53%) aged 70-79 y in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study cohort. Whole-body and appendicular bone-free lean mass and fat mass were measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Weight loss and weight gain were common. In both weight losers and weight gainers, changes in lean mass as a percentage of initial lean mass were substantially smaller than changes in fat mass as a percentage of initial fat mass. However, the difference between the change in lean mass and that in fat mass was more pronounced with weight gain than with weight loss, especially in men. Small amounts of lean loss and fat gain were noted with weight stability. In multivariate models, weight loss was strongly associated with lean mass loss in both men and women, especially in men whose weight loss was concurrent with a hospitalization. With weight change, a greater proportion of lean mass than of fat mass was conserved, but, especially in older men, significantly more lean mass was lost with weight loss than was gained with weight gain. These findings suggest that weight loss, even with regain, could accelerate sarcopenia in older adults.

0 comments Cited 106 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Spine ergonomics.

L Magnusson, M Pope, Kheng Goh (2001)

Occupational low back pain (LBP) is an immense burden for both industry and medicine. Ergonomic and personal risk factors result in LBP, but psychosocial factors can influence LBP disability. Epidemiologic studies clearly indicate the role of mechanical loads on the etiology of occupational LBP. Occupational exposures such as lifting, particularly in awkward postures; heavy lifting; or repetitive lifting are related to LBP. Fixed postures and prolonged seating are also risk factors. LBP is found in both sedentary occupations and in drivers as well as those involved in manual materials handling. Any prolonged posture will lead to static loading of the soft tissues and cause discomfort. Standing and sitting have specific advantages and disadvantages for mobility, exertion of force, energy consumption, circulatory demands, coordination, and motion control. The seated posture leads to inactivity causing an accumulation of metabolites, accelerating disk degeneration and leading to disk herniation. Driver's postures can also lead to musculoskeletal problems. Workers in a driving environment are often subjected to postural stress leading to back, neck, and upper extremity pain. This exacerbates the problems due to the vibration. Prevention is by far the treatment of choice. Improved muscle function can be preventative. Poor coordination and motor control systems are as important as endurance and strength. Fixed postures should be avoided. Seats offering good lumbar support should be used in the office. A suspension seat should be used in vehicles whenever possible. Heavy and awkward lifting should be avoided and lifting aids should be made available. Workers should report LBP as early as possible and seek medical advice if they think occupational exposure is harming them. The combined effects of the medical community, labor, and management are required to cause some impact on this problem.

0 comments Cited 54 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

All references

Author and article information

Contributors

Andrea Macaluso: Role: Editor

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): PLoS One

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): PLoS ONE

Journal ID (publisher-id): plos

Journal ID (pmc): plosone

Title: PLoS ONE

Publisher: Public Library of Science (San Francisco, USA )

ISSN (Electronic): 1932-6203

Publication date Collection: 2014

Publication date (Electronic): 26 November 2014

Volume: 9

Issue: 11

Electronic Location Identifier: e113644

Affiliations

[1 ]Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

[2 ]Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

[3 ]Graduate Institute of Mechatronic System Engineering, National University of Tainan, Tainan, Taiwan

University of Rome Foro Italico, Italy

Author notes

* E-mail: khnutn@ 123456gmail.com (KHT); cchang@ 123456mail.bme.ncku.edu.tw (CHC)

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Conceived and designed the experiments: CTL YNC CHC KHT. Performed the experiments: CTL YNC CHC KHT. Analyzed the data: CTL YNC CHC KHT. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: CTL YNC CHC KHT. Wrote the paper: CTL YNC CHC KHT.

[¤a]

Current address: Graduate Institute of Mechatronic System Engineering, National University of Tainan, Tainan, Taiwan

[¤b]

Current address: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

Article

Publisher ID: PONE-D-14-38122

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113644

PMC ID: 4257911

PubMed ID: 25480152

SO-VID: fc51fc56-c07a-41ef-a239-3b1d6eeffe41

License:

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

History

Date received : 25 August 2014

Date accepted : 27 October 2014

Page count

Pages: 14

Funding

This research was supported by grant no. NSC 101-2320-B-024-001-MY2 from the National Science Council, Taiwan. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. NSC website: http://web1.nsc.gov.tw/mp.aspx?mp=7.

Custom metadata

Data Availability The authors confirm that, for approved reasons, some access restrictions apply to the data underlying the findings. Ethical restrictions prevent public sharing of data. A de-identified data set is available upon request after approval from the Institutional Review Board. Requests for the data may be sent to the corresponding author.

The Effects of Backward Adjustable Thoracic Support in Wheelchair on Spinal Curvature and Back Muscle Activation for Elderly People

Read this article at

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Related collections

PLOS Climate

Most cited references 30

The stabilizing system of the spine. Part I. Function, dysfunction, adaptation, and enhancement.

Weight change and the conservation of lean mass in old age: the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.

Spine ergonomics.

Author and article information

Contributors

Journal

Affiliations

Author notes

Article

History

Page count

Funding

Categories

Custom metadata

Comments

Comment on this article

Similar content 195

Cited by 8

Most referenced authors 242