Development of long cane grip for visual disturbance for children and manual.

• Project/Area Number: 17K01919
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Childhood science (childhood environment science)
• Research Institution: Tokyo Kasei University
• Principal Investigator: shimizu Junichi 東京家政大学, 健康科学部, 教授 (10126584)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 米津 亮 神奈川県立保健福祉大学, 保健福祉学部, 教授 (50363859)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,550,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,050,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
• Keywords: 白杖 / グリップ / 筋活動 / EMG / グリップ形状 / 筋電位 / 視覚障害児 / 上肢筋活動 / 筋電図 / 発達 / 子育て

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed a long cane for children whose length can be adjusted according to the growth of height. In this research, we developed an easy-to-grip grip that matches the shape of the fingers. The manufactured grips were small; φ79-91mm: 219g, medium: φ87-103mm: 219g, large: φ95-110mm: 241g. It was found that the generation of upper limb myoelectric potential was less in the operation of the cane with this grip compared to the conventional type (golf grip). Furthermore, from the relationship between the grip diameter and the amount of myoelectric potential during free walking in totally blind girls, it was found that the potentials of the flexors of the fingers and the muscles around the shoulder joint were low during the use of the large grip.
It was suggested that the developed grip reduces the fatigue of the visually impaired while operating the long cane.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

視覚障害者が移動動作を獲得するために白杖は不可欠な福祉用具である．白杖の長さは利用者の身長に合わせて切断して使用している．また，成長期にある視覚障害児は，不適切な長さで使用していることが多いため，長さ調節可能な白杖を開発した．一方，白杖のグリップ部はゴルフのグリップを代用して使用しているため，持ちにくいという訴えがある．この研究では手指の把握形態と一致した新しい形のグリップを製作した．このグリップを用いることにより，利用者から握りやすい，操作しやすいという感想が得られた．
この新グリップは発達期の視覚障害児の白杖導入期に有効であり，白杖グリップの固定概念を変えることにつなげることができる．

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Development of a new grip for use with a long cane for visually impaired children (2019)
  • Author(s): Junichi Shimizu, Manabu Yoshioka, Ryo Yonetsu, Hiroki Nakao, hideomi Kizaki
  • Journal Title: British Journal of Occupational Therapy Volume: 82 Pages: 522-526
• [Journal Article] Development of a new grip for use with a long cane for visually impaired children (2019)
  • Author(s): Junichi Shimizu , Manabu Yoshioka, Ryo Yonetsu, Hiroki Nakao, Hideomi Kizaki
  • Journal Title: British Journal of Occupational therapy Volume: 82
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] 全盲女児が操作する白杖グリップ径の太さと上肢筋活動の関係 (2019)
  • Author(s): 清水順市，吉岡 学，米津 亮
  • Organizer: 第13回日本作業療法研究学会学術大会
• [Presentation] Development of a new grip for use with a long cane for visually impaired children (2018)
  • Author(s): Junichi Shimizu , Manabu Yoshioka,
  • Organizer: 17th World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress 2018
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 白杖グリップの形状と上肢筋活動量との関係 (2018)
  • Author(s): 清水順市，吉岡学，王尹容，久篠奈苗，鈴木誠
  • Organizer: 第12回日本作業療法研究学会学術大会
• [Presentation] 視覚障害児専用白杖の開発 (2018)
  • Author(s): 吉岡学，清水順市
  • Organizer: 第27回日本視覚障害リハビリテーション研究大会
• [Presentation] Development of new grip of long cane for visually impaired children (2018)
  • Author(s): 清水順市
  • Organizer: 17th World Federation of Occupational Therapists(WFOT) Congress(Cape Town)
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Funded Workshop] 17th World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress 2018 (2018)