The study on reducing the burden on the lower back of teachers and parents in special needs schools for the physically handicapped

• Project/Area Number: 18K02779
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09060:Special needs education-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Uno Akira 筑波大学, 人間系, 客員研究員 (10270688)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: ロボットスーツ / 肢体不自由 / 介助 / 腰部 / 介助量負担の軽減

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been reported that teachers of special schools for the physically handicapped have higher physical stress than other occupations. In this study, the effect of assistance was examined using the robot suit HAL developed for welfare to protect the lumbar region. As a result, it was found that the effect differs depending on the individual. Although it was subjectively very effective, no significant change was observed at least when blood pressure and pulse were used as indicators.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ロボットスーツHAＬ腰版（腰HAL）の腰部保護の効果に関して客観的な効果を出すことはできなかったが、実際に使用した対象者の中には、使ってない場合と「全然違う」と感想を述べる教員もおり、主観的評価尺度においても効果的であるという結果が得られた。このことから、今後肢体不自由特別支援学校や肢体不自由のある児童生徒のいる家庭での腰HALの使用により、介助者の身体的負担を少なくすることができていくのではないか、と思われた。