Development of a portable posture measuring device capable of monitoring posture while working and warning of dangerous posture that could cause lower back pain

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K11556
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Fundamental nursing
• Research Institution: The University of Shiga Prefecture
• Principal Investigator: ITAMI Kimiwa 滋賀県立大学, 人間看護学部, 教授 (30310626)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 安田 寿彦 滋賀県立大学, 工学部, 教授 (60157998) ; 西岡 靖貴 滋賀県立大学, 工学部, 助教 (70609734) ; 関 恵子 滋賀県立大学, 人間看護学部, 助教 (40760393) ; 川端 愛野 滋賀県立大学, 人間看護学部, 助教 (60583052) ; 米田 照美 滋賀県立大学, 人間看護学部, 助教 (00353037) ; 山野 光裕 滋賀県立大学, 工学部, 准教授 (70323178)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 腰痛予防 / ボディメカニクス / 看護動作 / 腰部負担 / 視聴覚教材

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Occupational low back pain　is a more serious problem among nurses than many other occupational categories, and counter-measures are urgently needed to prevent nurses from leaving the profession. In this study, a portable device for measuring posture that is capable of monitoring posture while working and warning the user of dangerous posture that could cause lower back pain was developed. The device was tested in an actual nursing setting, and the results showed reduction in the mean angle of forward leaning posture as well as increased awareness of the use of body mechanics for improving the burden on the lower back during nursing activities. This suggests the need to incorporate the device into nursing settings and to carry out systematic lower back pain prevention education on a continuous basis to increase individual awareness of lower back pain prevention.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学