Development of a stepping strategy measuring instrument

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K11442
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: HIWA TAKAKO 新潟大学, 人文社会科学系, 准教授 (50463948)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 長谷川 聖修 筑波大学, 体育系(名誉教授), 名誉教授 (10147126)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 転倒誘発装置 / 踏み出し戦略 / 離床反応時間 / 踏み出し距離 / 脚の移動速度 / 転倒予防

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a device to induce stepping strategy by tilting a foot board, and examined the correlation between three measurements calculated by the fall induction device and measures of physical strength and balance ability, which are closely related to fall prevention, in 40 university students and 20 elementary school students. The results revealed that the three values of "time to leave the bed", "stepping distance", and "leg movement speed" had significant correlations with the values assessing the history of falls and the risk of falling. Therefore, it was shown that the device devised in this study, in addition to existing measurement methods, may be used to evaluate the ability to avoid falls with movements that are similar to actual fall situations.

Free Research Field

健康福祉

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

転倒誘発装置で算出できる測定値と転倒予防と関連の深い体力・バランス能力測定値との相関より，大学生と児童で傾向は異なったものの，離床反応時間と踏み出し距離，脚の移動速度の3つの値は，転倒歴や転倒リスクを評価している測定値との有意な相関が示された．転倒予防分野の研究では，転倒回避動作との類縁性に着目した測定法の研究は進んでいないのが現状であるため，本研究で検討した転倒誘発装置は踏み出し戦略(Stepping strategy)を測定できる新たな測定法と言え，学術的意義は大変高いと考える．同時に，転倒によるけがは少子高齢化問題を抱える現代社会で解決すべき課題であるため，社会的意義も高いと言える．