Development of Low Back Pain Prevention System Using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14376
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 25020:Safety engineering-related
• Research Institution: Hosei University (2022-2023); The University of Tokyo (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Takeda Iwori 法政大学, 理工学部, 助手 (70792266)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 中腰作業支援 / CFRP / 筋電 / 画像認識 / 腰痛防止

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study shows low back pain prevention system using plate spring made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The amount of muscle usage during lifting and lowering of a 10 kg weight was compared with that of a person not wearing the device. Three muscles were measured: rectus femoris, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior. 33% of subjects showed a significant decrease in muscle usage. Of the remaining 33%, the tibialis anterior muscle showed a significant increase in usage, while the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles showed a significant decrease. This can be improved by learning to use the system as it should be used in this study, i.e., flexing the plate spring with the subject's own body weight. These results indicate that this system has an effect on reducing the amount of muscle use during mid-back work.

Free Research Field

腰痛防止

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究課題で提案したシステムを使用することで，スクワット姿勢時の下肢筋肉使用量低減が見込めることが明らかとなった．スクワット姿勢での作業は，腰椎を屈曲させないため，腰痛の防止に期待できる．本システムは動力を必要としないため充電が不要であり，構成も簡素なため歩行等の日常動作を阻害しにくい．介護施設職員の約90%が腰痛を訴えているという状況で，本研究が持つ社会的意義は非常に大きいと考える．