Does the effect of applying hot towels on ankle joints lead to fall prevention in the elderly?

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K21180
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0908:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Miyazaki Prefectual Nursing University
• Principal Investigator: KOHRI HARUMI 宮崎県立看護大学, 看護学部, 助教 (20952360)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 転倒予防 / フットケア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the preliminary verification of "whether the effect of the hot towel compress on foot joints leads to fall prevention in the elderly," we performed the invented hot towel compress on young healthy subjects and found that it was a safe method with the same thermal effect as a foot bath. Next, a crossover study between the hot towel compress and bed rest alone was conducted on elderly subjects. The results showed that the hot towel compress significantly improved deep body temperature, ankle joint flexibility (dorsiflexion angle of the ankle joint), and standing balance (time to stand on one leg with eyes open). The mean value of postural retention (toe grip) improved, but not significantly. It is likely that the warming effect increased ankle joint flexibility and individual postural retention, thereby prolonging standing balance. These results were more effective for subjects at risk of falling.

Free Research Field

看護学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我が国では、転倒が要介護になる原因の１つになっており、転倒予防を目指したケアの確立が必要である。本研究では、転倒予防を目指したフットケアの１つとして熱布温罨法の温熱が足関節の柔軟性（足関節背屈角度）に効果を及ぼすだけでなく、姿勢保持力（足趾把持力）、立位バランス（開眼片足立ち時間）の効果にも影響を及ぼす可能性を明らかにした。本研究の成果をもとに他のフットケアの効果についても研究を継続し、転倒予防を目指した看護師が行うフットケアプログラムを構築していくことは社会的にも看護学的にも意義があると考える。