Abstract
A walker assists elderly people with age-related reduced walking ability and helps to improve stability and balance ability. However, if the general-type walker (GTW) is used on an uneven, obstacle, or sloped terrain, it may cause excessive muscle use and falls. Therefore, in this study, we developed a caterpillar-type walker (CTW) that elderly people can safely use in various terrains. Twelve elderly who were able to walk normally participated in the study. The activity of upper and lower extremity muscles, the number of obstacles overcome, and walking speed was compared and analyzed when using two types of walkers in uneven terrain, obstacle terrain, and sloped terrain. In addition, satisfaction with the use of these walkers was evaluated. When CTW was used, the activity of the muscles of the upper and lower extremities was significantly reduced compared to the use of GTW on all terrains. The walker developed in this study overcame obstacles of all heights, but the GTW failed to overcome obstacles starting from the 2 cm section. In terms of walking speed, when the CTW was used, the walking speed was higher than that of the GTW in uneven terrain and obstacle terrain. In satisfaction, there were significant differences in safety, durability, simplicity of use, comfort, and effectiveness. Through these results, it was confirmed that the CTW can efficiently and safely assist the elderly in walking on uneven terrain, obstacle terrain, and inclined terrain.
Highlights
The proportion of the global population aged 65 and over is increasing
In the case of using a general-type walker (GTW) equipped with circular wheels on uneven terrain, the activity in the lower extremity muscles increased as the body momentarily loses balance and the walker swaying in various directions cannot properly support the body [31]
When using the caterpillar-type walker (CTW), the activity of upper and lower extremity muscles was significantly reduced compared to when using the GTW in uneven terrain, obstacle terrain, and inclined terrain
Summary
The proportion of the global population aged 65 and over is increasing. Korea is an aging society, with the elderly exceeding 14% of the total population as of 2017. The proportion of the elderly population makes up 15.7% of the population, and it is expected that Korea will be entering a super-aging society by 2025 [1,2]. Aging and its associated deterioration in physical function are directly related to changes in exercise capacity. Sensory functions and reflexes deteriorate, and overall muscle strength decreases. In the case of lower extremity muscle strength, it decreases by
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