earticle

영어

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the optimal positions of safety grab bars for effective sit-to-stand (STS) movement by comparing the results of the STS movement while using a safety grab bar installed under two different conditions: the height of the grab bar installation was determined by (1) the Building Act and (2) the principle of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). Methods: A total of 50 undergraduate students participated in this study, and they were required to perform an STS movement twice under each condition. A baropodometric platform for sitting and a Biorescue (RM Ingenierie, France) were used to collect and analyze changes in the center of pressure (COP) on the left and right sides before and after performing the STS movement. The average completion time for the STS movement was also measured for analysis. Moreover, the participants were asked to express their individual subjective preferences regarding the two positions of the grab bars. Results: The COP changes were significantly smaller when performing the STS movement with the grab bar installed at the height determined by the PNF principle than the Building Act (p<0.01), and the difference in the completion time of the STS movement was not statistically significant between the two conditions. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the principle of PNF can be useful for planning therapeutic exercise as well as for proposing the optimal grab bar position for older adults and those with health-related issues when performing the STS movement. In addition, this may serve as a basic rehabilitation technique for maintaining remaining functions and providing functional efficiency.