Designing Balance Control Devices to Enhance the Quality of Life for Older Adults: A Case Study of the Physical Therapy Clinic, Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation
Keywords:
balance control device design, quality of life promotion, elderlyAbstract
This research aims to study and analyze the challenges faced by elderly individuals in their daily lives at the Physical Therapy Clinic, Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute, Mueang District, Nonthaburi Province. The objective is to design balance control devices that enhance the quality of life for the elderly and assess their satisfaction with the usability of the devices. The scope of the research involves designing balance control equipment for walking and for sitting-to-standing transitions. The sample group consists of elderly men and women aged 60 and above. The research tools used include interview questionnaires for the elderly, interviews with occupational therapists, and a usability satisfaction assessment of the devices. The findings are summarized as follows Walking Balance Control Device Design The device is made from aluminum, with various parts secured using locking joints. It also incorporates shock-absorbing materials. The device has two wheels that can rotate 360 degrees and a front sensor system to prevent potential collisions while walking. Additionally, it includes a bag for carrying personal items Sitting-to-Standing Balance Control Device Design This device is designed with durability in mind, using aluminum and locking joints for assembly. It is intended to be used in conjunction with the elderly person's mattress, where it is placed underneath. This allows the elderly person to hold onto it for support when sitting down or standing up. The device also features shock-absorbing materials at critical points to reduce the risk of injury Usability Satisfaction Assessment The evaluation of the usability of both prototypes indicates a high level of satisfaction among users, suggesting that the devices are effective in improving the quality of life for the elderly.
References
ขจิต เมตตาเมธา. (2566). การออกแบบเพื่อมวลชน Universal Design. สืบค้นเมื่อ 1 มิถุนายน 2567, จาก https://www.scimath.org/article-technology/item/12879-universal-design
ชิดชนก ศรีราช และ ชาญชลักษณ์ เยี่ยมมิตร. (2565). การศึกษาความอ่อนตัวและคุณภาพชีวิตด้านร่างกายของผู้สูงอายุจังหวัดจันทบุรีโดยใช้โปรแกรมการฝึกยืดเหยียดกล้ามเนื้อ. วารสารสหวิทยาการสังคมศาสตร์และการสื่อสาร, 5(3), 116–128.
ทิพวัลย์ ทองอาจ. (2553). การออกแบบเพื่อมวลชน Universal Design. วารสารนักบริหาร, 30(3), 83-86.
อรนิษฐ์ แสงทองสุข. (2564). การเข้าสู่สังคมผู้สูงอายุของประเทศไทยในปัจจุบัน: การส่งเสริมการมีส่วนร่วมทางสังคมและการสร้างสภาพแวดล้อมที่เอื้อต่อคุณภาพชีวิต. วารสารการพัฒนาสังคมและสุขภาพ, 12(2), 45–58. https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jshd/article/view/247278
Arnaoutoglou, D., Dedemadis, D., Katsimentes, S., Kyriakou, A. A., Sirakoulis, G. C., Kyriacou, G., & Aggelousis, N. (2023, September). Toward real time processing of radar signals detecting elderly people fall. In 2023 18th International Workshop on Cellular Nanoscale Networks and their Applications (CNNA) (pp. 1-3). https://doi.10.1109/CNNA60945.2023.10652639
Brienza, D. M., Karg, P. E., & Brubaker, C. E. (1996). Seat cushion design for elderly wheelchair users based on minimization of soft tissue deformation using stiffness and pressure measurements. IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering, 4(4), 320–327. https://doi.org/10.1109/86.547933
Brown, S., & Eisenhardt, K. (1995). Product development: past research, present findings, and future directions. Academy of Management Review, 20(2), 343–378. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1995.9507312922
Brownie, S., & Nancarrow, S. (2013). Effects of person-centered care on residents and staff in aged-care facilities: a systematic review. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 8, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S38589
Cheung, K., Hume, P. A., & Maxwell, L. (2003). Delayed onset of muscle pain: Treatment strategies and efficacy factors. Sports Medicine, 33(2), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200333020-00005
Ferrer, A., Formiga, F., Sanz, H., de Vries, O. J., Badia, T., & Pujol, R. (2014). Multidimensional assessment and targeted interventions to reduce falls in older adults: A randomized controlled clinical intervention trial in the elderly. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 9, 383–393. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S57580. PMID: 24596458; PMCID: PMC3940644.
Hunter, D. J., & Felson, D. T. (2006). Osteoarthritis. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 332, 639–642. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7542.639
Kunzler, M. R., da Rocha, E. S., Bobbert, M. F., Duysens, J., & Carpes, F. P. (2017). Acute effects of walking exercise on stair climbing in physically inactive and active older adults. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 14, 532–538. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2016-0546. PMID: 28290748.
Li, J., Xue, Q., Yang, S., & Guo, J. (2019). Human motion law based design and control for sit-to-stand assisting devices. In 2019 IEEE International Conference on Computation, Communication and Engineering, ICCCE 2019 (pp. 150-153). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. DOI: 10.1109/ICCCE48422.2019.9010763.
National Institute on Aging. (2020). Maintaining mobility and preventing disability are key to living independently as we age. https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/maintaining-mobility-and-preventing-disability-are-key-living-independently-we-age
Naylor, M. D., Brooten, D., Campbell, R., Jacobsen, B. S., Mezey, M. D., Pauly, M. V., & Schwartz, J. S. (2021). Comprehensive discharge planning and home follow-up of hospitalized elder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 281(7), 613–620. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.281.7.613
O’Brien Cousins, S. (2001). Thinking out loud: What older adults say about triggers for physical activity. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 9, 347–363. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.9.4.347
Preiser, W. F. E. & Ostroff, E. (2001) Universal design handbook. McGraw-Hill. https://www.academia.edu/19286642/Universal_Design_Handbook
Ronggang, Z., Shengshan, H., Xiangang, Q., & Huang, J. (2008). A survey of user-centered design practice in China. In 2008 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, 2625–2629. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSMC.2008.4811564
Schultz, A. B., Ashton-Miller, J. A., & Alexander, N. B. (1997). What leads to age and gender differences in balance? Muscle Nerve Suppl., 5, S60–S64.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2021). World population ageing 2020: Highlights, living arrangements of older persons. https://doi.org/10.18356/9789210051934
Walker, A., & Maltby, T. (2022). Active ageing: A strategic policy solution to demographic ageing in the European Union. International Journal of Social Welfare, 21(S1), S117–S130. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2397.2012.00871.x
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Uthenthawai Engineering and Architecture Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
