Abstract
Limited research is available in understanding or evaluating the physical benefits of self-transfer devices for patients following major surgery. The objective of this study was to quantify muscle activity while using an assistive device during bed-rise exercises. Twenty participants (9 males, 11 females) participated. A laboratory study using a repeated measures design was used to test the effects of bed rise condition (manual, assisted), device (ABNOSTRAIN™, Bed Pull-Up), device anchor height (7“, 13” above bed surface), and head elevation angle (0°, 30°) on mean and peak muscle activity of the upper and lower rectus abdominus and external oblique. Results indicated that the use of a device significantly reduced muscle activity at all three muscle sites evaluated compared to unassisted bed rising. Also, having a higher anchor height or bed elevation angle further significantly reduced muscle activity.
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