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Electromyographic Evaluation of a Bed Assistive Device for Abdominal Surgery Patients in Postoperative Care

Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota

Kari Babski-Reeves

Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, kari{at}ise.msstate.edu

Maury A. Nussbaum

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

Objective: Muscle activity with and without the use of commercially available patient assistive devices during bed rising and lowering was quantified. Background: Limited research is available in understanding or evaluating the physical benefits of assistive devices for patient use following major abdominal surgery. Methods: Twenty healthy participants (9 men, 11 women) took part in a laboratory study to test the effects of device configuration (five levels) and bed elevation angle (0° and 30°) on mean and peak upper and lower rectus abdominis and external oblique concentric and eccentric muscle activity. Results: Reduced muscle activity was associated with the use of an assistive device, as compared with manual bed rising (unassisted). Positioning the devices at a higher anchor height and/or increasing the bed elevation angle further reduced muscle activity. Objective and subjective differences between the two assistive devices evaluated in the study were found. Conclusion: These results suggest that self-assistive devices may speed recovery because of reduced loads on damaged tissues. Application: Potential applications of this research include the assessment of other commercially available lift aids or comparisons of self-assistive lift aids with hospital-housed lift aids used to speed recovery rates.

Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Vol. 50, No. 2, 237-255 (2008)
DOI: 10.1518/001872008X250764


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