| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立高雄第一科技大學 === 工業設計研究所 === 98 === Aging is a global problem in the present world. To the arthritic elder, taking a bath is difficult because their lower limbs are unable to stand for a long time due to the weak muscle endurance from skeleton degradation. Previous researches indicated osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases for the elder female to cause disability. Therefore, many seniors require shower chairs when bathing.
This study discussed the issue regarding 10 elder females with knee arthritis using the bath chair. The first test phase of the first semi-structured interviews with bath chair of the elder are performed by the subjective issues: (1) The lower seat leads to difficulty of standing up from sitting, (2) The higher seat makes the elders strenuous when washing their footplates or bending over to scoop out water with a ladle, (3) An assistive armrest and a seatback helps bathing more easily, (4) The psychological needs of a bath chair. This study of experiment and literature analysis consists of the objective issues: (1) The electromyography (EMG) device was used to investigate the muscle strength while bending at sitting and standing from sitting at different seat heights, (2) The shower chair with a lower seat may lead to fall-sitting during the sitting process and difficulty of standing up from sitting, (3) An assistive armrest and a seatback can reduce the exertion of muscle, vertebra and joint strength it will affect the back cleaning, (4) The slippery bathroom floor in Taiwan leads to danger, (5) The concept design should take into account about the changes of the elder’s bodies.
Finally, according to the elder anthropometry data, subjects issues and needs obtained in his study the, a new bath chair design was made, and the subjects were invited to prove its effectiveness.
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