JP2007130190A - Apparatus for measuring muscular strength of lower limb - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for measuring a muscular strength of the lower limb which allows even an elderly person, a weak person who needs care or the like to measure the muscular strength of the lower limb easily and accurately. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for measuring muscular strength of the lower limb 1 comprises a frame 2, a seat section 3 mounted on the frame 2, and a muscular strength meter 5 pivoted tiltably on the frame 2 while opposing the seat section 3 almost horizontally. The muscular strength meter 5 has a step plate 21 on which a subject sitting on the seat section 3 put one's legs, a pressure sensor 11 installed on the lower surface thereof, a base plate 12 for holding the pressure sensor 11, support legs 8 and a tilt shaft 7 for pivoting the step plate 21 tiltably on the frame 2, a support bolt 13 for pivoting the step plate 21 so that the tilting angle of the step plate is adjustable, an arithmetic section 31 for analyzing the muscular strength by converting an output of the pressure sensor 11, and a display section 34 for displaying the result analyzed at the arithmetic section 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring lower limb muscle strength, and more particularly to an apparatus for measuring lower limb muscle strength that can be easily measured with less burden at the time of measurement for an elderly person or a person who needs care.

Research institutions, including various medical institutions and rehabilitation specialized institutes for rehabilitation (hereinafter abbreviated as rehabilitation) for lowering leg strength due to a decline in cognition and physical strength against the background of illness and rapidly aging It is also being researched and developed by private companies.
For example, Patent Document 1 includes a chair-like body placement fixing means having the name “open / closed exercise chain dual-use exercise therapy device”, and measures the muscle strength of a seated practitioner using muscle strength measurement means. There has been disclosed an exercise therapy device capable of enhancing muscle strength using a muscle strength training means.
In the muscular strength measuring means, different footrests are provided so that either one of the open movement chain or the closed movement chain can be measured.

In Patent Document 2, the same applicant as Patent Document 1 discloses an invention capable of effectively measuring hamstrings and quadriceps muscles, strengthening muscle strength, and restoring functions as a "closed movement chain measuring device". Has been.
The configuration of the present invention is substantially the same as the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, however, focusing on the measurement of hamstrings and quadriceps in particular, a detection means for detecting the maximum strength output angle and the strength value is provided. It is equipped with a measuring device and an inference means for estimating the muscle strength value under the open movement chain from the measurement results of the maximum muscle strength display angle and muscle strength value under the closed movement chain. It is disclosed as a closed movement chain measuring device including quadriceps muscle estimation means for estimating a quadriceps muscle strength value under an open movement chain from a muscle force value.
According to the inventions disclosed in these patent documents, muscle strength can be effectively increased and functional recovery can be performed effectively, and both open and closed movement chains can be exercised. It is also possible to measure.
JP 2002-301169 A JP 2004-329409 A

However, with the conventional techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is possible to expect enhancement of muscle strength and functional recovery, and it is possible to measure the state of exercise. There is a problem that it is difficult for a subject who has weak physical ability and muscle strength, such as a frail person who needs nursing care, to easily measure the degree of functional recovery of his body due to rehabilitation.
In addition, muscular strength is weak, and elderly people and frail people who need nursing care often hurt the knee and bend or extend the knee while sitting as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. There was also a problem that it was difficult and painful.
In addition, since the force is not applied when the knee is bent or stretched while sitting, the measured value itself becomes a small value, which is likely to cause an error in the measurement, and it is difficult to quantitatively evaluate the effect of accurate rehabilitation. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in response to such a conventional situation, and provides a lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus that can easily and accurately measure lower limb muscle strength even for elderly people, frail people who need nursing care, and the like. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, a lower limb muscle strength measuring device according to claim 1 is a frame, a seat portion mounted on the frame, and the frame that is tiltable so as to be substantially horizontally opposed to the seat portion. A lower limb strength measuring device pivotally mounted on the lower limb strength measuring device, wherein the strength measuring device is a stepping plate on which a subject sitting on the seat portion puts both feet, a pressure sensor provided on the lower surface thereof, A base plate that holds the pressure sensor; a support leg and a tilt shaft that pivotably mount the tread plate to the frame; and a support bolt that pivotally adjusts the tilt angle of the tread plate, It has a calculating part which converts the output of the pressure sensor and analyzes muscle strength, and a display part which displays the result analyzed by this calculating part.
In the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus having the above-described configuration, the muscle strength measuring device is provided so as to face the seat portion substantially horizontally, and the subject sitting on the seat portion extends both legs horizontally and places both feet on the muscle strength measuring device. There is an effect of measuring in a state. The muscle strength measuring instrument is pivotally mounted on the frame so as to be tiltable, and has a function of adjusting a tilting angle of a stepping plate of the muscle strength measuring instrument with a support bolt to adjust an angle at which both feet of the subject are placed.
Since the muscular strength measuring instrument is equipped with a pressure sensor, it has the effect that the subject's pushing load is detected by pressing the treading plate with both feet placed on the treading plate and the legs extended. .

In addition, the lower limb muscle strength measuring device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the invention according to the first aspect, wherein the muscle strength measuring device is configured so that the subject can measure the muscle strength one leg at a time. The base plate, the support legs and the tilting shaft, and the support bolts are all provided in two independent systems.
In the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus having the above configuration, the tread board, pressure sensor, base plate, support leg and tilting shaft constituting the muscle strength measuring device are provided in two systems, so that the lower limb muscle strength of the subject is independently measured for each leg. It has the action. In addition, it has the effect of measuring both feet simultaneously on one foot.

Furthermore, the leg muscular strength measuring device according to the invention described in claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seat portion is movably mounted on a guide rail provided in the frame. The position of the seat can be adjusted according to the physique of the subject.
In the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus having the above-described configuration, the seat portion has an action of moving along the guide rail. In addition, this movement has the effect of adjusting the seat portion to a position suitable for measurement of the lower limb muscle strength according to the physique of the subject.

In the lower limb muscle strength measuring device according to claim 1 of the present invention, an elderly person or a weak subject who needs care sits on a seat and puts his / her legs on a tread board in a state where both legs are substantially extended. Lower limb muscle strength can be measured. In addition, it measures the force of placing both feet on the stepping board and pushes them, and does not measure the reaction force against the load when bending or stretching the foot, so the load on the foot is small and the leg strength is weak Even the examinee can grasp the magnitude of the force exerted in the weak leg strength, and as a result, a highly accurate measurement is possible.
Since the inclination angle of the treadle can be adjusted, the treadle can be adjusted according to the length of the subject's foot, and at the same time, the lower limb muscle strength can be measured using the angle of the treadle as a parameter. It is possible to grasp the lower limb muscle strength of a person more quantitatively.

  Moreover, in the leg muscle strength measuring apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention, it is possible to measure leg muscle strength independently for each leg. It is also possible to measure one foot at a time. Other effects are the same as those of the first aspect of the invention.

  In the lower limb muscle strength measuring device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the seat portion is movably mounted on the guide rail, so that the position of the seat portion can be adjusted according to the physique of the subject. Moreover, combined with the adjustment of the inclination angle of the tread board, the lower limb muscle strength can be grasped more quantitatively.

Hereinafter, a lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
FIG. 1 is an outline view of a lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus 1 is mainly configured by including a seat 3 and a muscle strength measuring device 5 based on a rectangular metal frame 2.
A plurality of support seats 4 are provided at the lower part of the frame 2 to protect the floor surface on which the lower limb muscle strength measuring device 1 is placed and to adjust the height with screws or the like so as to obtain a levelness.
The seat 3 is provided with an elbow rest 6, and the lower part can be adjusted to the front and back according to the physique of the subject who is placed on the guide rail 9 via the slide leg 10 and sits on the seat 3. ing.
The muscular strength measuring instrument 5 is supported by two support legs 8. The support legs 8 are fixed to a tilt shaft 7, and the tilt angle can be adjusted around the tilt shaft 7.

Fig.2 (a) is a top view of the leg muscle strength measuring apparatus based on this Embodiment, (b) is a side view. FIG. 3 is an external view of the muscle strength measuring device of the leg muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment.
2 and 3, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of the configuration is omitted. 2A, 2 </ b> B, and 3, the muscular strength measuring device 5 includes a tread plate 21 having a rubber portion 20 attached to the surface thereof, and a load cell 11 is installed as a pressure measurement sensor behind the tread plate 21. .
The load cell 11 measures the pressure applied by the subject's foot placed on the tread plate 21 via the rubber portion 20, and the pressure signal measured via the cord 23 extending from the socket 22 is transmitted. Is done.
The load cell 11 is fixed to a base plate 12, and the base plate 12 is fixed to a support frame 29 with fixing bolts 24 and nuts 25. A bracket 26 for fixing the support bolt 13 for adjusting the angle of the tread plate 21 is provided at a substantially central portion of the support frame 29. The support bolt 13 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 26 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 28 provided on a bolt holding portion 27 provided on the upper end thereof.
The support bolt 13 is engaged with an adjustment nut 14, and is accommodated in the support bolt sleeve 15 so as to be inserted and removed by rotating the adjustment nut 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3, the tread plate 21 of the muscular strength measuring device 5 is provided so as to be tiltable as indicated by a symbol B. For example, the inclination angle is increased by rotating the adjusting nut 14 to extend the support bolt 13 from the support bolt sleeve 15, and the adjusting nut 14 is rotated in the reverse direction to rotate the support bolt 13 to the support bolt sleeve 15. The angle can be made gentle by moving in the direction of storage. At that time, the tilting shaft 7 is also capable of tilting as indicated by the symbol B in conjunction with it.
Further, in the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the seat 3 is movably mounted on the guide rail 9 via the slide leg 10, so As indicated by A, it is also possible to adjust the position of the seat 3 in the horizontal direction.
Thus, the sheet 3 can be moved so that the posture can be appropriately measured so that the measurement accuracy does not deteriorate depending on the height and physique of the subject.
Further, as described above, the angle of the tread plate 21 can be tilted as indicated by the symbol B. Therefore, the angle can be adjusted so that the measurement is easy depending on the height and physique of the subject. is there. Further, since the knee angle of the subject at the time of measuring the lower limb muscle strength can be fixed using the angle of the tread plate 21 as a parameter, it is also possible to measure the lower limb muscle strength using the knee angle as a parameter. .

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 4, the pressure related to the tread plate 21 measured by the load cell 11 is transmitted to the calculation unit 31 via the A / D converter 30. The calculation unit 31 stores an arithmetic expression so that the pressure measured by the load cell 11 is converted into the lower limb muscle strength in advance, and the pressure measurement value can be converted into the lower limb muscle strength of the subject.
Lower limb strength data 32 obtained by the conversion by the calculation unit 31 is stored in the database 33 and can be read by the calculation unit 31. The display unit 34 outputs and displays lower limb muscle strength data 32. Although the display unit 34 is a display unit, the display unit 34 may be an output unit capable of outputting to an external device even if it is not necessarily displayed.

In the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the subject first sits on the seat 3 and puts it on the treading plate 21 with both feet substantially extended. In this state, if the foot does not reach the stepping plate 21 or if both feet do not rest on the stepping plate 21 unless the knee is bent considerably, the seat 3 is slid on the guide rail 9 to position the seat 3. Adjust. In this case, when the lower limb muscle strength is measured using the angle formed by the knee as a parameter, or when the lower limb muscle strength is measured while maintaining a constant knee angle, the inclination of the tread plate 21 of the muscle strength measuring device 5 is measured. Adjust the angle. The adjustment is performed by rotating the adjustment nut 14 and inserting / removing the support bolt 13 into / from the support bolt sleeve 15 as described above.
When the adjustment of the position of the seat 3 and the inclination angle of the tread plate 21 is completed, both the feet of the subject are placed on the tread plate 21 in a substantially extended state. In order to measure the lower limb muscle strength from such a state, a force is applied to step on the stepping plate 21 with both feet while sitting on the seat 3. In addition, since the support bolt sleeve 15 is fixed to the frame 2 at the stage where the adjustment of the seat 3 position and the inclination angle of the tread plate 21 is completed, even if the subject steps on the tread plate 21, The tread plate 21 does not tilt.

When the measurement is completed in this way, when the lower limb muscle strength is measured using the inclination angle of the stepping plate 21 as a parameter, that is, the knee angle as a parameter, the inclination angle of the stepping plate 21 may be changed and measured again. .
As described above, when the lower limb muscle strength is measured by the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment, a force is applied so that both feet are placed on the foot board 21 and the foot board 21 is stepped on, and the pressure is reduced to the pressure. Since the measurement is performed via the load cell 11 functioning as a sensor, the burden on the knee is lighter than in the case where the measurement is performed by bending and stretching the knee while applying a load to the shin portion below the knee. In the case of subjects who are rehabilitating elderly people or frail people who need nursing care, the lower limb muscle strength to be measured is weak in the first place, and weak strength is required when quantitatively evaluating the effects of rehabilitation. It is necessary to measure the strength of the legs with high accuracy, but there is almost no difference when trying to measure the muscle strength of the lower limbs by applying a heavy load to the knees when the knees are weak. It is difficult to quantitatively grasp the effects of

However, in the case of the lower limb muscle strength measurement device according to the present embodiment, a load is not applied so as to prevent the knee from bending and stretching, but the force generated by simply stepping on the stepping plate 21 is measured as pressure. Therefore, it is possible to quantitatively measure and grasp the strength of the lower limb muscle strength even in the elderly and the frail people who need nursing care with little burden on the knee.
In the present embodiment, the stepping plate 21 of the muscle strength measuring device 5 is described as one piece. However, the stepping plate 21 of the muscle strength measuring device 5 is divided into two parts, and the foot of the subject is divided into two pieces. It is possible to measure one leg at a time by placing the leg muscle strength on it.
At that time, not only the tread plate 21 but also the load cell 11 and the base plate 12 of the muscle strength measuring device 5, the support leg 8, the tilting shaft 7, and the support bolt 13 must be provided independently.

Next, data for verification of the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment or data actually measured by the apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is measured for verification of the load error of the load cell of the present apparatus, the horizontal axis indicates the load (kg) applied to the load cell, and the vertical axis indicates the load (N).
For verification, a load of 10 to 60 kgf is added as a load and compared with an actual measurement value of the load. As is apparent from the figure, no weighting error was found in the load cell of this device.

Next, FIG. 6 is a graph showing the verification result of the reproducibility of the muscular strength appearance aspect by the same subject measured by this apparatus.
This shows changes with the elapsed time (seconds) of the lower limb muscle strength (N) of the subject, and 10 measurements were performed. As a result, it can be understood that although the seventh data looks slightly different from the other data, generally good reproducibility is obtained.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the maximum lower limb muscle strength and the time required to reach the value of four groups with different ADLs (middle-aged, healthy elderly, frail elderly, and certified caregivers). In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents the time (seconds) required to reach the maximum lower limb strength, and the vertical axis represents the maximum lower limb strength (N) that is the maximum value of the lower limb strength. The lower the ADL level, the lower the lower limb muscle strength, and the required time varies. When the measurement results were generally evaluated, it was shown that three characteristic groups of evaluation group levels A, B, and C intervene. The legend of the plot points in the graph is as described in the figure.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the lower limb muscle strength display aspect in the three groups for each evaluation group level described with reference to FIG. The horizontal axis is the measurement elapsed time (seconds), and the vertical axis is the lower limb muscle strength (N). From FIG. 8, it can be seen that the lower the ADL level, the lower the value of the lower limb muscle strength, and the longer the time required to reach the maximum value.
In this way, it is possible to express the characteristics of the subject clearly by collecting the data of the maximum lower limb strength among the measured values of the lower limb strength, or by summarizing the display aspect of the lower limb strength. From this, the usefulness of the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment can be understood.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the correlation between the maximum lower limb strength obtained using this apparatus and the lower limb strength at 1 second. The horizontal axis in FIG. 9 is the lower limb strength (N) at 1 second, and the vertical axis is the maximum lower limb strength (N). As shown in FIGS. 7 to 8, the time required to reach the maximum lower limb strength value varies depending on the individual. From this figure, it can be understood that the lower limb strength of one second reflects the individual's maximum lower limb strength, and the time taken to reach the maximum lower limb strength value by focusing on the lower limb strength and the muscular strength of one second. It is shown that it is possible to make an overall evaluation regardless of individual differences.
The legend of the plot points in the graph is as described in the figure.

  Next, FIG. 10 is a graph for explaining the classification of the lower limb muscle strength display aspect curve. As shown in the legend, it is classified from level 1 to level 3 by measuring the leg muscle strength for 1 second. There are a level 3 where the value does not rise so much in one second, a level 3 where the value rises sharply in one second, and a level 2 in between. These three are typical curvilinear classifications of lower limb muscle strength. The legend for each level is as shown in the figure.

  FIG. 11 is a graph showing the correlation between the maximum lower limb muscle strength (N) and the free walking speed (cm / s) for each of the three lower limb muscle strength manifestation curve classifications shown in FIG. From this graph, it is estimated that 500 N of the maximum lower limb strength is a threshold value from level 1 to level 2, and 1000 N is a threshold value from level 2 to level 3. That is, a subject having a maximum lower limb strength of about 500 N may draw a lower limb strength display mode curve of level 2 and a subject having a level of about 1000 N will draw a lower limb strength display mode curve of level 3. It is understood that it is guessed. The legend for each level is as shown in the figure.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the correlation between knee joint extension strength and lower limb strength. This knee joint extension muscle strength was measured using a device other than this device, and the correlation between the knee joint extension muscle strength and the lower limb muscle strength measured using this device was obtained.
In this figure, the horizontal axis designates knee joint extension muscle strength (kg), and the vertical axis designates lower limb muscle strength (N). A generally good correlation is obtained, and it is shown that the lower extremity muscle strength by this apparatus also reflects the value of the knee extension muscle strength.

Finally, FIGS. 13A and 13B are graphs showing the correlation between lower limb strength and free walking speed, and the correlation between knee joint extension strength and free walking speed, respectively.
The correlation coefficient r in FIG. 13 (a) is 0.861, while the correlation coefficient r in FIG. 13 (b) is 0.495. It is understood that the lower limb muscle strength has a better correlation with the free walking speed than the knee extension muscle strength.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 5 to 13, the lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment can measure the lower limb muscle strength with sufficient accuracy while having a simple structure, and the lower limb muscle strength can be measured. It is also possible to evaluate the muscular strength by classifying the muscular strength manifestation patterns for one second. Moreover, it can be seen that the correlation with the free walking speed is equal to or higher than the knee extension muscle strength measured by another device, and it is found that the device is suitable for judging the effects of rehabilitation and the like.

  As described above, the invention described in claims 1 to 3 of the present invention is an apparatus for quantitatively and accurately evaluating the effects of rehabilitation by elderly people and frail persons who need care. It can be used and can also be used as an evaluation device for health maintenance and recovery by installing it in medical institutions, specialized rehabilitation institutions, or welfare facilities for the elderly.

It is an outline view of a leg muscular strength measuring device concerning this embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a top view of the leg muscle strength measuring apparatus based on this Embodiment, (b) is a side view. It is an external view of the muscle strength measuring device of the leg muscle strength measuring apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a system configuration figure of the leg muscular strength measuring device concerning this embodiment. It is a graph which shows the result measured for verification of the weighting error of the load cell of this device. It is a graph which shows the verification result about the reproducibility of the muscular strength display aspect by the same subject measured by this device. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the maximum leg strength by ADL level, and the time required to reach the value. It is a graph which shows a leg muscular strength display aspect in 3 groups according to ADL level demonstrated using FIG. It is a graph which shows the correlation with the maximum leg muscle strength obtained using this apparatus, and the leg muscle strength at the time of 1 second. It is a graph for demonstrating the classification | category of a lower limb muscle strength display aspect curve. It is a graph which shows the correlation with the maximum leg strength and free walking speed for every curve classification | category of the three leg strength display aspect shown in FIG. It is a graph which shows the correlation of knee joint extension muscular strength and leg muscular strength. (A), (b) is a graph which shows the correlation with a leg muscle strength and free walking speed, respectively, and the correlation with knee joint extension muscle strength and free walking speed, respectively.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lower limb muscle strength measuring device 2 ... Frame 3 ... Seat 4 ... Support seat 5 ... Muscle strength measuring device 6 ... Elbow rest 7 ... Tilt axis 8 ... Support leg 9 ... Guide rail 10 ... Slide leg 11 ... Load cell 12 ... Base plate 13 ... Support Bolt 14 ... Adjusting nut 15 ... Support bolt sleeve 20 ... Rubber part 21 ... Stepping plate 22 ... Socket 23 ... Cord 24 ... Fixing bolt 25 ... Nut 26 ... Bracket 27 ... Bolt holding part 28 ... Rotating shaft 29 ... Support frame 30 ... A / D converter 31 ... operation unit 32 ... lower extremity muscle strength data 33 ... database 34 ... display unit

Claims (3)

A lower limb muscle strength measuring device comprising: a frame; a seat portion placed on the frame; and a muscle strength measuring device pivotally mounted on the frame so as to be tilted so as to face the seat portion substantially horizontally.
The muscular strength measuring device is capable of tilting the stepping plate to the frame, a stepping plate on which the subject sitting on the seat puts both feet, a pressure sensor provided on the lower surface thereof, a base plate holding the pressure sensor, and the pressure plate. A support leg and a tilting shaft to be pivoted, and a support bolt pivoted to be able to adjust the tilt angle of the tread plate,
A lower limb muscle strength measuring apparatus comprising: a calculation unit that converts an output of the pressure sensor to analyze muscle strength; and a display unit that displays a result analyzed by the calculation unit.   The muscular strength measuring device includes the tread plate, the pressure sensor, the base plate, the support leg and the tilting shaft, and the support bolts independently of each other so that the subject can measure the muscular strength one foot at a time. The lower limb muscle strength measuring device according to claim 1.   The seat part is movably mounted on a guide rail provided on the frame, and is provided so that the position of the seat part can be adjusted according to the physique of the subject. The lower limb muscle strength measuring device described in 1.