JP2965932B2 - Physical function test method using a kit for simulating the elderly - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention evaluates a physical function by using a kit for simulating an elderly person for simulating a decrease in physical function and a psychological change, particularly when the user becomes elderly. The present invention relates to a physical function test method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the problem of population growth on a global scale, in advanced countries, the question of how nations and companies should address aging has emerged. Even elderly people who have already declined in physical function can be assisted by public or private welfare services.

[0003] In addition to the above-mentioned human assistance, assistive devices for assisting the movement of the arms and legs in response to various physical obstacles, glasses and hearing aids for reproducing visual acuity and hearing to a normal level of life. Various devices such as are used. Some of these instruments are improved daily and some are newly devised.

[0004] In order to improve the quality and usability of the various devices described above, it is necessary to actually acquire data for analyzing and evaluating the physical functions of the elderly.

[0005]

However, neither the above-mentioned welfare business nor the development of equipment is irrelevant for those who have not yet arrived and have not experienced aging or deterioration in physical functions due to aging. It was not expected that the general public would take an active interest in this.

[0006] Recently, efforts have been made to ask the importance of welfare for the elderly through media such as newspapers and magazines and to attract people's attention. However, it has been difficult to realize that the disability caused by aging does not actually give an experience to the extent to which it causes problems in life. For this reason, even if we experience the physical condition of the elderly even in a simulated manner and do not obtain the objective data, we can develop flexible ideas or new ideas in the welfare business and in the development of appliances as described above. There was a problem that it was difficult to obtain.

[0007] When objectively evaluating such deterioration of the body function, there are many ones for the purpose of examining the whole body, but this has a problem that the size of the whole apparatus becomes large and it is not easy. .

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an elderly person can simulate with high reproducibility a simulated experience of a decline in physical functions and psychological changes experienced by an elderly person. Using the simulated experience kit
An object of the present invention is to provide a physical function test method that can easily evaluate physical functions unique to the elderly without a large-scale device configuration.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a physical function test method using the kit for simulating the elderly according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of resin-made earplugs and a narrowed visual field. Eyeglasses that optically form a change in color vision, a load outerwear in which a weight is housed in the front of the outerwear body, an elbow rest member that covers the vicinity of the elbow and the elbow joint, and is connected to the elbow rest member. An elbow fixture having a string-shaped member, a wrist load band member having a weight stored in an annular band body, a first resin glove covering the entire hand, and the first glove. A pair of gloves in which a second glove made of cloth covering the entire glove and a third glove having elasticity covering the second glove so as to cover up to the second joint of the finger are laminated; A knee pad covering the vicinity and the knee joint and a cord-shaped member connected to the knee pad; Knee fixing device, an ankle load band member having a weight stored in an annular band main body, and a tubular shape toward the toe so that footwear can be inserted, and an opening at the toe An ankle half-fixing device comprising a tubular portion having a portion, and a deployed portion in which the rear side is formed in an expanded shape upward from the rear portion of the tubular portion and is covered and fixed after footwear is inserted; The whole body or a part of an elderly person simulation experience kit for artificially reproducing the deterioration of physical function due to the elderly with a wand having a plurality of joints is attached to the human body, and the push, pull, twist, etc. The present invention is characterized in that the instruction of the manual operation is presented, and the reaction time of the operation in response to the presented instruction of the operation is measured.

According to the present invention, as a kit for simulating the elderly, a pair of earplugs, glasses for optically forming a visual field constriction and a color vision change, a load jacket containing a weight in the front, and an elbow joint are optional. Elbow fixing device fixed at an angle, wrist or ankle load band member with weights dispersed and stored, gloves that reduce tactile sensation, pressure sensation, heat sensation, etc. of the fingers by a laminated structure, knee fixing device fixing a knee joint at an arbitrary angle , Attaching semi-fixed ankles by putting them on the footwear, all or a part of the ankle semi-fixing device is put on the everyday clothes or footwear to regulate or sway the movement and sensation of each part on the body. By doing so, a gap created between the image of the motion considered in the head and the actual motion can be realized as a decrease in physical function. By using the inspection device in such a state, the reaction of the elderly person until the finger performs the operation of the presented content is measured.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present embodiment relates to a method for testing physical functions using all or a part of the kit for simulating the elderly.

In this system, as shown in FIG. 32, an elderly person simulated experience person (hereinafter, referred to as an experienced person) 400 is equipped with all or a part of an elderly person simulated experience kit (hereinafter, referred to as a kit) 1. It is necessary to keep it. Hereinafter, FIG.
The kit 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The kit 1 includes earplugs 10 and 11 and eyeglasses 20 as shown in FIG.
A load outer garment 30, elbow fasteners 40, 41, knee fasteners 50, 51, ankle half fasteners 60, 61, wrist load band members 70, 71, and ankle load band member 8.
0, 81, gloves 90, 91, and a stick 100.

The earplugs 10 and 11 are filters for cutting high frequencies. The characteristics of the earplugs 10 and 11 are as follows.
It has a function of cutting off the range of 000 to 4,000 Hertz to make it easier to pass the range of normal speech, for example, 500 to 1,000 Hertz. This depends on the JIS type 1 type. As shown in FIG. 2, the earplug 10 (11) has a structure in which, for example, a foamed polymer is processed with a special resin to obtain flexibility and flexibility. As a result, when inserted into the ear canal, the earplug 10 (11) is easily compressed and flexibly deformed to fit the size of the ear canal or the shape of the ear canal. After being inserted into the ear canal, the earplug 10 (11) turns around from compression and starts gently expanding to fit the wall surface of the ear unevenly so as to follow the shape of the wall surface. As a result, reliable wearing to the ear is obtained, and for example, it is possible to make it difficult to hear a warning sound or a scream in a higher sound range than a normal voice and to simulate hearing loss peculiar to the elderly.

As shown in FIG. 3, the glasses 20 have a laminated structure in which a yellow filter 24 and a gray film 26 are attached to the back surface of a transparent surface 22a of transparent protective glasses 22 as a base. For bonding, transparent protective glasses 22, yellow filter 24, gray film 2
Each edge of No. 6 is bonded with an adhesive or the like, or a locking portion such as a groove is provided on the see-through surface 22a, and is fitted into the locking portion by utilizing the elasticity of the yellow filter 24 and the gray film 26. May be. With the above laminated structure, the yellow filter 24 can reproduce a color vision change due to a cataract and a blurred visual field.

Actual cataracts include those in which the lens is opaque and hardened, and those in which yellow-based pigments are deposited.
Can be reproduced. The gray film 26 can reproduce the dimness of the visual field and the narrowness of the visual field. In actual visual field narrowing, visual acuity, drooping of the upper eyelid, depression of the eyeball appear, causing the above symptoms,
In the present embodiment, a pseudo experience can be provided from the field of view through the gray film 26. Obtaining these symptoms at the same time causes the user to be worried about poor visibility.

As shown in FIG. 4, the load outerwear 30 has upper pockets 31, 32 and lower pockets 33, 34 for inserting a weight corresponding to the weight of the user on the front face. Weights 35 and 36 are 500g each
(G), and the weights 37, 38 each weigh about 1 kg (kilogram). At the time of the simulated experience, for example, for a user who weighs less than 60 kg, a weight of 35 kg is inserted into each of the upper pockets 31 and 32 or the lower pockets 33 and 34 to apply a load of 1 kg in total. For those who weigh 60 kg or more, a 1 kg weight 37, 38 is placed in each of the upper pockets 31, 32 or the lower pockets 33, 34.
And apply a total load of 2 kg. By applying a load on the front surface of the load outerwear 30 in this manner, a forward bending posture unique to the elderly can be reproduced.

As shown in FIG. 5, the above-mentioned elbow fixing device 40 (41) has an elbow rest member 42 having a developed rectangular shape, and band-like cord members 46, 48 for fixing the elbow rest member 42 to the elbow.
And The elbow fixing device 40 (41) has a nonwoven fabric structure of polyurethane elastic fiber.

In the armrest member 42, guide tubes 44, 44 are provided on a surface 42a located outside when the arm is covered so that both sides of the arm can be clamped when the armrest member 42 is wound around the arm. Are spaced apart. Inside the guide tubes 44, 44, metal plates 45, 45 that can be bent in the plane direction of the front surface 42a are housed. Metal plate 4
5 and 45 can be bent at substantially the center in accordance with the degree of kinking of the armrest 42 around the shafts 45a and 45a. The left and right edges of the armrest member 42 are provided with the shaft 4
Recesses 49a, 49a are provided in parallel with the positions of 5a, 45a, and slits 49a, 49a are provided between the recesses 49a, 49b and the upper edge. Further, the back surface 42b located inside when the arm is covered is provided with a hooking surface on one of the left and right edges, and is hooked when the armrest 42 is wound. is there.

The cord-like member 46 is connected to the armrest 42
And has such a length that a surplus piece can be obtained when folded by a ring 47 provided on the other edge, which is attached to one edge of the guide tubes 44, 44 opposed to each other. I have. A hooking surface 46a, such as a velcro tape, is formed at the distal end of the string-shaped member 46 so that the string-shaped member 46 can be hooked to the string-shaped member 46 by the above-described folding.

The cord members 48, 48 are obliquely attached to the upper part of the elbow rest member 42 and to the respective non-opposing edges of the guide tubes 44, 44. It has such a length that it can be wound one or more rounds when it is mounted on a. Each of the cord-like members 48, 48 also has a hooking surface such as a velcro tape formed at the distal end thereof, and is configured to be hooked to the armrest member 42.

Next, a procedure for mounting the arm fixing device 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the palm is turned upward, the elbow rest member 42 (the back surface 42b) is wound from the back side of the arm, and temporarily fixed by the hooking surface. In this installation, the recess 49
a, 49a so that the guide tubes 44,
44 is applied to the side surface, the left and right edge portions of the elbow rest member 42 are overlapped and temporarily fixed, and a circular hole 49 is formed at a position where the arm just bends.
a ′ is formed (FIG. 6).

Further, as shown in FIG.
Is folded back by a ring 47, and when it is appropriately squeezed, the hooking surface 46a at the tip is hooked and fixed. Then, the two cord-like members 48, 48 are wound around the tip of the arm so as to cross each other around the hole 49 ', and are hooked and fixed to the armrest 42 (surface 42a) (FIG. 8, FIG. (FIG. 9).

As described above, the elbow rest member 42 is
6, 48, 48, the metal plates 45, 45 housed in the guide tubes 44, 44 are
The degree of flexion at the positions a and 45a is regulated, the arm can be hardly bent, and the slow movement of the elbow joint caused by the weakness of the muscle strength unique to the elderly can always be accurately reproduced.

Further, since the elbow fixing device 40 (41) has a non-woven fabric structure, a degree of expansion and contraction can be obtained, and there is no decrease in durability and adaptability even when used for a long time. Can be used.

Since the wrist load band members 70 and 71 and the ankle load band members 80 and 81 have the same internal configuration, the wrist load band member 7 is a representative example.
0 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the wrist load band member 70 has a structure in which a plurality of weights 74a, 74b, 74c, 74d, and 74e are arranged and stored in the longitudinal direction of a band-shaped main body 72. The main body 72 is made of a resilient and flexible sheet material, so that the wrist can be wound safely without causing injury to the wrist. At both ends of the main body 72, a hooking member 76 such as a Velcro tape and a hooking member 78 are provided, each having an area where the hooking position can be appropriately adjusted according to the thickness of the wrist of the experienced person. .

The weights 74a, 74b, 74c, 74d, and 74e housed in the main body 72 have a uniform weight, and when worn on the wrist, apply a uniform load around the wrist to balance the wrist. It can be held well. In the case of the wrist load band members 70 and 71, for example, a weight of 0.75 kg is used, and in the case of the ankle load band members 80, 81, for example, a weight of 1.0 kg is used. Good.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the glove 90 (91) includes a rubber glove 92 to be brought into contact with a hand and a cloth glove 93 to be laminated so as to cover the rubber glove 92.
And a stretchable glove 94 made of stretchable synthetic fiber which is laminated so as to cover the cloth glove 93. Both the rubber glove 92 and the cloth glove 93 have a shape that covers the entire finger, and the elastic glove 96 has a shape that covers at least the palm and the second joint of the finger.

When the glove 90 composed of three layers is worn on the hand, as shown in FIG. 12, a rubber glove 92, a cloth glove 93, and a stretchable glove 94 are used in this order. For 94, the tip of the thumb is sewn,
The other fingers are always provided so as to cover up to the second joint. Indirect feeling when touching, grasping or pushing an object in this way slows down the tactile sensation, pressure sensation, warmth, etc. of the finger, and experiences a decrease in sensory function compared to the normal sense Can be. In addition, the cloth gloves 93 promote the deterioration of the above-mentioned sensory functions and hinder the delicate movements of the hands and fingers, so that a slower movement than normal movement can be obtained.

The elastic gloves 94 cover the entire thumb and lose the flexibility of bending and the base of the thumb. Movement will be hindered. This allows
Pushing operation of a switch or the like, twisting operation of a gas cock or the like, and pulling operation of a drawer handle do not work as usual, and can cause mental damage such as irritation and anxiety. In addition, it is possible to reproduce symptoms unique to the elderly, such as difficulty in grasping and easy dropping.

The above wrist load band members 70 and 71
As shown in FIG. 13, the above-mentioned elbow fixing devices 40, 41,
When used together with the gloves 90 and 91, the slow movement of the entire arm (including the hand) can be more accurately reproduced due to a decrease in muscle strength unique to the elderly.

Further, the above-mentioned knee fastener 50 (51) is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, a knee pad 52 having a rectangular deployment shape.
And band-like cord members 56a, 56b, 56c, 57, 57 for fixing the knee pad 52 to the knee.
The knee fastener 50 (51) has a nonwoven fabric structure of polyurethane elastic fiber.

In the knee pad 52, guide tubes 53, 53 are provided on a surface 52a located outside when the knee is covered so that both sides of the knee can be clamped when the knee pad 52 is wound around the knee. Are spaced apart. Inside the guide tubes 53, 53, metal plates 54, 54 that can be bent in the direction of the surface 52a are housed. Metal plate 5
At the center of the elbow rest members 42, 54, 54 can bend around the same shafts 53 a, 53 a in accordance with the degree of kinking of the knee rest members 52. Also, a knee pad 5
The left and right edges are provided with recesses 52A, 52B in parallel with the positions of the shafts 53a, 53a, and between the recesses 52A, 52B and the upper and lower edges. Slits 52C, 52D, 52E, and 52F are provided. A hole 52G is opened at the center of the knee rest member 52, and the position of the hole 52G is defined as a knee bending position. Further, the back surface 52 located inside when the arm is covered
b is provided with a hooking surface on one of the right and left edges, and is configured to be hooked when the armrest 52 is wound.

The cord-like member 55a is
2 and is attached to one of the opposing edges of the guide tubes 53, 53, and has a length such that a surplus piece can be obtained when folded by a ring 56a provided on the other edge. ing. Similarly, a pair of a cord-like member 55a and a ring 56b is provided below the knee rest member 52. Further, one of the non-opposite guide tubes 44, 44 between the hole 52G and the string-like member 55b is arranged so that the string-like member 55c winds the knee rest member 52 in a reverse direction to the string-like member 55b. Attached to the edge, a ring 56c is provided at the other edge. In addition, the string members 55a, 55
A hooking surface such as a velcro tape is formed at each of the distal ends of the b and 55c, and is configured to be hooked to itself by each turn.

The cord members 57, 57 are diagonally attached to the lower portions of the knee rest members 52 and to the opposite edges of the guide tubes 53, 53, respectively. It has such a length that it can be wound one or more rounds when it is mounted on a. Each of the cord-like members 57, 57 also has a hooking surface such as a hook-and-loop fastener formed at the distal end, and is configured to be hooked on the knee rest member 52.

Next, a procedure for mounting the knee fastener 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG.
The knee abutment member 52 (back surface 52b) is wound from the back side of the knee and temporarily fixed by the hooking surface so that a and 53a are located on both sides of the knee. In this mounting, the guide tubes 53, 53 are applied to the side surfaces of the feet so that the recesses 52A, 52B are positioned at the knees, and the left and right edges of the knee rest member 52 are overlapped and temporarily fixed, so that the knees are just positioned at the knees. A circular hole 52 'is formed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
5b is folded back with a ring 56b, and when it is appropriately squeezed, a hooking surface at the tip is hung and fixed. Then, the two cord-like members 57, 57 are wound around the knee so as to cross each other around the hole 52 ', and the knee rest member 52 (surface 52
a) and fix it (FIGS. 17 and 18).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the string-like members 55c and 55a are turned back by the rings 56c and 56a, respectively, and when they are appropriately squeezed, the hooking surfaces at the tips are hooked and fixed.

As described above, the knee rest member 52 is
5a, 55b, 55c, 57, 57, the metal plates 54, 54 housed in the guide tubes 53, 53 are restricted in the degree of bending at the positions of the respective axes, thereby making it difficult for the knee to bend. It is possible to always accurately reproduce the slow motion of the knee joint caused by the weakness of the muscle strength peculiar to the elderly.

Since the knee fastener 50 (51) has a non-woven fabric structure, it can be expanded and contracted to a certain degree and its durability and adaptability do not decrease even when used for a long time. Can be used.

As shown in FIG. 21, the semi-ankle fixing device 60 (61) has a shoe-shaped shape which is bent in a U-shape when viewed from the side. The half-ankle fixing device 60 (61) fixes a shoe-shaped ankle contact member 62, ankle contact plates 63, 63 attached to both side surfaces of the ankle of the ankle contact member 62, and fixes the ankle contact member 62 to the ankle. And band-like cord members 64, 64. The semi-ankle fixing device 60 (61) has a nonwoven fabric structure of polyurethane elastic fiber.

As shown in FIG. 22, the ankle contact member 62 is provided in a cylindrical shape (cylindrical portion 621) from the bent portion toward one end (in the direction from the ankle to the toe) and at the other end (in the direction from the ankle to the knee). It is provided so as to have an unfolded shape (deployed portion 622). This deployment part 622 also has one slit 62A, 62B on the left and right edges, and has a hooking surface that hooks when wound around the ankle is provided on the right side as viewed in FIG. A hole 62a is provided at the bent portion of the U-shape, and an opening 62b is formed at the tip. A bent portion of the ankle is positioned in the hole 62a, and at this time, the toe portion is exposed from the opening 62b. As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, two cord members 64, 64 are attached to the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 621, and each can wind the ankle contact member 62 at least one round or more. Has a length.

Next, a procedure for mounting the half-ankle fixing device 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, while wearing the shoes, as shown in FIG. 23, the user inserts the tubular portion 621 of the ankle contact member 60 from the toe of the foot and fits the tubular portion 621 to the instep of the foot. The bent portion of the ankle is located at 62a, and the toe portion is exposed from the opening 62b. In this state, the hooking surface 66 of the deployment portion 622
To form a tubular shape and complete the temporary fixing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the ankle contact plates 63, 63 are attached so as to sandwich the ankle from both sides. At this time, if a hooking surface such as a velcro tape is provided on the ankle-side surfaces of the ankle-abutting plates 63, 63, the ankle-abutting plates 63, 63 can be independently fixed to the ankle-abutting member 60. Then, as shown in FIG. 25 and FIG.
4 and 64 are wound toward the instep so as to cross around the hole 62a, and are hooked and fixed to the ankle contact member 62. In this way, the action can be performed as it is after the wearing.

As described above, the ankle abutment member 62 is wound around the string-like members 64, 64 while being held between the ankle abutment plates 63, 63 at the position of the ankle joint, so that the torsion angle of the ankle is restricted, The ankle can be made difficult to bend, and the slow walking movement of the ankle caused by the weakness of the muscle strength unique to the elderly can always be accurately reproduced. In particular, since the symptoms that the toes are hardly raised during walking are forcibly caused, it is possible to satisfactorily reproduce the state in which the toes are easily tripped.

Further, since the semi-ankle fixing device 60 (61) has a non-woven fabric structure, it can be appropriately expanded and contracted, and there is no decrease in durability and adaptability even when used for a long time. You can use it with your heart.

Then, the above-described ankle half fixing devices 60 and 61
As shown in FIG. 27, by using together with the ankle load band members 80 and 81 and the knee fasteners 50 and 51, the entire foot (including the toe) is reduced due to a decrease in muscle strength peculiar to the elderly.
Can be reproduced more accurately.

As shown in FIG. 28, the wand 100 has a wand main body 101 provided in a rod shape, a grip 112 provided at an upper end of the wand main body 101, and a stopper 114 fitted at a lower end of the wand main body 101. And The cane main body 101 has a foldable multi-joint mechanism and a length adjusting mechanism. The cane main body 101 includes a first cylindrical body 102 to which a grip portion 112 is connected, a second cylindrical body 104 partially slidably fitted to the first cylindrical body 102, and a bent to the second cylindrical body 104. A third cylinder 106 that is freely connected, a fourth cylinder 108 that is flexibly connected to the third cylinder 106, and a fifth cylinder 110 that is flexibly connected to the fourth cylinder 108
It is composed of

Next, the internal structure of the cane tool 100 is shown in FIG.
9 will be described in detail. The first cylinder 102 has five
Holes 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 10
2e is provided, and the elastic member 10 is provided on the inner surface of the second cylindrical body 104.
A button mechanism is provided such that one end of 5a is attached, the button 105 is attached to the other end of the elastic member 105a, and the elastic member 105a projects the button 105 from the hole 104a provided on the inner surface in a natural state. Second cylinder 104
Is locked to the first cylinder 102 by the button 105. The button 105 can be freely protruded and recessed from the hole 104a by using the elastic force of the elastic member 105a, protruded to lock, and depressed to release the lock.
A knob 103 is attached to an end of the first cylinder 102, and when the knob 103 is turned in the direction of arrow Q2, relative sliding between the first cylinder 102 and the second cylinder 104 is possible. When the state is formed and the knob 103 is turned in the opposite direction to the direction of the arrow Q2, the knob 103 tightens the second cylindrical body 104 to disable the slide.

To extend the length of the cane body 101, the knob 103 is turned in the direction of arrow Q2 to loosen the tightening, and at the same time, the button 105 is pushed in the direction of arrow Q1 to release the lock, and the button 105 is released in the direction of arrow Q3. By sliding the button 105 in the direction from the hole 102a to the hole 102e,
Can set the lock position. When the length is contracted, the operation reverse to the above may be performed.

The joints 121, 122 and 123 of the second cylinder 104, the third cylinder 106, the fourth cylinder 108 and the fifth cylinder 110 of the cane main body 101 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 29 shows a fourth cylinder 108 as a representative of the joint.
The cross section of the joint 123 between the first and fifth cylinders 110 is shown. The upper edge of the fifth cylinder 110 has a shape that can be inserted into the lower edge of the fourth cylinder 108. The same applies to other joints. A fixing member 10 for fixing each end of the rubber band 116 is provided inside the second cylindrical body 104 and the fifth cylindrical body 110.
4b, 110b are provided, and each joint 121, 122, 1
The length of the rubber band 116 is set so that the rubber band 116 is extended when the 23 is inserted.

When the wand 100 is folded, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the second cylinder 104 and the third cylinder 1
06, each joint 12 between the fourth cylinder 108 and the fifth cylinder 110
At 1, 122 and 123, the rubber band 116 which has already been extended is further extended to release the fitted state (arrow W).
Around) and each bend enables a compact contraction state in the longitudinal direction. In the case of developing, the reverse operation may be performed.

Here, an example of the elderly person simulated experience by the experienced person will be described. When the user wears the kit 1 shown in FIG. 1 and walks, as shown in FIG. 31, almost no play is obtained in the movement of the ankle, so that the toe does not rise sufficiently and a load is applied to the chest. As a result, the overall posture is inclined forward, making it more difficult to raise the toes. In addition, a load is applied to the ankle so that the knee cannot be bent sufficiently, which helps to raise the toe. Originally, the back muscles were raised at an angle of about θ1, the knees were bent at an angle of about θ2, and the toes were obtained at an angle of about θ3. However, as shown in FIG. It is difficult to safely walk by reproducing the decrease in the distance. This not only raises psychological anxiety for those who are not older and does not realize such a decline in physical function, but also understands how elderly people are walking difficult That's enough experience.

In addition to such difficult walking, a decrease in hearing and visual acuity is reproduced in a simulated manner, so that psychological insecurity can be further increased. You can also get the experience of unconsciously walking. In addition, in such walking ability, it is inevitable that the necessity of the walking stick 100 can be realized.
For example, it can be a material for thinking about how important it is to be able to adjust the length to a suitable length for the person, and can contribute to technological progress. This can be said to be common to all parts of the kit 1 described above.

As described above, the kit 1 includes the pair of earplugs 10 and 11 and the pair of eyeglasses 2 for forming a visual field narrowing and a color vision change.
0, a load outerwear 30 having a weight, an elbow fixing device 40, a wrist load band member 70, a pair of gloves 90 having a three-layer structure, a knee fixing device 50, an ankle load band member 80, and footwear are fixed. Since it is embodied in combination with the half-ankle fixing device 60, it can be easily worn as it is on everyday clothing, and the movement and sensation of each part on the body is regulated or bumped from the actual clothing experience state. Thus, the gap between the image of the motion considered by the head and the actual motion can be realized as a decrease in physical function.

More specifically, since the high frequency range of the sound is cut by the earplugs 10 and 11 to make it difficult to hear, it is possible to reproduce the difficulty of hearing peculiar to presbycusis. Since the visual field narrowing and the color vision change are optically formed by the spectacles 20, it is possible to reproduce the color vision change due to cataracts, the blurred state, the narrowness of the visual field, and the dimness. And the outerwear 30 for load
For example, since a weight corresponding to the weight of the wearer is stored in the front of the camera, the posture of leaning forward with aging can be reproduced. Also, the elbow joints are set at an arbitrary angle by the elbow rest members using the elbow fixing members 40 and 41, and the elbow joints are fixed to the elbow by the string-shaped members, and the wrist and ankles are held by the wrist load band members 80 and 81 containing the weights. Since the weight is distributed around the elbow, it is possible to reproduce the slow movement of the elbow joint caused by weakening of the muscular strength ahead of the elbow. Further, the gloves 90 and 91 are formed by laminating elastic third gloves covering up to the second joint of the finger on the first and second gloves made of rubber and cloth, and the laminated structure is adhered. These sensations can be reduced in a state in which the touch, pressure, and warmth of the fingers are slightly left behind the palms and the back of the hand, and the state of the hand that makes it difficult to grasp or drop objects can be reproduced. Also, the knee fasteners 50 and 5
1 to fix the knee joint at an arbitrary angle and further attach the ankle load band members 70 and 71 containing the weight, so that it is possible to reproduce a state in which the knee joint becomes difficult to move due to a decrease in muscle strength. it can. Then, since the ankle joint is semi-fixed at an arbitrary angle using the semi-ankle fixing devices 60 and 61 from above the footwear, it is possible to reproduce a state in which the rising of the toes is restricted when walking and it is easy to trip. By using the cane 100 of the type, the wand may be necessary or unnecessary in various places such as flat ground, stairs, elevators, escalators, etc., and the deployment and folding performed each time may be performed. It can be done easily and quickly.

In this way, by restricting or blurring the movement and sensation of each part on the body, a gap between the image of the motion considered by the head and the actual motion is realized as a decrease in physical function. be able to. In particular, it can reduce the physical function of the sense of sight and hearing, and forcibly promote a decrease in judgment in life. Therefore, it is possible to simulate with a high reproducibility the deterioration of the physical function and the psychological change of the elderly.

Next, a physical function test method performed by mounting the whole or a part of the kit 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on. FIG. 32 is an external perspective view showing an example of a system for realizing the physical function test method using the kit 1, in which two types of functions, a finger function and a hand function, are exemplified as physical function test items. . The finger function test is to look at the reaction time required for the operation of pushing, pulling, and twisting with the finger, and the hand function test is to look at the reaction time required for operating the door knob, handle, and lever.

In FIG. 32, reference numeral 200 denotes a finger function inspection apparatus, which is an operation panel 200A for the user operated by the user 400 and a command operation panel 2 operated by the instructor.
00B, the operation panel 200A for the experienced person, and the command operation panel 200
And a detachable cable 200C for electrically connecting the terminals B to each other.

As shown in FIG. 32, the operation panel 200A for the user has a time display counter 210 for counting up and displaying the time required for the examination, and an on / off switch 21.
2, withdrawal handle 214, gas tap 216,
A display lamp 218 for instructing the off switch 212 by lighting and presenting the operation completion by turning off the light;
14, a display lamp 220 for instructing the operation completion by turning off the light, and a display lamp 222 for instructing the gas plug 216 by turning on the light and presenting the operation completion by turning off the light.
And a count display counter 224 for counting and displaying the number of operations of the on / off switch 212, a count display counter 226 for counting and displaying the number of operations of the drawer handle 214, and counting the number of operations of the gas tap 216. And a number-of-times display counter 228 for displaying up.

The command operation panel 200B is provided with a power switch (switch) 250 for turning on the power, as shown in FIG.
And a battery display unit 25 for displaying the battery amount on a scale.
2, a time display counter 254 for counting up and displaying the time required for the inspection, a volume SW 256 for setting the volume of the buzzer sound generated when the operation is completed, the above-described on / off switch 212, drawer handle 214, gas tap. 2
An operation command SW 258 for setting whether the operation command 28 is issued regularly or irregularly, a start SW 260 for starting an inspection, and a reset SW 262 for ending the inspection.

The command operation panel 200B is electrically connected to the cable 200C to perform input / output of signals, an input / output I / F (interface), a timer for measuring time, and a power supply by pressing the power supply switch 250. And a control unit for controlling the entire inspection.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a hand function inspection device;
This is an operation panel 300A for the user operated by the user 400
A command operation panel 300B operated by the instructor;
It consists of a detachable cable 300C for electrically connecting the operation panel 300A for the user and the command operation panel 300B.

As shown in FIG. 32, the operator panel 300A has four doors 310, 312, and 31 that can be opened and closed.
4,316 and the lever handle 31 provided on the door 310
8, a knob 320 provided on the door 312, a lever 322 provided on the door 314, a push-pull handle 324 provided on the door 316, and doors 310, 312, 314, 3
The display lamps 326, 328,
330 and 332. Indicator lamp 32
6, 328, 330, and 332 are the display lamps 21 described above.
8, 220 and 222 have the same function for turning on and off. In the operation panel 300A for the user, a door is taken as an example, focusing on the opening / closing operation.

The command operation panel 300B, as shown in FIG. 32, displays a power switch 350 for turning on the power, a battery display unit 352 for displaying the amount of battery on a scale, and a time required for the inspection. A time display counter 354, a volume switch 356 for setting the volume of a buzzer sound generated when the operation is completed, and the four doors 31 described above.
0, 312, 314, 316 by setting any one of the operation command SW 358, the start SW 360 for starting the inspection, the reset SW 362 for ending the inspection, and setting and displaying the number of operation instructions. And a display number setting / display unit 364. The internal configuration of command operation panel 300B is also the same as that of command operation panel 200B described above.

The operation panel 200A for the experienced person and the instruction operation panels 200B and 300B are respectively provided with respective display lamps and S
The operation surface on which W or the like is provided can be provided at an angle.

Next, the operation of the finger function inspection apparatus 200 will be described. FIG. 33 is a flowchart for explaining the control operation by the finger function inspection apparatus shown in FIG. The finger function inspection apparatus 200 transmits a command for finger movement to the command operation panel 2.
Cable 200C from 00B to experience panel 200A
The finger function is inspected by transmitting the information via the.

First, when the power switch 250 is pressed, power is supplied to the command operation panel 200B, and at the same time, the cable 2
Electric power is also supplied to the user console 200A via 00C. Thereby, the inspection preparation of the finger function inspection apparatus 200 is completed. At this time, the experienced person 400 puts on all or a part of the kit 1 necessary for the finger inspection and prepares for the inspection.

When the start switch 260 is pressed by the instructor in this state (step 1001), the timer starts measuring the elapsed time, and the time display counters 254 and 210 display the elapsed time (step 1002). At this time, the operation content is determined from the position where the operation command SW258 is set (step 10).
03). As a result of this determination, if the operation is a regular leftward operation toward the gas tap 216, the drawer handle 214, and the on / off switch 212, first, the display lamp 222 corresponding to the gas tap 216 is turned on (step). 100
4).

When the completion of the operation by the user 400 is detected (step 1005), the display lamp 222 is turned off, the buzzer is output at the set level, and the number of times display counter 228 is counted up by one, and the gas plug is turned on. 216, the end of the drawer handle 214, and the end of one set including the on / off switch 212 are detected (step 1).
006-1009). At this stage, since the operation of the gas stopper 216 has just been completed, the process shifts to step 1004 again, and the operation command of the next drawer 214 and the detection of the operation completion are executed. When the processing up to the on / off switch 212 is completed, one set is completed, the processing is shifted to step 1004 again, and the second set is started. In this way, when the processing up to the fifth set is completed, the measurement of the timer is stopped (step 1013).
The instructor records the time taken until the end of five sets as a reaction time.

Then, the processing shifts to step 1014, and when the reset switch 262 is pressed, the count display counter and the timer are reset (step 1015).

Also, in step 1003, ON / OFF
OFF switch 212, drawer handle 214, gas stopper 21
In the case of a regular operation to the right toward 6, the display lamp 218 corresponding to the on / off switch 212
Is turned on, and the operation instruction is sequentially transferred to the drawer handle 214 and the gas tap 216. The details of the operation are the same as those in steps 1005 to 1010 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Further, in step 1003, an on / off switch 212, a drawer handle 214, a gas stopper 2
If the operation is an irregular operation in step 16, step 1012
To perform an irregular display, and thereafter, the above-described step 100 is performed.
5 to 1010, the description is omitted.

By performing the same operation without mounting the kit 1, it is possible to objectively compare the reaction time between the normal state and the state in which the physical function is artificially reduced. . As an example, when developing an operation unit suitable for an elderly person, it can be evaluated that the greater the number of operations that can be performed within a predetermined time, the better the operability is. Since it is desirable that the operability is easy to operate with a small burden on the operation, it can be said that the apparatus is suitable for obtaining an objective evaluation. In addition, those who have experienced through such an examination can feel how much the elderly with physical function impairment is affecting their lives.

The hand function inspection device 300 also
Since the entire operation is the same as that of the finger inspection device 200, the description thereof is omitted, but the effect obtained is to perform an objective evaluation on operability as to which door is easy to open or difficult to open. it can. In particular, in the hand function test, the instructor arbitrarily sets the number of operations to give a time width so that there is a large difference in the reaction time, so the time lost in each operation is accumulated and the loss is lost. It can be considered as a large value. Thereby, a physical function can be easily evaluated by a simple examination.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the physical function of the elderly is reproduced by wearing the kit for simulating the elderly from the clothing and footwear in daily life. Since we measured the reaction time until the action of the presented content was performed by reproducing the pseudo physical function unique to the elderly, especially the physical function of the fingers, It can be objectively grasped how long the reaction time is required. In addition, the physical function unique to the elderly can be easily evaluated without a large-scale device configuration. Specifically, the battery type is used in terms of weight reduction, and it is convenient to carry. Also,
Since the operation surfaces of the command operation panel and the operation panel for the experienced person are inclined, there is a merit that both the instructor and the experienced person have excellent operability.

Further, since the completion confirmation of the finger motion is presented by turning off the light and displaying an arbitrary volume or a count, it is possible to transmit the instruction and the completion of the finger motion through the visual sense and the auditory sense to the experienced person. it can. This makes it possible to evaluate visual judgment ability, auditory judgment ability, or perceptual judgment ability.

Further, since each finger movement is instructed regularly or irregularly, regular or irregular instructions can be visually transmitted through the display lamp. As a result, an effect is obtained in which the reaction time to a regular or irregular operation instruction can be objectively evaluated.

[0078]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment described above, three types of operation units (on / off switch 212,
Drawer handle 226, gas stopper 228)
If the apparatus configuration does not become large, four or more types of operation units may be provided. Further, the number of doors of the hand function inspection device 300 may be similarly increased.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, an elderly person simulating experience kit which can be easily worn as it is on clothing and footwear in daily life is used to change the body from the actual clothing experience state. By regulating or blurring the movements and sensations of the upper parts, the gap between the image of the movement considered by the head and the actual movement is realized as a decrease in physical function, and the accompanying psychological It is possible to create a simulated experience with high reproducibility of changes, especially a pair of earplugs using a high-frequency cut filter, eyeglasses that produce visual field constriction and color vision change, and a load jacket with a weight on the front , Elbow fixing device for fixing elbow joints, Wrist or ankle load band members that allow weight to be distributed around the wrist or ankle, and a three-layer structure that differentiates the sensation between fingers and palm or back A pair of gloves, a knee anchor to fix the knee joint, a semi-ankle anchor to fix the ankle by wearing over the footwear, and all or a part of a cane with a plurality of flexible joints. Reproduces the physical function of the elderly by measuring the response until the action of the presented content is performed by reproducing the pseudo physical function peculiar to the elderly, especially the physical function of the fingers in such a state As a result, it is possible to objectively grasp how much reaction time is required under simulated physical functions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire configuration of an elderly person simulation experience kit.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a sectional structure of the earplug shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a laminated structure of the glasses shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a cross section of a main part of the load jacket shown in FIG. 1;

5 is a front view showing the configuration of the elbow fixing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining a procedure for mounting the elbow fixing device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a procedure for mounting the elbow fixing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a procedure for mounting the elbow fixing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a procedure for mounting the elbow fixing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a typical internal structure of the wrist load band member and the ankle load band member shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the glove shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing an example of wearing the glove shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of mounting the kit for experiencing an elderly person on an arm and a hand.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing the configuration of the knee fastener shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a procedure for mounting the knee fastener shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view for explaining a procedure for mounting the knee fastener shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a procedure for mounting the knee fastener shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a procedure for mounting the knee fastener shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view for explaining a procedure for mounting the knee fastener shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a procedure for mounting the knee fastener shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 21 is a side view showing the configuration of the half-ankle fixing device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is a front view of the half-ankle fixing device shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a procedure for mounting the half-ankle fixing device shown in FIG. 21.

24 is a perspective view for explaining a procedure for mounting the half-ankle fixing device shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view for explaining a procedure for mounting the half-ankle fixing device shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view illustrating a procedure for mounting the half-ankle fixing device shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing an example of mounting the kit for experiencing an elderly person on feet and ankles.

FIG. 28 is a side view showing the configuration of the wand shown in FIG.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the cane tool shown in FIG. 28.

30 is a side view for explaining a method of folding the cane tool shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is a side view showing an example of mounting the entire kit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 32 is an external perspective view showing an example of a system for implementing a physical function test method using the kit for simulating the elderly according to the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation by the finger function inspection device shown in FIG. 32;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 kit (elderly person simulation experience kit) 10,11 earplugs 20 eyeglasses 30 load outerwear 40,41 elbow fixation 50,51 knee fixation 60,61 ankle half fixation 70,71 wrist load band member 80 , 81 Ankle load band member 90, 91 Gloves 100 Walking stick 200 Hand function inspection device 200A Experiencer operation panel 200B Command operation panel 200C cable 300 Hand function inspection device 300A Experiencer inspection panel 300B Command operation panel 300C cable 621 tube -Shaped part 622 Deployment part

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toru Kunihara 1-5-20, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1-5 Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mariko Hattori 1-1-3 Shoto Eiko Building 4 1-3 Shoto, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Floor Hattori Medical Research Institute, Inc. (56) References JP-A-8-137379 (JP, A) JP-A-6-265306 (JP, A) JP-A 4-87877 (JP, U) JP-A-4 -87876 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-87875 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-40813 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-87879 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-87874 (JP, U) ) Citizenship, Ontario, Canada "THROUGH OTHER EY ES" (1990.9) pp1-54 (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A61B 5/11 A41D 1/00 A41D 13/00 A45B 3/00 G09B 9/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of resin earplugs, glasses for optically forming a visual field constriction and a change in color vision, a load outerwear in which a weight is stored on the front surface of an outerwear body, and a vicinity of an elbow and an elbow An elbow fixing device having an elbow rest member covering a joint and a string-shaped member connected to the elbow rest member, a wrist load band member having a weight stored in an annular band body, and a hand A first resin glove covering the whole, a second cloth glove covering the entire first glove, and an elasticity covering the second glove so as to cover up to the second joint of the finger. A pair of gloves having a third glove layered thereon, a knee pad having a knee pad that covers the vicinity of the knee and covering the knee joint, and a cord-shaped member connected to the knee pad, and a ring provided. So that the ankle load band member with the weight stored inside the band body and the footwear can be inserted A tubular portion that is formed in a tubular shape toward the toe and has an opening in the toe, and a rear portion that is formed upwardly from the rear portion of the tubular portion in an expanded shape and is covered and fixed after insertion of footwear. All of the kits for simulating elderly people for simulating the decline of physical function due to the elderly, comprising a semi-ankle fixing device comprising a part and a cane device having a plurality of refractible joints Or, a part of a human body, a manual operation instruction such as pushing, pulling, and twisting is presented, and a reaction time of an operation in response to the presented operation instruction is measured. Function test method using the kit.