Physical Burden on Caregivers Pushing Wheelchairs

Population aging is progressing rapidly in Japan. Amid this climate, while the numbers of older people are increasing, the population of people at a physically productive age and capable of providing nursing care is decreasing, bringing about a shortage of caregivers. Wheelchairs remain indispensable devices for supporting the mobility of older people who have weakened muscular strength. Research on improving the main body of wheelchairs and supporting passengers has been conducted for many years; however, there has been little research on caring for the burden of caregivers pushing wheelchairs. In the present study, we quantitatively evaluated this burden in terms of the posture assumed in pushing a wheelchair. Through this, we propose a method of reducing this burden.