SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A STATIC WEARABLE CHAIR FOR PATIENTS REQUIRING REHABILITATION: A PRELIMINARY REPORT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acceptability of using a static wearable chair for patients requiring rehabilitation. METHODS: The acceptability of use of a static wearable chair during rehabilitation was assessed via static balance and subjective evaluation of 7 healthy subjects and 3 patients during standing training. Participants performed 1 standing task in free mode (in which the knee could bend freely) and 1 in support mode (in which the user could sit on the wearable chair with the knee slightly bent) for 3 min. For balance evaluation, the skeletal coordinates were measured. For subjective evaluation, a visual analogue scale questionnaire was administered before and after each task. RESULTS: Balance assessment revealed that patients had less head sway during support, whereas subjective evaluation showed that the device support created a positive psychological state in terms of stability, comfort, satisfaction, interest in usage, and motivation for rehabilitation. However, patients reported feeling strangeness, fear, or restraint during support. CONCLUSION: The static wearable chair improved the static balance of 3 patients and created a more positive psychological state. Use of the device is considered acceptable for use with rehabilitation patients. However, patients might feel strangeness, fear, and restraint during support. Familiarization with the static wearable chair may make it more acceptable among rehabilitation patients.