Handrails are used in various places, including public facilities, due to their easy of installation. Grasping handrails while walking can help prevent unexpected accidents such as stumbles or falls. In addition, individuals with mobility impairment frequently utilize handrails and/or a cane to assist with stair ascent. However, few studies have focused on the mechanical loads acting on handrails during cane-assisted stairs ascent. In this study, we analyzed the mechanical load acting on a stair handrail while using a cane during the stair ascent. One healthy male subject (Age: 36, height: 175.5 cm, body weight: 58 kg) participated in the experiment. Although the participant is a healthy volunteer, this study focuses on individuals with hemiplegia caused by stroke, injuries and other conditions, and the subject used a joint control support device simulate to these conditions. As a result, the subject gripped the handrail approximately 15.3% of his maximum possible gripping force on the handrail during the stair ascent without joint control, and approximately 14.5% with joint control. When using both joint control and a cane, the gripping force decreased slightly to approximately 12.8%. Regarding the mechanical loads acting on the handrail during stair ascent, only a slight difference was observed between the three conditions.
NARITA et al. (Wed,) studied this question.