Effect of sofa backrest inclination on muscle load during daily typical behaviors in older adults

Zhou, C, Ye, C, Huang, T and Kaner, J ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7946-7433, 2026. Effect of sofa backrest inclination on muscle load during daily typical behaviors in older adults. Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 117: 109524. ISSN 1746-8094

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Abstract

The inclination angle of a sofa backrest is crucial to user comfort and health, particularly for older adults. An inappropriate angle can lead to excessive muscle activation and increase the risk of fatigue. This study investigates the impact of different backrest inclination on muscle load in older adults by analyzing their typical daily behaviors. First, OpenPose technology was used to collect and cluster data from 2380 posture samples of older adults, identifying four typical daily behaviors(relaxation, napping, reading and smartphone use) and core postural comfort baselines. The key muscle groups involved in these behaviors were identified, including the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, gastrocnemius, and trapezius. Subsequently, 68 older adult participants were recruited to perform these four behaviors under four different backrest angles. Their electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded using the ErgoLAB sEMG wearable surface electromyography system. Integrated electromyography (iEMG) was used as the core metric to assess muscle activation intensity and intermuscular coordination patterns. Their subjective load were quantified using the Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale. Results indicated that a 110°backrest inclination was the optimal choice for older adults under four typical behaviors. This study provides critical theoretical insights for the design of intelligent aging-friendly sofas, contributing to the optimization of backrest angles to enhance comfort and overall quality of life for older adults.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Biomedical Signal Processing and Control
Creators:	Zhou, C., Ye, C., Huang, T. and Kaner, J.
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Date:	16 May 2026
Volume:	117
ISSN:	1746-8094
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.bspc.2026.109524 DOI 2578646 Other
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham School of Art & Design
Record created by:	Jeremy Silvester
Date Added:	25 Mar 2026 09:12
Last Modified:	25 Mar 2026 09:12
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55466

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