Investigation of the effect of a 15-degree tilt-in-space on the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks when the back support is reclined

Kenichi Kobara, Yasuyuki Nagata, Daisuke Fujita, Hisashi Takahashi, Hiroshi Osaka, Tadanobu Suehiro

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effect of the combination of 15° tilt-in-space and recline angles on the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks. 

[Participants and Methods] The participants were 11 healthy adult males. The parameters of the shear forces were the parallel and perpendicular forces exerted on the buttocks as measured by a force plate. The two conditions tested were T0R100-130 and T15R100-130. The tilt-in-space angles were set to 0° and 15° in the T0R100-130 and T15R100-130 conditions, respectively. The reclining angles were determined to be 100° to 130° in both conditions. 

[Results] Upon comparing the two conditions, the parallel and the perpendicular forces exerted on the buttocks in the T15R100-130 condition were significantly lower than those in the T0R100-130 condition in all positions of back support. Upon comparing the fluctuation values of the parallel and perpendicular forces, those applied in the T15R100-130 condition were significantly higher than those in the T0R100-130 condition. 

[Conclusion] These results suggest that the fluctuation of shear forces exerted on the buttocks could be decreased by using a combination of 15° tilt-in-space and reclining functions.

Access Article: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/33/11/33_2021-103/_article/-char/en

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra: All Adults Are Now Eligible for COVID-19 Booster Shots

On the heels of the FDA and CDC decisions to expand COVID-19 booster shots to all adults, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra issued following statement:
 
“All adults are now eligible for COVID-19 booster shots. After thorough review of the data, we are following the science, which shows boosters can help increase people’s protection from COVID-19 and help us reduce infections and severe outcomes. This is especially important ahead of the winter months, where we all spend more time indoors. I am grateful to the hard-working scientists at the FDA and CDC for their rigorous, independent decision-making on booster shots and their ongoing commitment to keeping us all safe.

“As President Biden has said, we are committed to using every tool at our disposal to fight the virus on our path out of the pandemic, and boosters are important for strengthening people’s protection from disease and helping us stave off a worse winter surge. We will continue to pull every lever we have to get all Americans vaccinated, but for the adults who are already vaccinated, you can get your booster six months after your second dose of either Pfizer or Moderna, or two months after your single dose of J&J. Getting a booster can help keep you—and those around you—even safer. If you are eligible, please go to vaccines.gov to find available vaccine near you and schedule your booster appointment today.”

OSHA Halts Enforcement of Emergency Temporary Standard Vaccine Mandate for Businesses with 100+ Employees

Following a November 12 order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, all activities related to the implementation and enforcement of OSHA’s COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) have been suspended.

Litigation has now been transferred to the 6^th Circuit for review following filings in multiple federal circuit courts across the country. Appointment to the 6^th Circuit Court was made by a “lottery” system for purposes of consolidation. It is likely that the case will eventually make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court for final ruling.

Should enforcement of the ETS resume, it is anticipated that OSHA will offer further clarification on medical and religious accommodations.

Readers should note that suspension of the OSHA ETS, which applies to businesses with 100+ employees, does not have any bearing on the CMS “Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final Rule with Comment Period” (IFC). Although there are lawsuits in play against the CMS rules as well, the deadline of January 4^th, 2022 for full-vaccination is still in place.

COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination IFC-6: Presentation Slides and Video

Thank you for your interest in in the COVID-19 Omnibus Vaccine Rule (IFC-6). Thursday’s stakeholder call had a limit of 10,000 participants and we exceeded that number. Please accept our apologies.

CMS has posted the presentation slides and a recording of the stakeholder call for your convenience.

To view the slides, click here.

To view the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHA0zY1aC-Y

In addition to the resources above, CMS has prepared a frequently asked questions document, available here:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cms-omnibus-staff-vax-requirements-2021.pdf