Upper Limb Muscle Activation during Vertical Farming Activities in Adults with Paraplegia and the Development of Assistive Tools

Bibliographic Data

ID22350830
AuthorsRisu Kim (0009-0006-5399-1778), Na-Yeon Yoo (0009-0005-0416-8577), Mi-Sook Jeong, Seohyun Kim (0000-0002-2119-6044), A-Young Lee (0000-0001-5719-5548), Sin-Ae Park (0000-0003-1367-8825)
Year2025
Volume28
Issue6
Pages895-906
Publication date2025-12-31
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of People, Plants, and Environment (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2508-7673 • E-ISSN: 2508-7681
PublisherKorean Society for People, Plants, and Environment (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.11628/ksppe.2025.28.6.895
OpenAlexW7123402793
LanguageEN
References cited23

Background and objective: Agro-healing activities often present accessibility challenges for people with physical disabilities (PWPs) and vertical farms may provide a potential solution. However, there are limited empirical data regarding PWPs’ activities in vertical farms. This study, which comprised two studies, investigated upper limb muscle activation using electromyography (1) during vertical farming activities and (2) during these activities using universal assistive tools.Methods: Surface electromyographic activity of the left and right anterior deltoid, biceps brachii, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris was recorded in 22 adults with paraplegia during five vertical farming tasks: sowing seeds, transplanting seedlings, transplanting developed plants (mature seedlings), harvesting, and selecting and packaging. (2) In a separate study, the same muscles were measured in 27 adults with paraplegia while performing three tasks—soaking seeding plates, sowing, and transplanting developed plants —using both traditional methods and task-specific assistive tools.Results: In all activities, activation of the left and right anterior deltoid was significantly higher than that of all other muscles (p

Biceps · Deltoid curve · Electromyography · Flexor Carpi Ulnaris · Paraplegia · Upper limb · Agriculture and Farm Safety · Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility · Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders

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