Selected BPD citations: Corlett & Bishop (1997)
Ergonomics
2000 Mar;43(3):345-59
Posture, discomfort and performance in a VDT task.
Liao MH, Drury CG.
Department of Industrial Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 14260.
Improvements in workplace, working posture, and discomfort need to be justified in terms of improvements in performance. Previously, a visual inspection task has been investigated. The objective of the current study was to demonstrate the interactions between workplace, work duration, discomfort, working posture, as well as performance in a 2-h typing task. Three levels of keyboard heights were used to change working posture (e.g. joint angles and postural shifts), and thus presumably discomfort (e.g. rating of perceived discomfort and body
part discomfort), and performance (e.g. typing speed, error rate and error correction
rate). The results indicated that the hypothesized posture-comfort-performance
interrelationships were partially supported. Keyboard height had effects on working
posture adopted. As in previous studies, the rate of postural shift was a good
indication of discomfort in a VDT task. Discomfort and postural shift rate had
adverse effects on performance (e.g. error rate). However, these effects on error
rate may not be strong.
Hum Factors 1991 Apr;33(2):151-67
Work posture, workstation design, and musculoskeletal discomfort in a VDT data entry task.
Sauter SL, Schleifer LM, Knutson SJ.
Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226.
Self-report data on musculoskeletal discomfort were collected from several hundred VDT users in two agencies of a state government. Aspects of worker posture and workstation design were objectively assessed for 40 of the VDT users. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between these ergonomic variables and musculoskeletal discomfort. Effects of ergonomic factors on musculoskeletal discomfort were clearly evident in the analyses. Regression models explained up to 38‰ of the variance in discomfort at different body sites. Of special interest was that leg discomfort increased with low, soft seat pans, suggesting that postural constraint is more important than thigh compression as a risk factor for leg
discomfort in VDT work. In addition, arm discomfort increased with increases in keyboard height above elbow level, supporting arguments for low placement of the keyboard. Finally, high levels of neck and shoulder girdle discomfort observed in the study population suggest the need for further attention to the control of cervicobrachial pain syndromes in VDT work.
Applied Ergonomics 2002 Jan;33(1):1-8
Relationship between comfort and back posture and mobility in sitting-posture.
Vergara M, Page A. Dept de Tecnologia, Universitat Jaume I, Spain.
The objective of this work is to analyze the causes of lumbar discomfort while
sitting on a chair, by analyzing the relationship of lumbar curvature, pelvic
inclination and their mobilities with discomfort. An experiment has been performed with healthy subjects, in which comfort, postural and mobility parameters have been measured. Their relationship has been analyzed with multivariate analysis. Factorial analysis has been used to represent all the correlated variables measured. Logistic regression and discriminant analyses
have been used to classify discomfort/absence of discomfort. The results show that great changes of posture are a good indicator of discomfort, and that lordotic postures with forward leaned pelvis and low mobility are the principal causes of the increase of discomfort.
Spine 1989 Feb;14(2):204-9
Low-back pain and occupation. A cross-sectional questionnaire study of men in machine operating, dynamic physical work, and sedentary work.
Riihimaki H, Tola S, Videman T, Hanninen K.
LEL Employment Pension Fund, Helsinki, Finland.
The frequency of sciatic pain, lumbago, and nonspecific low-back pain (LBP) and
factors related to these symptoms were determined among men occupied in machine
operating (541 longshoremen and 311 earthmover operators), dynamic physical work
(696 carpenters), and sedentary work (674 municipal office workers). Sciatic
pain was more common among machine operators and carpenters than among office
workers, and also more frequent among machine operators than among carpenters.
The occupational differences were considerably smaller with regard to lumbago
and nonspecific LBP. In multivariate analysis, occupation, age, reported back
accidents, and postural load showed significant independent effects on the occurrence
of sciatic pain. Allowing for other risk indicators, the relative risk was 1.3
contrasting machine operators with both office workers and carpenters, but carpenters
had no excess risk as compared with office workers.
Hum Ergol (Tokyo) 1993 Jun;22(1):21-7
Optimum handle height for an animal-drawn blade harrow.
Gite LP.
Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Nabibagh, Bhopal, India.
A blade harrow is a tillage implement commonly used by the farmers of Central
and Western India. The handle is one of the main components of a blade harrow
and its height has an influence on operator’s comfort as well as work performance.
Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the optimum handle height
for an animal-drawn blade harrow. Two experiments were conducted with four male
subjects to study postural discomfort and physiological reactions separately
at six handle heights. Downward force applied by the operator on handle, and
depth and speed of operation were also recorded.
The lowest postural discomfort was noticed at handle height equal to 1.0 metacarpale III
height. Here, the overall discomfort rating was 2.4 on an eight point psychophysical
rating scale (0 = no discomfort, 7 = extreme discomfort) and the body part discomfort
score was 16.3 (the maximum being 53.8 at working height equal to 1.6 metacarpale III
height). The mean heart rate and oxygen consumption at this handle height were
103.9 beats/min and 0.536l/min, respectively. Considering the data of postural
discomfort and also of heart rate and oxygen consumption, the optimum handle
height for the animal-drawn blade harrow worked out to be equal to 1.0 metacarpale III
height, i.e. 637 to 732 mm (5th and 95th percentile values respectively, of metacarpale III
height of Indian agricultural workers).
Sangyo Igaku 1985 Sep;27(5):308-17
[Occupational stress of assembly line female workers in confectionery work]
[Article in Japanese]
Kondo Y, Sato Y, Takashima H, Siki T, Inui S, Arachi H, Yamashita
N, Hosokawa M.
Concomitant with frequent occurrence of disorders of the neck, arm, hand and
low back among assembly-line female workers in confectionery work, there is an
increased number of patients with occupational cervicobrachial disorders
and/or low back pain. In suspicion of the close correlation between the working
conditions and development of these local disorders, a field study was undertaken.
The following are the results obtained. More than 90‰ of these assembly-line
female workers consisted of inexperienced part-time employees, mostly of middle
to old age. They were engaged in decorating conveyor-carried cakes with cream
and chocolate. The work necessitated repetitive movements of the upper limbs
and concentration of visuosensory and nervous attention in a half-sitting slouching
posture. This was considered to exert excess load on the local muscles and nervous
and sensory systems.
The causes that intensified the local symptoms as pointed out by the workers
consisted of (1) repetitive use of the arms and hands, (2) static posture during
the work and (3) sustained standing position. Complaints of low back pain were
conspicuous from the unsuitable height of a conveyor-belt. Thirty five percent
of the female workers needed medical treatment for cervicobrachial and/or
low back pain. The forced adaptation to the belt height, sustained unnatural
working posture and the imposition of forced movements seemed to be the main
factors in the onset of cervicobrachial and/or low
back pain in interrelation with working hours.
On the basis of these results, the work load on
a machine-paced assembly-line was analyzed and the necessity of improvement of
working conditions was discussed.
Scand
J Work Environ Health 1992 Jun;18(3):186-94
Design of check-out systems including laser scanners
for sitting work posture.
Hinnen U, Laubli T, Guggenbuhl U, Krueger H.
Institute of Hygiene and Applied Physiology, Federal Institute of Technology,
Zurich
Forty-six laser scanner operators were compared with 106 cashiers operating conventional
cash registers. The influence of job rotation on the two groups was evaluated,
and several design features were examined. For this purpose the prevalence of
musculoskeletal disorders was determined by means of a questionnaire and a physical
examination. In addition, a three-dimensional movement analysis system was employed.
Work postures were analyzed with the Ovako working
analysis system.
The results indicate that a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system
is achieved by combining the operation of a laser scanner with job rotation.
The study also points out the need for better equipment, including flat scanners
and smaller keyboards, and a change in the angle between the scanner and the
take-off belt running up to the cashier.
Ergonomics 1998 Dec;41(12):1832-44
Evaluation
of work-rest schedules with respect to the effects of postural workload in standing work.
Van Dieen JH, Oude Vrielink HH.
Amsterdam Spine Unit, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands.
The influence of four work-rest schedules (60-min shift-15-min break, 45-15, 30-15, 30-30) on acute effects of physical workload in the back and legs due to standing work was investigated in 12 poultry inspectors. Subjective discomfort in the legs and back, and swelling in the distal lower leg were significantly affected, with the 60-15 schedule leading to a higher postural load as compared with the other schedules. No effect on spinal shrinkage was found. It was concluded that the 60-15 schedule should be avoided. An optimal work-rest schedule considering visco-elastic deformation of the spine would probably involve frequent short breaks, whereas longer breaks would seem more effective considering leg swelling.
J Hum Ergol (Tokyo) 1992 Jun;21(1):47-55
Work stress of women in sewing machine operation.
Nag A, Desai H, Nag PK.
Ergonomics Division, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad,
India.
The study examined the work stresses of 107 women who were engaged in sewing machine operation in small garment manufacturing units. Of the three types of sewing machines (motor-operated, full and half shuttle foot-operated), 74‰ of the machines were foot-operated, where throttle action of the lower limb is required to move the shuttle of the machine. The motor-operated machines were faster than the foot-operated machines. The short cycle sewing work involves repetitive action of hand and feet. The women had to maintain a constant seated position on a stool without backrest and the body inclined forward. Long-term sewing work had a cumulative load on the musculo-skeletal structures, including the vertebral column and reflected
in the form of high prevalence of discomfort and pain in different body parts. About 68‰ of the women complained of back pain, among whom 35‰ reported a persistent low back pain. Common sewing work accident is piercing of the needle through the fingers, particularly the right forefingers. Unsatisfactory man-machine incompatibility, work posture and fatigue, improper coordination of eye, leg and hand are the major problems of the operators. The design mis-match of the work place may be significantly improved by taking women’s anthropometric dimensions in modifying the workplace, i.e. the seat surface, seat height, work height, backrest, etc.
ccup Med
1985 Apr;27(4):269-71
Relating posture to discomfort in VDT use.
Starr SJ, Shute SJ, Thompson CR.
To identify sources of discomfort in video display terminal (VDT) work stations,
the working postures of 100 telephone operators who used VDTs to retrieve directory
listings were photographed. Attempts to correlate postural angles and distances
derived from the photographs with subjective judgments of physical discomfort
reported on a questionnaire were unsuccessful. Possible explanations for the
failure of the postural parameters to predict discomfort are discussed, and the
absence of other postural data that may be appropriately applied to the specification
of VDT work stations is noted. It is concluded that recommendations for VDT work
stations that are phrased in terms of static angles and distances are
currently unsubstantiated and, thus, are not yet ready to be codified as formal
standards.
Postural differences between asymptomatic men and women and
craniofacial pain patients.
Braun BL.
Department of Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, University
of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Minneapolis.
A forward head position and rounded shoulders have been implicated in the development
or perpetuation of craniomandibular disorders. Since
women seek treatment for these problems more frequently than men, postural differences
may account for the increased incidence of symptoms in women. The purposes of
this study were (1) to compare the sagittal head and
shoulder posture of asymptomatic men and women and (2) to compare the posture
of asymptomatic and symptomatic women to determine differences in sagittal plane posture. Subjects were 20 asymptomatic men and women volunteers and nine consecutive women patients presenting for evaluation and treatment of craniomandibular pain. The subjects
were compared using a valid, reliable, computer-assisted slide digitizing system
called the Postural Analysis Digitizing System (PADS). Asymptomatic men and women
did not differ in the postural characteristics associated with craniomandibular disorders. Sagittal posture does not appear to be a gender-related factor
in these disorders. Symptomatic women, however, do display these postural characteristics
to a greater extent than asymptomatic women. Evaluation and treatment of postural
dysfunction should be included in the management of these patients.
Hum Factors 2001 Winter;43(4):529-42
Evaluating design proposals for complex systems with work domain analysis.
Naikar N, Sanderson PM.
Defence Science and Technology Organisation,
Melbourne, Australia.
In this paper we propose a new framework for evaluating designs based on work
domain analysis, the first phase of cognitive work analysis. We develop a rationale
for a new approach to evaluation by describing the unique characteristics of
complex systems and by showing that systems engineering techniques only partially
accommodate these characteristics. We then present work domain analysis as a
complementary framework for evaluation. We explain this technique by example
by showing how the Australian Defence Force used work
domain analysis to evaluate design proposals for a new system called Airborne
Early Warning and Control. This case study also demonstrates that work domain
analysis is a useful and feasible approach that complements standard techniques
for evaluation and that promotes a central role for human factors professionals
early in the system design and development process. Actual or potential applications
of this research include the evaluation of designs for complex systems.
Appl Ergon 1999
Dec;30(6):565-70
Ergonomics evaluation of a manually operated cassava chipping machine.
McNeill M, Westby A.
Department of Human Sciences, Loughborough University, Leics.,
UK. mbmcneill athotmail.com
A manually operated machine for chipping cassava was evaluated. Six farmers took
part in the study, with physiological, postural, and subjective measurements
being taken. Using the machine resulted in drudgery and postural discomfort.
Following an iterative design process and using appropriate anthropometric measurements,
an improved, adjustable prototype was developed. This was tested with the six
farmers and six novice users. It was found to reduce discomfort and physiological
strain, allowed a faster work-rate (with novice users) and was preferred by all
users. The study demonstrated how ergonomics can play
an important role in reducing drudgery and improving user satisfaction in technology
development and transfer in developing countries.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial
[Stereovideographic evaluation of the postural geometry
of healthy and scoliotic patients] [Article in French]
De la Huerta F, Leroux MA, Zabjek KF, Coillard C, Rivard CH.
Service de Chirurgie, Faculte de Medecine, Universite de Montreal, Hopital Sainte-Justine,
Quebec, Canada.
Idiopathic scoliosis principally characterised by a
deformation of the vertebral column can also be associated to postural abnormalities.
The validity and reliability of current quantitative postural evaluations has
not been thoroughly documented, frequently limited by a two dimensional view
of the patient, and do not include the whole posture of the patient. The purpose
of this study is to 1) quantify within and between-session reliability of a stereovideographic Postural Geometry (PG) evaluation and 2) to investigate the sensitivity of this technique for the postural evaluation of scoliosis patients. The PG of 14 control subjects and 9 untreated scoliosis patients were evaluated with 5 repeat trials, on two occasions. Postural geometry
parameters that describe the position and orientation of the pelvis, trunk, scapular
girdle and head were calculated based on the 3-dimensional co-ordinates of anatomical
landmarks. The mean between and within-session variability across all parameters
were 12.5 mm, 2.8° and 5.4 mm and 1.4° respectively. The patient group
was heterogeneous with some noted pathological characteristics. This global stereovideographic postural geometry evaluation appears to
demonstrate sufficient reliability and sensitivity to follow-up on the posture
of scoliosis patients.
Ergonomics 1989 Feb;32(2):211-37
Shoulder posture and localized muscle fatigue and discomfort.
Wiker SF, Chaffin DB, Langolf GD.
In many industries workers perform manual assembly tasks with hands postured
above the shoulders. Awkward shoulder and arm postures are often viewed as acceptable
given costs of workplace modification, postural exertions which are in compliance
with current design recommendations, ready availability of strong workers, and
numbers of electromyographic studies which fail to
detect significant signs of localized muscle fatigue (LMF). An experiment was
conducted to: (a) study the onset and severity of (LMF) in the shoulder when
performing a stylus-to-hole Fitts reciprocal movement task under a range of postures,
hand loads, ratios of work-to-rest, and task durations, and (b) to evaluate the
efficacy of three techniques (i.e., changes in EMG behaviour,
postural tremor, and cross-modal matching estimates) in detecting and monitoring posturally-based
LMF and discomfort in the shoulder complex. Experimental findings showed that
posturing hands above shoulder level significantly increased the risk of LMF
and postural discomfort even in light-weight manual assembly environs where postural
exertions are small, and that cross-modal matching estimates and postural tremor
were more sensitive metrics of LMF in the shoulder complex than EMG RMS voltage
and mean spectral power frequency metrics. The basis for experimental findings,
as well as potential application of LMF metrics in future postural stress investigations,
are discussed. Recommendations for workplace posture are provided for
job designers facing work height decisions in manual assembly environs.
Soz Praventivmed 1984;29(4-5):190-1
[Consequences of presbyopia for the dynamics of sight and work at a terminal] [Article
in German]
Krueger H.
For 100 persons of different age the visual charge for the accommodation was
examined by an objective procedure. Already at the age of 40 the dynamic range
of accommodation decreases. This decrease could be a reason for the loss of mobility
during work at VDUs, as it has been observed in a group of persons aged 40 to 55 years.
Int J Hum Comput Stud 1999 Aug;51(2):339-56
Cognitive systems engineering: new wine in new bottles.
Hollnagel E, Woods DD.
Riso National
Laboratory, Denmark.
This paper presents an approach to the description and analysis of complex Man-Machine
Systems (MMSs) called Cognitive Systems Engineering
(CSE). In contrast to traditional approaches to the study of man-machine systems
which mainly operate on the physical and physiological level, CSE operates on
the level of cognitive functions. Instead of viewing an MMS as decomposable by
mechanistic principles, CSE introduces the concept of a cognitive system: an
adaptive system which functions using knowledge about itself and the environment
in the planning and modification of actions.
Operators are generally acknowledged to use a model of the system (machine)
with which they work. Similarly, the machine has an image of the operator. The
designer of an MMS must recognize this, and strive to obtain a match between
the machine’s image and the user characteristics on a cognitive level, rather
than just on the level of physical functions. This article gives a presentation
of what cognitive systems are, and of how CSE can contribute to the design of
an MMS, from cognitive task analysis to final evaluation.
Mov Disord 1999 Mar;14(2):288-94
Three-dimensional measurement of essential tremor.
Matsumoto JY, Dodick DW, Stevens LN, Newman RC, Caskey PE, Fjerstad W.
Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester,
Minnesota 55905, USA.
A mechanical linkage device was used to measure the three-dimensional position
of the fingertip during a postural task. Thirty patients with essential tremor
were tested simultaneously with the device, uniaxial accelerometry, and clinical
tremor measures. Eighteen patients were tested again 16+/-4 days later. The device
accurately recorded the three-dimensional behavior of essential tremor. Measures
from the device included mean three-dimensional velocity, mean three-dimensional
dispersion, and power of the three-dimensional acceleration. The logarithms of
these measures were strongly correlated (r = .841-.984) with all clinical measures
including self-reported tremor disability. The device measures were reliable
within and between testing sessions (intraclass correlation
coefficients = .971-.977). The performance of the device was superior to uniaxial accelerometry,
most likely as a result of the three-dimensional nature of the measurements.
We conclude that essential tremor can be validly and reliably quantified
during a postural task providing the recording device records movement in three
dimensions and the measurements are logarithmically
transformed.
Gig Tr Prof Zabol 1989;(10):4-7
[Hygienic assessment of working conditions for schoolchildren at video terminals
during their academic studies] [in Russian]
Gel’tishcheva EA, Galaktionova TI, Dedenko II, Orlova TV, Fedorova NE.
Proceeding from the studies on the conditions of schoolchildren’s work with video
terminals during school lessons there was developed a complex of hygienic measures
aimed at reduction of impact of factors specified by the work with video terminals
and by anthropogenic pollution. Requirements to design of classrooms equipped
by video terminals were listed and optimal and permissible ergonomic characteristics
of the workplace established along with air temperature and humidity.
Ergonomics 1994 Apr;37(4):703-24
The effects of computer interface design on human postural dynamics.
Karwowski W, Eberts R, Salvendy G, Noland S.
Center for Industrial Ergonomics, University of Louisville,
KY 40292.
The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of human-computer
interface design on postural dynamics, i.e., changes in working postures and
postural discomfort exhibited by operators of the computer-based remote bar coding
(RBC) system. In addition, the effects of different work/rest schedules on postural
dynamics were evaluated.
Twelve subjects participated in the laboratory experiment, which consisted
of twelve scenarios utilizing two cognitive task requirement factors, i.e., (1)
information presentation mode, defined through the letter image preview on the
computer screen (none or one preview image); and (2) the information processing
mode, defined through the specific keying method (key all characters or key 5
digits only). The third experimental factor was the work/rest schedule (50 min
work/10 min break, 2 h of work/15 min break, or flexible schedule).
The results showed that requirements of human-computer interface design significantly
affected the operators’ postural dynamics. It was concluded that not only the
physical, organizational, or psychosocial work environment characteristics, but
also the cognitive task characteristics are important for assessment of postural
effects in the VDT work. The relationship between interface design, mental workload
and postural dynamics should be carefully considered in future studies aimed at optimizing the human-computer data entry tasks.
Occup Med 1990 Jan;32(1):52-7
Ergonomic deficiencies: I. Pain at work.
Ayoub MA.
Department of Industrial Engineering, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh 27695.
This is Part I of a three-part series that examines various aspects of ergonomic
deficiencies at work. This paper deals with pain at work and the association
between such pain or discomfort and a poorly designed workplace or poorly structured
job. Neglect of ergonomic principles brings inefficiency and pain to the workplace.
An ergonomically deficient workplace may not cause immediate pain, because the
human body has a great capacity for adapting to a poorly designed workplace or
structured job. However, in time, the compounding effect of job and/or workplace
deficiencies will surpass the body’s coping mechanisms, causing the inevitable:
physical symptoms, emotional stress, low productivity, and poor quality of work.
J Vestib Res 1996 Nov-Dec;6(6):439-53
Effects of different treatments on postural performance in patients with cervical
root compression. A randomized prospective study assessing the importance of the
neck in postural control.
Persson L, Karlberg M, Magnusson
M.
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Patients with cervical root compression were used as a "model" to investigate
the possible importance of neck disorders and cervical sensory information in
postural control. We assessed postural performance with posturography before
and after treatment in 71 consecutive patients with MRI-verified cervical root
compression without medullary compression. The patients were randomized to surgery
(n = 22), physiotherapy (n = 24) or treatment with cervical collars (n = 25).
There were no differences in postural performance or pain intensity between
the groups before treatment. After treatment, the surgery group manifested significant
improved postural performance and reduced neck pain scores, as compared to the
two conservative treatment groups, and their postural performance had improved
to the same level manifested by healthy controls. The conservative treatment
groups manifested no consistent significant changes in postural performance or
pain scores. Decreased muscular tension due to reduction of cervical pain after
surgery and normalization of cervical proprioception are suggested as possible explanations of the improved postural
control.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled
Trial
Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1988;57(3):291-304
Measurement and evaluation of postural load in occupational work situations.
Westgaard RH.
National Institute of Occupational Health, Department of Physiology, Oslo, Norway.
This paper describes methodological considerations and problems experienced when
quantifying muscle load in occupational work situations. A system for the quantification
of the health effect of prolonged muscle load on the shoulder muscles is also
described. Combined measurements of postural load and health effects can be used
in a quantitative evaluation of postural load as a risk factor for the development
of musculo-skeletal injury. Postural muscle load may be quantified by electromyography
or by biomechanical methods. Problems associated with quantitative electromyography
are described, including selective inhibition of functional compartments in a
muscle. This phenomenon results in other compartments coming under proportionally
higher strain, disturbing the force-EMG calibration curves. It is suggested that
fatigue measurements, indicated by a shift in the centre frequency of the EMG
frequency spectrum, are not easily used for evaluation of vocational EMG recordings
if the purpose is to indicate the risk of occupational muscle injury. Load measurements
using biomechanical methods may provide an acceptable alternative to electromyography,
but more work is required before these methods can be used on a routine basis.
Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med 1990 Mar-Apr;24(2):24-5
[Experimental evaluation of displacement of body mass center in the man-chair
system during head tilt] [Article in Russian]
Demirchoglian GG, Konakhevich IuG, Petliuk VKh, Peshkov RV, Khlomenok PN, Sholpo LN, Brazhnik VI.
Experimental data concerning the effect of head shifts on the displacement of
body mass center in the man-chair system were obtained. The data helped to derive
a quantitative evaluation of the relationship between body mass center displacements
and head shifts. This relationship can be used to assess the displacement of
body mass center in the man-chair system in response to dynamic effects for which
kinematic parameters of head shifts can be measured by well-known methods such
as time lapse photography and mathematical modelling.
Arch Pediatr 1994 Dec;1(12):1085-92
[Pain symptomatology in premature infants] [Article
in French]
Debillon T, Sgaggero B, Zupan V, Tres F, Magny JF, Bouguin MA, Dehan M.
Service de reanimation neonatale, hopital Antoine-Beclere, Clamart, France.
BACKGROUND--Assessing pain in premature babies is difficult because of their
limited capacities to communicate. The aim of this study was to recognize manifestations
of acute and chronic pain or, on the contrary, of well-being state, and to validate
a "pain scale" for premature babies.
POPULATION AND METHODS--Premature babies less than 28 days of age (most of
them less than 32 weeks of gestational age) were carefully observed during their
stay in a neonatal intensive care unit by nurses, physicians, physiotherapists
and a psychiatrist. All signs and symptoms were collected during situations a
priori painful and compared to the behavior of the well-being states. Photographs
and videofilms were also analysed.
RESULTS--Five items, scored from 0 to 4, were established, based on facial
activity, movements and posture of the body, quality of sleep, relationship with
the examiner, and efficacy of measures of comforting. These items permitted to
describe four patterns corresponding to 1: well-being status, 2: acute pain,
3 and 4: durable pain or discomfort either through clinical picture of irritability
or motionlessness. A strict concordance of scores for the five items between
the different examiners was found in 80‰ of the 50 babies studied. The sensibility
of the scale (studied in 12 babies) appeared accurate (77‰ of variation of the
scores during hospitalization).
CONCLUSIONS--An objective assessment of pain and discomfort in premature
babies can be made using a "pain scale" useful for care and therapeutic
decisions.
Ergonomics 1992 May-Jun;35(5-6):677-92
Analysis of sitting comfortability of driver’s seat by contact shape.
Yamazaki N.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and
Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan.
In order to evaluate sitting comfort qualitatively, a flexible and very thin
sensor was developed to measure the contact shape between a seated man and the
seat surface. Each tape has twenty strain gauges on it at regular intervals,
and the fourteen tape sensors were arranged on the bottom and back surface of
the experimental driver’s seat. The contact shapes and postures in thirty two
male drivers were measured with two types of seat cushion and sitting posture:
free and recommended. Sensory evaluation was made for each experimental condition.
The results of the interrelation between the characteristics of the surface
deformation, the parameters of body build, sitting posture and feeling of comfort
shows that the comfort of each morphological fitting does not correspond to one
special and single parameter from those physical factors, but is represented
by a function with many parameters related to the deformation, posture and body
build. By using these relations, a sensory model for the prediction of the sitting
comfort was constructed.
Appl Ergon 2001 Aug;32(4):357-66
LUBA:
an assessment technique for postural loading on the upper body based on joint motion discomfort and maximum holding time.
Kee D, Karwowski W.
Department of Industrial Engineering, Keimyung University, Taegu, South Korea.
This paper presents a technique for postural loading on the upper body assessment
(LUBA). The proposed method is based on the new experimental data for composite
index of perceived discomfort (ratio values) for a set of joint motions, including
the hand, arm, neck and back, and the corresponding maximum holding times in
static postures. Twenty male subjects participated in the experiment designed
to measure perceived joint discomforts. The free modulus technique of the magnitude
estimation method was employed to obtain subjects’ discomforts for varying joint
motions. The developed postural classification scheme was based on the angular
deviation levels from the neutral position for each joint motion. These were
divided into groups with the same degree of discomforts based on the statistical
analysis. Each group was assigned a numerical discomfort score relative to the
perceived discomfort value of elbow flexion, which exhibited the lowest level
among all joint motions investigated in this study, and, therefore, was set as
a reference point. The criteria for evaluating stresses of working postures were
proposed based on the four distinct action categories, in order to enable practitioners
to apply appropriate corrective actions. The proposed scheme can be used for evaluating and redesigning static working postures in industry.
Ergonomics 1994 May;37(5):807-15
Comment on:
Ergonomics. 1992 Mar;35(3):253-9.
Ergonomic guidelines for the prevention of discomfort of static
postures based on endurance data.
Dul J, Douwes M, Smitt P.
TNO Institute of Preventive Health Care, Department of Posture and Movement Research, Leiden, The Netherlands.
This communication aims to show why guidelines to prevent discomfort of static
postures can be based on endurance data, and to give insight in the aim and scope
of a recent ’work-rest model for static postures’ (WR model). The paper is a
response to a recent paper of Mathiassen and Winkel (1992) who
questioned the usefulness of discomfort and endurance data, and of the WR model
for developing guidelines for static postures. It is concluded that discomfort
can be considered as an independent evaluation variable for working postures,
anchored in European legislation. Discomfort can be predicted from the ’remaining
endurance capacity’ (REC) because of a known relationship between the REC and
discomfort as measured with the Borg rating scale. The WR model estimates at
group level the mean REC of a static posture with or without an external force
during and immediately after a work-rest schedule. The WR model is meant to assist
practitioners in the assessment and optimization of static postures (and external
forces) and work-rest schedules in order to avoid high levels of discomfort.
J Back Musculoskeletal Rehabil 1998;11(2):89-130
The origin and relief of common pain.
Irvin RE.
Section of Osteopathic Principles and Practices, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, USA.
Where pain of the musculoskeletal system is present, commonly, this pain is without
objective evidence of disease, trauma, or disorder. Absence of an apparent cause
for common pain prompts the consideration of mechanical stress as a contributing
factor. The principal stress of the musculoskeletal system is postural. By posture
it is usually meant the distribution of body mass with respect to gravity. Past
efforts to predict chronic pain by postural analysis or to reduce such pain by
strengthening, conscious control or splinting of posture has had marginal success.
Past failure to relate posture to pain is attributable to (1) ubiquity of sub-optimal
posture that precludes clinical comparison to those with optimal posture; (2)
presupposition that the causal relation between posture and pain is of the observational
class of causality rather than the manipulable kind;
(3) a definition of posture that is too narrow to complete the picture; and (4)
inadequate methods for reduction of postural asymmetry to an extent that is sufficient
to elicit a significant and enduring effect on sub-optimal posture and related
pain. Posture can be defined more broadly as the stance of the body performing
within the boundaries of posture and which is mediated by the Postural Control
System towards greatest stability (Fx. 1).
The stance of the body is the arrangement of the body with respect to gravity
and other accelerative forces. The postural boundaries are the set of forces
that resist acceleration and thereby provide the limits within which one functions
stably, and this resistance is currently approximated by six principal sources
of resistance to acceleration: viscous, elastic, neuromuscular, rigid, viscoelastic,
and inertial. The Postural Control System is located in the brainstem and modulates
body stance to more economically and stably effect and resist acceleration. The
rigid boundaries can be so with respect to compressive, tractive,
or tensile qualities that permits three kinds of motion: translation, rotation
and oscillation. An example of postural boundaries that are rigid with respect
to compression and tensile character are the bones that bear weight. In contrast,
ligaments provide a tractive rigidity and musculotendons a
relatively elastic boundary. Joint surfaces are considered boundaries that are
rigid but not perfectly so.
Of fundamental importance are those joints that arc lowermost in a column
of the musculoskeletal system namely: (1) the feet and ankles that support the
entirety of the musculoskeletal system and; (2) the base of the sacrum that supports
the vertebral spine. This broadened definition of posture leads to a greatly
enhanced manipulability of posture in the upright stance and alleviation of more
than two-thirds of common pain by the coherent combination of (1) manual manipulation
to reduce somatic dysfunction; (2) foot orthotics to
optimize the amplitude of the arches of the feet and vertically align the ankle;
(3) a heel lift to level the sacral base; (4) and a group of therapeutic postures
configured to minimize restriction of peripheral soft tissue reflective of the
earlier posture, all aimed to optimize posture.
Mediated by the postural control system, manipulation of postural boundaries
accordingly modifies the structure and function of the entire musculoskeletal
system. Typically, this relief is maintained by foot orthotic and
heel lift alone without maintenance by manual manipulation, medication,
or exercise.
Int Arch Occup Environ
Health 1987;59(4):323-36
Whole-body vibration and disorders of the spine.
Dupuis H, Zerlett G.
This cross-sectional study is based on interviews and medical examinations of
352 operators of earth-moving machines who had been exposed to whole-body vibrations
for at least three years. In addition, available X-rays showing different parts
of the spines of 251 machine operators who had been exposed to vibration for
at least ten years were used for evaluation. One hundred and forty-nine of the
operators were asked about discomfort occurring immediately after an eight-hour
work shift. The group of exposed persons was compared with a control group of
215 non-exposed persons. The percentage of subjects reporting spinal discomfort
was much higher for the exposed group than for the non-exposed group. 68.7‰ of
the operators complained of spinal discomfort in the lumbar spine, 6.8‰ in the
thoracic column and 18.2‰ in the cervical column. The discomfort reported immediately
after an eight-hour exposure to whole-body vibration was highly age-dependent.
The epidemiological study resulted in an objective conformation of the spinal
discomfort reported, 2/3 of which were related by the operators to the lumbar
syndrome. Lumbar syndrome (81‰) accounted for by far the highest number of spinal
disorders. Examinations of the operators with at least ten years of exposure
to whole-body vibrations showed that morphological changes in the lumbar spine
occur earlier and much more frequently than in the case of non-exposed persons.
Problems of etiology and pathogenesis are discussed.
Med Inform (Lond) 1997 Oct-Dec;22(4):349-58
Cognition-based development and evaluation of ergonomic user interfaces for medical image processing
and archiving systems.
Demiris AM, Meinzer HP.
Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (German
Cancer Research Center), Div. 0805 Medical and Biological Informatics, Heidelberg,
Germany.
Whether or not a computerized system enhances the conditions of work in the application
domain, very much demands on the user interface. Graphical user interfaces seem
to attract the interest of the users but mostly ignore some basic rules of visual
information processing thus leading to systems which are difficult to use, lowering
productivity and increasing working stress (cognitive and work load). In this
work we present some fundamental ergonomic considerations and their application
to the medical image processing and archiving domain. We introduce the extensions
to an existing concept needed to control and guide the development of GUIs with
respect to domain specific ergonomics. The suggested concept, called Model-View-Controller
Constraints (MVCC), can be used to programmatically implement ergonomic constraints,
and thus has some advantages over written style guides. We conclude with the
presentation of existing norms and methods to evaluate user interfaces.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1995
Mar;76(3):218-24
Postural aberrations in low back pain.
Christie HJ, Kumar S, Warren SA.
Department of Rehabilitation Services, St. Boniface General
Hospital, Winnipeg, Canada.
The purpose of this study was to measure and describe postural aberrations in
chronic and acute low back pain in search of predictors of low back pain. The
sample included 59 subjects recruited to the following three groups: chronic,
acute, or no low back pain. Diagnoses included disc disease, mechanical back
pain, and osteoarthritis. Lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, head position, shoulder position, shoulder height, pelvic tilt, and leg length were measured using a photographic technique. In standing, chronic pain patients exhibited an increased lumbar lordosis compared with controls (p < .05). Acute patients had an increased thoracic kyphosis and a forward head position compared with controls (p < .05). In sitting, acute patients had an increased thoracic kyphosis
compared with controls (p < .05). These postural parameters identified discrete postural profiles but had moderate value as predictors of low back pain. Therefore other unidentified factors are also important in the prediction of low back pain.
Phys Ther 1993 May;73(5):316-9
Converting Chattecx Balance System vertical reaction force measurements to center of pressure excursion measurements.
Grabiner MD, Lundin TM, Feuerbach JW.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to determine the precision
with which the postural stability data generated by the Chattecx Balance
System could be converted to center of pressure displacement measurements. SUBJECTS.
Two men and one woman were selected to represent a broad range of body sizes
(age = 23-33 years, height = 154-175 cm, weight = 45-80 kg). METHODS. The Balance
System load cells were placed on a force plate, and data were collected simultaneously
from the Balance System and the force plate while the subjects performed standardized
postural tasks. Linear regression analysis was used to characterize the relationship
between the estimated center of pressure from the Balance System and the calculated
center of pressure from the force plate. RESULTS. Significant linear relationships
between the center of pressure estimated from the Balance System and the center
of pressure calculated from the force plate were determined (all R2 values = > .90).
CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION. System data can be converted, and the methods recommended for use with the Balance System are described.
Spine 1985 Dec;10(10):872-7
An epidemiologic study of the relationship between postural asymmetry in the teen
years and subsequent back and neck pain.
Dieck GS, Kelsey JL, Goel VK, Panjabi MM, Walter SD, Laprade MH.
This epidemiologic study examined the relationship between postural discrepancies
in the posterior plane and the subsequent development of back and neck pain.
The study population comprised women who were members of the graduating classes
of 1957, 1958, and 1959 of an eastern U.S. women’s college. Information on postural
asymmetry was gathered from two sources: (1) measurements made from posture pictures
taken early in the freshman year of college and obtained from each woman in the
study, and (2) subjective evaluations made by the physical education department
faculty at the time of examination. Information on the development of back and
neck disorders and associated risk factors during the subsequent 25 years was
obtained by a postal questionnaire. Three parameters of postural asymmetry were
examined from the posture picture measurements: elevation of one shoulder, elevation
of one hip, and deviation of the spine from the midline of the body. None of
these parameters nor the physical education department evaluations was associated with a subsequent report of low-back pain, mid-back pain, or neck pain.
Ann Occup Hyg 1993 Dec;37(6):615-22
An evaluation of ergonomic improvements in the woodworking industry.
Burdorf A, van Duuren L.
Institute of Occupational Health, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
A survey was conducted among operators in the woodworking industry to study the
effect of machine characteristics on exposure to mechanical load. The 28 subjects
worked in five small factories and operated four-sided planing machines.
Work postures and external load were analysed with the Ovako working posture analysis system. Among the operators awkward postures regularly occurred, such as a bent or twisted back
(25‰), outstretched arms (25‰) and a twisted head (28‰). The average percentage of time spent with lifting and carrying wooden boards and planks was 41‰. The
statistical analysis indicated that beneficial effects on postural load were
achieved by various ergonomic improvements, such as rising platforms and roller
paths. Work time with external load was reduced by 10‰ as a result of the presence
of rising platforms and tables. The type of analysis presented may guide towards
the improvement of work conditions of operators of planing machines
by reducing mechanical load on the body.
Ann Chir 1996;50(8):631-6
[3-D evaluation of posture in normal and scoliotic adolescents]
[Article in French]
Le Blanc R, Labelle H, Poitras B, Rivard CH, Kratzenberg J.
Centre de Recherche, Hopital Sainte-Justine, Universite de
Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
We have developed a new clinical evaluation of the human posture based on 3D
digitization with magnetic fields. This 3D postural evaluation displays the relative
position of the head, the shoulders and the pelvis. The main purpose is to identify
key morphological parameters in order to demonstrate significant differences
between 2 groups of subjects. Nineteen adolescent control subjects and 22 patients
with AIS have been evaluated. The t-tests showed significant statistical differences
between the 2 groups for every measurements studied. The 2 most significant were
tilt of the shoulders in the postero-anterior plane and the angle of the shoulder-blades vs the shoulders in the transverse plane (p < 0.0005). These results support the value of the
3D postural evaluation as a clinical tool for the evaluation of AIS. This technique
is non-invasive and could be used for the clinical follow-up in order to evaluate the postural evolution in scoliotic patients.
Appl Ergon 1997 Apr;28(2):139-4
Measurement variability in upper extremity posture among VDT users.
Ortiz DJ, Marcus M, Gerr F, Jones W, Cohen S.
Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA.
Hand and arm posture while keying is frequently mentioned as a risk factor for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) among video display terminal (VDT) operators. However, many epidemiologic studies have not included measures of posture of VDT operators, in part, because of the difficulty of assessing posture rapidly and reliably among large numbers of subjects. For a single measure of posture to be useful for estimating dose-response relationships between posture and risk of UEMSDs, the within-subject variability of the postural measure must be smaller than the between-subject variability of the postural measure. In addition, the measure must be stable over time. We estimate the ratio of between- to within-subject variability for manual goniometry by measuring six postural angles on six occasions among 19 subjects using VDTs. For each postural angle, between-subject variability was substantially and statistically significantly larger than within-subject variability. Stability of postural measures over time was sufficient to justify a single postural measurement in epidemiologic studies. We conclude that manual goniometry can provide useful information about upper extremity posture among VDT users for use in epidemiologic studies of UEMSDs.
Phys Ther 1992 Jun;72(6):425-31
Incidence of common postural abnormalities in the cervical, shoulder, and thoracic regions and their association with pain in two age groups of healthy subjects.
Griegel-Morris P, Larson K, Mueller-Klaus K, Oatis CA.
Philadelphia Institute for Physical Therapy, PA 19104.
The purposes of this study were to identify the incidence of postural abnormalities
of the thoracic, cervical, and shoulder regions in two age groups of healthy
subjects and to explore whether these abnormalities were associated with pain.
Eighty-eight healthy subjects, aged 20 to 50 years, were asked to answer a pain
questionnaire and to stand by a plumb line for postural assessment of forward
head, rounded shoulders, and kyphosis. Subjects were divided into two age groups:
a 20 – 35-year-old group (mean = 25, SD = 63) and a 36 – 50-year-old group
(mean = 47, SD = 2.6). Interrater and intrarater reliability (Cohen’s Kappa coefficients) for postural assessment were established at .611 and .825, respectively. Frequency counts revealed postural abnormalities were prevalent (forward head = 66‰, kyphosis = 38‰, right rounded shoulder = 73‰, left rounded shoulder = 66‰). No relationship was found between the severity of postural abnormality and the severity and frequency of pain. Subjects with more severe postural abnormalities, however, had a significantly increased incidence
of pain, as determined by chi-square analysis (critical chi 2 = 6, df =
2, P < .05). Subjects with kyphosis and rounded shoulders had an increased
incidence of interscapular pain, and those with a forward-head
posture had an increased incidence of cervical, interscapular,
and headache pain.
Appl Ergon 1999 Apr;30(2):99-107
Interface pressure and the prediction of car seat discomfort.
Gyi DE, Porter JM.
Department of Design and Technology, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK.
The technique of interface pressure measurement has generated considerable interest
in the automotive industry as a method, which could be used to predict driver
discomfort during the development of prototype seat designs. Two repeated measures
experiments were carried out to evaluate the practical application of the technique.
The variables of foam density and posture were used to create discomfort, the
whole emphasis of the work being to generate results with real-world applicability.
A clear, simple and consistent relationship between interface pressure and driving
discomfort was not identified. Future studies using this technique should provide
information regarding such factors as gender, body mass, anthropometric data,
posture and foam hardness due to the confounding nature of these variables. Publication
Types: Clinical Trial
Ergonomics 1991 Jul;34(7):909-18
Postural load and back pain of workers in the manufacturing of prefabricated concrete elements.
Burdorf A, Govaert G, Elders L.
Institute of Occupational Health, Medical Faculty, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
In a population of male workers in a concrete manufacturing plant (n = 114), the occurrence of back pain was studied in relation to a control group of maintenance engineers (n = 52). The prevalence of back pain in the 12 months preceding the investigation was 59‰ among the concrete workers, and 31‰ among the controls. After excluding persons with existing back pain before starting work in the present factory, a comparison between concrete workers and maintenance engineers showed an aged-adjusted odds ratio for back pain of 2.80 (1.31-6.01). Postural load
of workers in both plants were measured using the Ovako Working
posture Analysis System. During 4009 observations working postures concerning
the back, lower limbs, and lifting activities were recorded. The average time
spent working with a bent and/or twisted position of the back was found to contribute
to the prevalence of back pain. The results of this study also suggest that exposure
to whole-body vibration, due to operating vibrotables,
is a second risk factor for back pain.
Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2002;8(2):259-80
The relationships between biomechanical and postural stresses, musculoskeletal
injury rates, and perceived body discomfort experienced by industrial workers: a field study.
Stuebbe P, Genaidy A, Karwowski W, Kwon YG, Alhemood A.
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Program, University of Cincinnati, OH 45221-0072, USA.
A combination of archival, subjective, and observational field data collection
methods were used to investigate the relationship between biomechanical and postural
stresses, and the resulting physical strain experienced by industrial workers
of a packaging plant. Assessment of physical strain was based on the number and
incidence rate of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-reportable
injuries that were recorded over a period of 27 months, and based on the self-reported
ratings of perceived body discomfort. Both the biomechanical and postural stresses
correlated with the musculoskeletal injury rate. The results illustrate the usefulness
of postural and biomechanical analyses for assessing the risk of injury in industry.
Br J
Dis Chest 1986 Jul;80(3):249-5
Practice,
problems and compliance with postural drainage: a survey of chronic sputum producers.
Currie DC, Munro C, Gaskell D, Cole PJ.
Fifty outpatients with chronic respiratory disease, who had previously been requested
to perform regular postural drainage, were asked to complete a questionnaire
designed to assess their usual practice of postural drainage, their impression
of its value and their problems and compliance with it. The group performed a
median of one session of postural drainage lasting 15 minutes daily, increasing
to two sessions lasting nearly 40 minutes daily during exacerbations of chest
symptoms. Seventeen patients had difficulty finding time for postural drainage,
15 found it distasteful and in 17 postural drainage caused discomfort or pain.
Twenty-seven patients were judged to be performing inadequate postural drainage,
despite individual initial instruction and regular follow-up in a respiratory
outpatient clinic. Other diverse reasons for poor compliance revealed by the
survey are discussed and recommendations made to encourage
improved compliance.
Res Q Exerc Sport 1993 Dec;64(4):385-92
Ideokinetic imagery as a postural development technique.
Fairweather MM, Sidaway B.
Department of HPERD at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.
In two experiments we examined the effectiveness of ideokinetic imagery
and flexibility combined with abdominal strength training as methods for improving
the spinal angles of lordosis and kyphosis and reducing
low back pain. Ideokinetic imagery is a postural development technique that
involves using movement images to gain subcortical control
over the spinal musculature. Experiment 1 investigated the effectiveness of these
treatments for males with a previous history of low back pain. Findings indicated
that only ideokinetic imagery had a positive effect
on the spinal column and low back pain. Experiment 2 extended these findings
by investigating males and females using a noninvasive video analysis technique
to record changes in spinal angles. This study further supports the effectiveness
of ideokinetic imagery as a postural development technique
in males with acute spinal angles. In these subjects spinal angles improved significantly,
and the subjects reported complete cessation of low back pain. This research
supports the use of ideokinetic imagery as an inexpensive
and noninvasive technique to improve poor posture and reduce low back pain.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled
Trial
Swed Dent J 1990;14(2):71-80
Cervical pain and discomfort among dentists. Epidemiological, clinical
and therapeutic aspects. Part 1. A survey of pain and discomfort.
Rundcrantz BL, Johnsson B, Moritz U.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Lund, Sweden.
The aim of the investigation was to study the frequency of pain, ache and discomfort
in the musculoskeletal system among dentists, above all concerning headache,
cervical and shoulder pain and further, to find possible correlations between
these symptoms and various working positions and different working actions. A
questionnaire was answered by 359 dentists (90.8‰). Of those who answered the
questionnaire 72‰ had pain and discomfort from either the neck, shoulders or
headaches. Only 60 dentists had no pain or discomfort. Concerning the male dentists,
the investigation revealed that younger dentists had pain and discomfort in the
neck, shoulders and headaches to a greater extent than the older dentists. Younger
female dentists had a significantly higher frequency of pain and discomfort in
the neck and headaches than older colleagues. The results showed that dentist
who positioned the patient carefully so that a direct view gained had a significantly
lower frequency of headaches. Of the 359 dentists 55‰ mostly used the mirror
to facilitate a direct view. From the answers it was clear that those dentists who did not have discomfort in the upper locomotor system used the mirror more often than those who
did suffer discomfort.
Management issues in automating medical systems.
Brown B, Harbort B, Kaplan B.
The nontechnical aspects of medical computing systems are as important as the technical. In order to understand why, it is important to consider the social context of systems, the human engineering necessary for medical systems to work, and the specifics of the man-machine interface. It is also necessary to plan for the change which comes with any new method. This paper contains a discussion of these topics, concluding with a set of guidelines for
change-management which we feel organizes the data of years of experience into a systematic approach.
Muscle Nerve 1999 May;22(5):635-9
Assessing muscle stiffness from quiet stance in Parkinson’s disease.
Lauk M, Chow CC, Lipsitz LA, Mitchell SL, Collins JJ.
Center for BioDynamics, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
In previous studies, we developed a postural stiffness measure that is extracted
from foot center-of-pressure (COP) trajectories from quietly standing individuals
and is based on an analytical mechanical model of posture control. Here we apply
this measure to patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). We correlated the postural
stiffness measure with different clinical rating scales, obtained from patients.
Kendall’s rank correlation was highly significant between the stiffness measure
and rigidity, bradykinesia, posture impairment, gait,
and leg agility, respectively, as rated by the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating
Scale. These results provide further evidence that a higher intrinsic muscle
stiffness may contribute to the aforementioned clinically defined symptoms. From
a clinical standpoint, this work indicates that the proposed postural stiffness
measure may be useful as an assessment tool for the evaluation of PD patients
subsequent to pharmacological and surgical treatment.
Brain Res Bull 1998 Nov 15;47(5):459-64
Static posture tests for the assessment of postural instability after virtual
environment use.
Cobb SV, Nichols SC.
Virtual Reality Applications Research Team, Department of Manufacturing Engineering
and Operations Management, University of Nottingham, University Park, UK.
The aim of this experiment was to measure the effect of immersion in a virtual environment (VE) on postural stability and examine the relationship between postural stability and self-reported simulator sickness. Forty healthy subjects were exposed to 20 min of immersion in an interactive VE with restricted user movement. The
VE was viewed on a head mounted display (HMD) and the subject remained standing throughout the immersion period. Two static postures, normal stance and tandem romberg, were recorded before immersion, immediately after immersion and again at 10 min postimmersion. Performance in each posture was simultaneously measured by recording time that
the posture could be maintained and mm path length of body sway over a 30-s period. The results demonstrated differences in the sensitivity of postural stability measurement techniques and variations in inter- and intraindividual responses to measures. Sway magnetometry measured a significant increase in postural instability in normal stance after VE immersion. None of the other measures were sensitive to this change. Postimmersion reports
of simulator sickness symptoms indicate that the VE stimulus was provocative and correlation was found between reports of simulator sickness and balance-related symptoms. However, no association between self-reported symptoms and performance measures of postural instability was found.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial
Ind Health 1998 Jul;36(3):282-9
Ergonomic
aspects of portable personal computers with flat panel displays (PC-FPDs):
evaluation of posture, muscle activities, discomfort and performance.
Villanueva MB, Jonai H, Saito S.
National Institute of Industrial Health, Kawasaki, Japan.
The advent of compact and lightweight portable personal computers has offered
its users mobility. Various sizes of PC-FPDs can now be seen in the occupational setting as an alternative
to the desktop computers. However, the increasing popularity of this relatively
new technology may not be without any accompanying problems. The present study
was designed to evaluate the use of PC-FPDs in terms
of postural changes, muscle load, subjective complaints and performance of the
subjects. Ten subjects, 5 males and 5 females, were asked to perform a text-entry
task for 5 minutes using each of the 5 types of personal computers--1 desktop
and 4 PC-FPDs of various sizes. Results showed that
the posture assumed by the subjects while using the PC-FPDs was
significantly more constrained than that assumed during work with the desktop
computer. Viewing and neck angles progressively lowered and the trunk became
more forward inclined. The EMG results also revealed that the activities of the
neck extensor in PC-FPDs were significantly higher than in the desktop computers.
Trends of increasing discomfort and difficulty of keying with the use of smaller
PC-FPDs were noted. Performance was significantly lower
for smaller PC-FPDs. This study shows that PC-FPDs have
ergonomic attributes different from the desktop computer. An ergonomic guideline
specific for PC-FPDs users is needed to prevent the surge in health disorders previously
seen among desktop computer users.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1998
Sep;28(3):133-8
An analysis of posture and back pain in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Franklin ME, Conner-Kerr T.
School of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-0800, USA.
While the incidence of back pain during pregnancy has been shown to be high, few studies have investigated postural changes that occur during pregnancy and their relationship to back pain. The purpose of this study was to determine if posture and back pain changed from the first to the third trimester of pregnancy and whether there was a relationship between the two. Twelve healthy women who were having uncomplicated pregnancies participated in the study. During the first and third trimesters, each subject had their standing posture and back pain assessed
by a Metrecom Skeletal Analysis System and a 0 – 10-cm line pain scale, respectively. Repeated measures analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated on or between back pain and
nine posture variables and revealed significant increases in third trimester back pain and postures compared with first trimester back pain (p < .05) and postures for lumbar angle (p < .01), posterior head position (p < .01), right pelvic sagittal tilt (p < .01), and left pelvic sagittal tilt (p < .01). No significant relationships were found between magnitude of or change in posture and back pain. These results suggest that in the standing position the lumbar lordosis and sagittal pelvic tilt increased and head position become more posterior as women progressed from the first trimester to the last trimester of pregnancy. These postural changes, however, were not related to back pain. This suggests that many of the posture-correcting clinical exercise regimens given to pregnant women need to be investigated.
Swed Dent
J Suppl 1991;76:1-102
Pain and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system among dentists.
Rundcrantz BL.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Lund, Sweden.
The dentists in the Public Dental Service were found to have a high prevalence
of pain and discomfort in the locomotor system. Only
60 (17‰) dentists reported no pain or discomfort in the study in 1987. Of 359
dentists 72 per cent reported headache and pain and discomfort in the neck and
shoulders. Female dentists had a higher prevalence of pain and discomfort. Younger
dentists had pain and discomfort in the neck, shoulders and headaches to a greater
extent than older dentists. Male dentists, who positioned their patient carefully
to gain a direct view suffered less from headache. Furthermore, dentists who
used the mirror reported less headache and pain and discomfort in the shoulders. Differences in working position in a simulated case were analysed during
a visit to the workplace of 143 dentists. The ergonomic examination showed that
dentists without symptoms applied a wedge cushion under the upper part of the
patient’s back to obtain an optimum view when they examined tooth 2 6 d. They
also made use of the pauses intrinsic in the work. The dentists with symptoms
experienced the workload as more unsatisfactory, were more burdened by anxiety,
had poorer psychosomatic health and less confidence in the future than the dentists
without symptoms. Specialists, both with and without cervico-brachial symptoms, were more satisfied with their
personal control over their work and the stimulation from their work than were
general practitioners. The specialists also had more self-confidence, and experienced
less anxiety than general practitioners and head dentists. Physiotherapy with
a psychosomatic approach and individual ergonomic instruction gave better relief
from pain and discomfort and an increased feeling of mental well-being than did
ergonomic instruction only. In the prospective study it was found that the prevalence
of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort had increased since 1987, except with
respect to low back pain and headache. However, the only significant difference
was found with respect to the shoulders. As in 1987, female dentists had a higher
prevalence of pain and discomfort in the neck and shoulders than their male colleagues
in 1990. It can be concluded that pain and discomfort in the locomotor system
among dentists had a high incidence. The high incidence among dentists could
not be explained by the ergonomic risk factors such as positioning of the patient,
use of the mirror or alteration of the dentist’s position. Regression analysis
showed that personal harmony and age had the highest value for explaining the
number of painful sites in the musculoskeletal system.
Wien Med Wochenschr 1994;144(24):577-92
[Postural disorders in children and adolescents] [Article
in German]
Fialka-Moser V, Uher EM,
Lack W.
Universitatsklinik fur Physikalische Medizin und
Rehabilitation, Wien.
Posture is defined as the upright well balanced position of an individual person.
A postural fault is a posture that deviates from normal alignment without structural
limitations. Postural faults are established in adolescence causing pain syndromes
in adulthood. Major components of spinal structure and function are reviewed.
The dynamics of posture are described. Characteristics and etiology of common
postural faults in childhood and adolescence are characterised.
Based on standardised diagnostic techniques, principles
of how to manage posture and treatment of postural dysfunctions are
discussed.
Publication Types: Review Review Literature
The School of Posture as a postural training method for Paraiba Telecommunications
Operators.
Cardia MC, Soares Masculo F.
Production Engineering Department, Paraiba Federal
University, Brazil.
This work proposes to show the experience of posture training accomplished in
the Paraiba State Telecommunication Company, using
the knowledge of the Back School. The sample was composed of 12 operators, employees
of the company, representing 31‰ of this population. The model applied in TELPA
(Paraiba Telecommunication Company, Brazil) was based
on the models of Sherbrooke, Canada, and of the School of Posture of Paraiba Federal University. Fifty-eight point four percent
of participants showed a reduction of column pain, 25‰ improved the quality of
the rest and the received training was considered enough for the learning of
correct postures at work in 75‰ of the cases. The whole population approved of
the training, and 83.3‰ of the cases considered that this training influenced
their lives very positively.
Int J Nurs Stud
1987;24(4):339-44
Postural
stress in geriatric nursing.
Baty D, Stubbs DA.
Ergonomics Research Unit, Robens Institute, University
of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
An assessment has been made of the static and dynamic forces and postures involved
in the nursing day using direct observations and an assessment of truncal stress by means of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP).
Subjects were nurses working in the specialty of geriatric nursing in four health
regions. Levels of postural activity with regard to stooping, standing, walking
and sitting accounted for 98‰ of the total shift time. Stooping activity was
observed at a level of 22‰ overall which, from the literature, would suggest
an increased risk for back pain. Of further concern was the uneven distribution
of postural stress with respect to the component hours within shifts. Comparisons
of IAP data with other studies indicate that the subjects examined in this study
are neither within the ’low’ nor ’high’ back pain risk categories. This finding,
however, should be taken in the context of the high levels of static postural
stress reported and the possible cumulative and interactive effects of static
and dynamic load. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the work system as a whole and attention is drawn to recent recommendations with respect to the prevention of back pain
within the nursing profession.
Int J Occup Environ Health 1998 Apr-Jun;4(2):89-98
Musculoskeletal discomfort of music teachers: an eight-year perspective and psychosocial work
factors.
Fjellman-Wiklund A, Sundelin G.
Occupational Health Care Center, Skelleftea Municipality, Skelleftea, Sweden. KH-
Musicians at all levels of performance, especially string players, are known
to have a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The disorders
seem to be most common in the neck, shoulders and low back. In 1988, a survey
of the work-related musculoskeletal disorders of 36 music teachers was carried
out at a music school in northern Sweden. In 1996, the teachers were reinvestigated. The study also included an investigation of the psychosocial work environment according to the Karasek demand-control theory, as well as measurements of upper-arm elevation during a working day in five violin teachers. The results showed that music teachers, like other professional musicians, often experience discomfort in the neck, shoulders, and low back. The discomfort tended to be of long duration, increasing over the years. The psychosocial work environment was characterized by high psychological demands and low authority over decisions. This was compensated for through good social support. The work required skill and creativity but was monotonous. The measurements of upper-arm elevation indicated considerable variations in shoulder positions between teachers. There were also differences in the work done with the right and left arms, with repetitive motions more commonly involving the right arm. Approximately a fourth of the working day was spent with the arm elevated 30 – 90°. The relationships between upper-arm movements and ratings of discomfort were moderate.
Aviat Space Environ Med 1987 May;58(5):461-7
Back pain in helicopter aircrew: a literature review.
Bowden T.
Back pain in helicopter aircrew has been reported by the med services of many countries. The problem is compared to the similar phenomenon of back pain in civilian industrial groups, particularly drivers and the operators of heavy equipment. In both drivers and helicopter aircrew, posture and vibration exposure have been identified as causes of the back pain. The significance of these factors, and the mechanisms that relate them to the discomfort, and possible solutions are discussed.
Ergonomics 1995 Dec;38(12):2485-50
Postural adaptations to workbench modifications in standing workers.
Whistance RS, Adams LP, van Geems BA, Bridger RS.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cape Town Medical School, South Africa.
Surveys have shown that many workers operate under conditions that require constrained
standing. The aim of this study was to investigate postural adaptations in constrained
standing to facilitate the development of design guidelines for standing workspaces.
Standing postures were observed in six different workspaces that were designed
using combinations of task distance (which was either constrained or unconstrained)
and foot position (which was constrained, unconstrained or employed a footrest).
Subjects at work were recorded stereophotogrammetrically and postural variables were obtained in three dimensions. Postural adaptation to increased task distance was found to be characterized by increased trunk flexion and increased hip flexion while adaptation to close work was found to be characterized by increased neck flexion and increased thoracic kyphosis. Constrained foot position resulted in increased hip flexion accompanied by increased plantar flexion. Although
use of the footrest resulted in some reduced lumbar lordosis, it increased trunk flexion and was not associated with significantly less discomfort than any of the other workspaces.
Appl Ergon 1997 Feb;28(1):9-16
The impact of keyboard design on comfort and productivity in a text-entry task.
Swanson NG, Galinsky TL, Cole LL, Pan CS, Sauter SL.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45226, USA.
Concerns have arisen that the keyboard is a causal factor in the development
of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) among
video display terminal (VDT) operators. A number of alternative keyboard designs
have been developed with altered geometry in an effort to improve comfort in
keyboard operation. However, few data are available to substantiate whether these
new keyboard designs are actually effective in reducing discomfort and musculoskeletal
problems in users. The purpose of this study was to provide data on the efficacy
of certain alternative keyboard design features (e.g. splitting the keyboard
in half, and laterally inclining the keyboard halves) in reducing fatigue and
musculoskeletal discomfort among keyboard operators. The study also explored
the effects of these design features on performance. Fifty subjects performed
a text-entry task for one day on a standard keyboard, then were assigned to one
of five keyboard conditions for an evaluation period of two days (i.e. 10 subjects/condition).
Outcome measures included performance (i.e. keystrokes/h, errors/h) and self-report
measures of discomfort and fatigue. The results indicated an initial decline
in productivity when subjects began typing on two of the alternative keyboards,
but these productivity losses were recovered within the two-day evaluation period.
The results also indicated no significant differences between keyboard conditions
in discomfort and fatigue. These results suggest a minimal impact of the keyboard
design features examined in this study on productivity, comfort and fatigue,
at least after two days of exposure.
Publication Types: Controlled Clinical Trial
|
