• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 1997

Daily exposure to constrained body postures and deviations from neutral postures over a long period may result in discomfort as well as pains and aches in the muscles, joints, tendons, and other soft tissues. Furthermore, it was known that poor body postures are a major cause of musculoskeletal disorders in industry. Therefore, in this study, comfort ranges of joint motions were obtained as a criterion for evaluating body postures and designing workplaces ergonomically, which were bases on subjects' perceived discomfort level estimated by magnitude estimation. Nineteen healthy male subjects participated in the laboratory study. They results showed that comfort ranges of joint motions occurred in the wrist, elbow, neck, and ankle were little less than their normal range of joint motions, but those in the back(L5/S1) and hip joint were much less than their normal ones. This fact implies that the back and jip movements are more stressful than the other joints movements. It is expected that comfort ranges of joint motions can be used as a valuable guideline when designing and evaluating workplaces.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.103-109
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• 2012

The purpose of this paper is to suggest the strategical lifting postures able to alleviate imbalanced EMG amplitude leading to an increase in low back muscle fatigue while lifting asymmetric load dynamically. Eleven male subjects are required to lift symmetrically an external load with 15.8kg and load center of gravity (LCG) deviated 10cm to the right from the floor to the waist height at the speed of about 25cm/sec. The EMG amplitudes on bilateral low back muscles (Longissimus, Iliocostalis, and Multifidus) are recorded during 2sec and analyzed. Independent variables are trunk postures (No bending vs. Bending to the LCG) and feet placements (Parallel vs. Right foot in front of the other vs. Right foot behind the other). Dependent variables are EMG amplitude average on six muscles and the EMG amplitude difference between right and left muscle group. Results indicate the phenomenon showing an amplitude increase in the left muscle group is equal to an decrease in the right one is observed in dynamic as well as static lifts, bending the trunk to the LCG increases amplitude discrepancy more than no trunk bending, and the amplitude discrepancy in one foot ipsilateral to LCG in front of the other foot is lowest among other foot postures. As bilateral EMG amplitude discrepancy increases total low back muscle fatigue, the strategical combination of no trunk bending and one foot close to LCG in front of the other is recommended for preventing elevated incidence of low back pain (LBP).

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.119-127
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• 2014

This study tried to develop a basis for quantitative index of working postures associated with WMSDs (Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders) that could overcome realistic restriction during application of typical checklists for WMSDs evaluation. The baseline data(for a total of 603 jbs) for this study was obtained from automobile manufacturing company. Specifically, data for back posture was analyzed in this study to have a better and more objective method in terms of job relevance than typical methods such as OWAS, RULA, and REBA. Major statistical tools were clustering, logistic regression and so on. The main results in this study could be summarized as follows; 1) The relationship between working posture and WMSDs symptom at back was statistically significant based on the results from logistic regression, 2) Based on clustering analysis, three levels for WMSDs risk at back were produced for flexion as follows: low risk(< $18.5^{\circ}$), medium risk($18.5^{\circ}{\sim}36.0^{\circ}$), high risk(> $36.0^{\circ}$), 3) The sensitivities on risk levels of back flexion was 93.8% while the specificities on risk levels of back flexion was 99.1%. The results showed that the data associated with back postures in this study could provide a good basis for job evaluation of WMSDs at back. Specifically, this evaluation methodology was different from the methods usually used at WMSDs study since it tried to be based on direct job relevance from real working situation. Further evaluation for other body parts as well as back would provide more stability and reliability in WMSDs evaluation study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.131-138
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• 1998

This field study was conducted to survey the effect of seating ＆ lighting conditions on work. The results were as follows ; Discomfortable parts of body caused by unsuitable sitting postures on work were low back 52.05%, leg 15.75%, neck 14.38% and arm 9.59%. Work conditions of sitting postures were needed arm rest, back rest of seat and adjustable seat height. Effect of work efficiency by lighting conditions were statistically significant relationship between glaring state of workstation and lighting state.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2014

Objective: This study aims to develop a new desk with a built-in bookholder and desktop-mounted sliding drawer for reducing stress of seated reading postures and to analyze its effect. Background: It is general for readers to bend their back and neck when reading books on desks, which may result in high back and neck postural stress. In addition, postures using vertically layered drawers positioned at the side of users may be awkward. Method: For reducing the postural stress, a new desk with a built-in bookholder and sliding drawer was developed based on a standard of KS G 4208 for student desk. The muscle activities of reading postures on both existing and new desks were measured using EMG, in which seven male and three female college students participated. The postural stress, and musculoskeletal discomfort and ease of usage for existing and new drawers were analyzed by RULA and questionnaire survey, respectively. Results: Compared to existing desk, the muscle activity for the new desk with a bookholder was reduced by 47% when reading books. In addition, musculoskeletal discomforts in the shoulder, neck and low back were significantly lower when using the new desk with a bookholder. Although the stresses for postures using the desktop-mounted sliding drawer and general drawer were not significantly different, the questionnaire survey revealed that the new desktop-mounted sliding drawer is easier to use. Conclusion: A new desk developed in this study significantly reduced postural stress and enhanced subjective preference when reading. Application: This would be useful when developing new desks with low postural stress.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1105-1110
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• 2012

The spine is one of the most important skeletal joints, and it strongly affects the health of the musculoskeletal system. A normal spine has an S-shape, and it is very important to maintain this shape. Recently, spinal diseases such as low back pain have increased rapidly, especially among the elderly. Some of these diseases are caused by congenital spinal disorders and sporting and accident injuries as well as by bad postures. Improper spinal postures could generate excessive disc pressure, which is related to degeneration and pain. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the three-dimensional kinematic parameters of the thoraco-lumbar joint in several bad postures using a motion capture analysis technique. Different bad postures created a significant amount of flexion/extension, side bending, and axial rotation angle compared with neutral postures. Further study is necessary to investigate the disc pressure and ligament force due to the increase in joint rotation from the bad postures.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.81-90
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• 2017

This paper presents a smart seat for correction of driver posture while driving. We introduce good postures with seat height, seat angle, head height, back of knees, distances of foot pedals, tilt of seat, etc. There have been some studies on correction of good posture while driving, effects of driving environment on driver's posture, sitting strategies based on seating pressure distribution, estimation of driver's standard postures, and others. However, there are a few studies on guide of good postures while driving for problem of driver's posture using machine leaning. Therefore, we suggest a smart seat for correction of driver's posture based on machine leaning, 1) developed the system to get postures by 10 piezoelectric effect element, 2) collect piezoelectric values from 37 drivers and 28 types of cars, 3) suggest 4 types of good postures while driving, 4) analyze test postures by kNN. As the results, we can guide good postures for bad or problems of postures while driving.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.45-56
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to evaluate perceived discomfort of working postures in terms of upper body (back, shoulder, and elbow) flexions when an external load varies. Eighteen subjects participated in an experiment of appraising perceived discomfort of varying upper body postures with three levels of external loads given. The ANOVA results showed that the perceived discomfort of upper body postures was significantly affected by the external load. It was also apparent that the interactions between external load and upper body posture were significant (p< 0.001). The result implies that a new posture classification scheme for workload assessment methods may be in need to reflect such interactions between external load and upper body posture. In order to support the statement, a regression model of perceived discomfort of upper body postures obtained from the experiment was developed and compared to that of perceived discomfort of seven work-related postures found in automobile assembly operations. The correlation coefficient between predicted and actual values of perceived discomfort was about 0.96. It is expected that the result help to properly estimate the body stress resluting from worker's postures and external loads and can be used as a valuable design guideline on preventing work-related musculoskeletal diseases in industry.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.685-693
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• 2012

Objectives : This research was conducted to find the subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system for main jobs and job posture. Methods : A survey was conducted from September 15, 2011 to October 7, 2011 and 357 dental hygienists were responded. The survey was consisted of the working environment and medical equipments, psycho-social characteristics, health habits and education, job posture, subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system pain, and so on. Results : In the survey on the frequency of job posture of dental hygienists by jobs, said they cast down or tilt their head by 15 degrees or more or twist or bend their back. The result of the analysis on the subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system by main job showed that they experienced a pain in neck, shoulder, and back, although the order differed. The order of subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system for casting down or turning head by 15 degrees or more, twisting or bending back, having shoulders not parallel to the ground, sitting at the end of a chair, and supporting the whole body with one leg or pressing on a pedal for treatment was from the shoulders to the neck to the back. The order of subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system for having arms too far from the body or hunching for treatment and bending wrists inward or outward for treatment was from the shoulders to the back to the neck. Conclusions : Due to the characteristics of the job which requires one to have a proper view of a patient's oral cavity, most of the postures included casting down of head or bending of back. Therefore a development of new postures is needed to replace the existing job postures which pressure the musculoskeletal system. And shift rotation can be used as a preventive measure.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 1982

In this study, we attempted to make an original pattern of clothing for an abnormal type of figure, especially for the type of kyphosis. We measured the curvature of the spine of a woman with kyphosis with a Martin measuring instrument and a silhouetter in the following ways. First, we counted the rate of shrinkage of the standard lines drawn on the surface of the body according as the body moved. Secondly, placing the front and back darts, the front and back shoulder darts and the side darts according to“Munhwa”pattern, we made cubic cuttings of four moving postures as well as the standing one. Thirdly, we superposed the developed patterns of the standing and the moving postures, measuring the position change and the amount to the change of the darts, and compared them. The results are as follows: 1) In the developed pattern of a cubic cutting of the basic pattern and the standing posture, the neckhole became larger than that of the basic pattern, and the waist line was lowered than that of the basic pattern because the center back line was shortened due to the curved backbone.