• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.449-452
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the coordination between trunk flexion and lower limb extension contributing to vertical propulsion during sit-to-stand (STS) at different chair heights in the elderly. Methods: Ten elderly subjects were asked to stand up at their natural speed from different chair heights : (1) $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion; (2) $100^{\circ}$ knee flexion; (3) $110^{\circ}$ knee flexion; and (4) $120^{\circ}$ knee flexion. A standard chair without a backrest or armrests was used in this study. To remove inertial effects of upper limb movements, subjects were asked to stand up from a chair with their arms crossed at the chest. Mean of results of three trials were used in the analysis at different knee flexion angles. Distances moved by the shoulder for compensatory trunk movement was recorded by motion analysis and vertical force was recorded under foot using force plates. Distances moved by the shoulder and vertical ground reaction force measurements were analyzed using repeated ANOVA. Results: Distances moved by the shoulder significantly decreased with higher chair (p<0.05). Vertical forces were not significant difference on chair heights (p>0.05), but results of pairwise comparisons for vertical force revealed significant difference between $90^{\circ}$ knee flexion and $120^{\circ}$ knee flexion (p<0.05). Conclusion: Trunk movement is probably used as a compensatory mechanism at low chair heights to increase lift-off from sitting by the elderly.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1581-1586
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• 2010

Haptic-aided design (HAD) involves the use of a haptic simulator in place of physical prototypes in the design and development of products with which human beings interact physically. The development time and cost can be significantly reduced by adopting this HAD scheme. Although both physical and emotional factors are equally important, only the emotional factors were taken into consideration in the previous HAD process. Consequently, the design of the products was sometimes unsatisfactory from the viewpoint of ergonomics, even though users were emotionally satisfied with the products. To overcome this problem, in this study, we propose a new human-oriented design methodology that is enhanced by taking the physical factors into consideration. The HAD scheme was verified by using a haptic chair simulator to design a tilt mechanism of an office chair for which the stiffness of the backrest can be adjusted; then, the design was simulated using MADYMO. The results show that the proposed method can reflect both the physical and emotional factors to modify the design in real-time.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.314-320
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• 2019

Background: Sitting posture may be related to risk factors, including inadequate weight-bearing support, particularly when maintained for long periods. Considering that body weight is loaded in a closed support system composed of the seat, backrest, floor and working surface, the aims of the present study were to describe the development of an ergonomic sitting workstation to continuously record weight-bearing at the seat, chair, backrest, work surface, and floor and to test its measurement properties: reproducibility, criterion-related validity, and sensitivity. Methods: Rigid bodies (1 to 30 kg) and participant weights were recorded to evaluate the workstation measurement properties. Results: Rigid body tests showed variation values less than 0.050 kg on reproducibility test and errors below 5% of measured value on criterion validity tests. Participant tests showed no statistically significant differences between repeated measures ($p{\geq}0.40$), errors were less than 2% of participant weights an sensitivity presented statistically significant changes (p = 0.007). Conclusion: The sitting workstation proposed showed to be reliable, valid and sensitive for use in future ergonomic studies to evaluate the sitting posture.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate integral seat desk used in universities through comparison of real dimension values of the desk with KS/ISO standard and questionnaire survey. Background: School furniture that helps students sit comfortably for longer periods of time and allows for better concentration on learning is important. However, seat and desk have been generally designed based on the industry practice rather than user's anthropometry, and seats and desks used in universities of Korea have not been ergonomically evaluated. Method: Real 13 dimensions of the desk used in K University were measured using tape measure and inclinometer, and the dimension values were compared to the KS standard of desk and chair for lecture room (KS G 4210) and ergonomic design principles found in relevant references. Subjective appropriacies and preference for the desk were investigated based on questionnaire survey, in which 121 (male: 91, female: 30) college students participated. Results: Several dimensions for the desk and chair investigated except desk depth and width, leg room width, seat width have not met the KS standard, but all dimensions satisfied ergonomic design principles available in references. The questionnaire survey revealed that appropriacies for desk surface size, seat pan depth, seat pan cushion and backrest curvature were under middle point of 3.0, and that those for the other dimensions showed higher scores exceeding 3.0. Conclusion: The integral seat desk widely used in universities showed some design problems in terms of standards of KS G 2010 and KS G 4210, and ergonomic design principles. Compared to the general desk with separated desk and seat, subjective preference on the integral seat desk was low. Application: This would be used as a valuable guideline when designing or choosing new integral seat desk with high satisfaction of students.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2015

Objective: As a cue for desired mood, we attempted to identify types of sitting postures when people are involved in various tasks during their working hours. Background: Physical behaviors in reaction to user contexts were studied, such as automated posture analysis for detecting a subject's emotion. Sitting postures have high feasibility and can be detected robustly with a sensing chair, especially when it comes to an office. Method: First, we attached seven sensors, including six pressure sensors and one distance sensor, to an office chair. In Part 1, we recorded participants' postures while they took part in four different tasks. From the seven sensors, we gathered five sets of data related to the head, the lumbar, the hip, thigh pressure and the distance between the backrest and the body. We classified them into four postures: leaning forward, upright, upright with the lumbar supporting, and leaning backward. In part 2, we requested the subjects to take suitable poses for the each of the four task types. In this way, we compared the matches between postures and tasks in a natural setting to those in a controlled situation. Results: We derived four types of sitting postures that were mapped onto the different tasks. The comparison yielded no statistical significance between Parts 1 and 2. In addition, there was a significant association between the task types and the posture types. Conclusion: The users' sitting postures were related to different types of tasks. This study demonstrates how human emotion can interact with lighting, as mediated through physical behavior. Application: We developed a posture-based lighting system that manipulates the quality of office lighting and is operated by changes in one's posture. Facilitated by this system, color temperatures ranging between 3,000K and 7,000K and illuminations ranging between 300lx and 700lx were modulated.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.179-190
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• 2015

Objective and Background: Due to increase in Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) relating to computer use, a number of ergonomics recommendations have been proposed in order to tackle this problem. However, some of these recommendations have been conflicting. Method: This study was to survey the VDT (Visual Display Terminal) use of office workers. The subjects were 452 workers at 13 places of business and the data were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Results: As a result, prevalence of self-reported MSDs of all VDT workers was 90.2% and shoulder took up 57.0% and neck 38.3% by symptom part of body. The population of computer use of more than 6h/day was 84.5%, and 33.8% also reported using the VDT 2~3h/day without the rest time. Desktop computer users were 95.6%, and a 17-inch monitor accounted for 42.0% among the desktop users. As a result of satisfaction survey on overall computer work, 21.1% of the total respondents said satisfied, desk complaint was about 24.6%, and chair complaint was 33.4%. Despite the importance of computer environment, satisfaction was from fair to uncomfortable. Conclusion and Application: In conclusion, office workers are prone to the MSDs due to their work environment. Additionally, this study found that task was a significant effect for the majority of dependent variables, and therefore, the improvement of computer workstations work environment is urgent, and the improvement of desk height adjustment, chair seat size (length, width), backrest condition, location of keyboard (mouse) and arm rest is required.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 1990

School children sit long on chairs in their classrom. Their posture is closely related to their chairs. Study of this relationship is very imporant for the health and education of school children. This report presents the results of study condcuted to determine the present status of classroom chairs and solve any problems identifede. The study involved 125 teachers in Seoul and Pusan, 175 fourth graders in Seoul, and 109 fourth graders in Puasn. The body dimensions of the school children and the dimensions of their chairs and desks were measured, and their postures while they studied at their desk were photographed. The following problems were identified as a result of the investigation: (1) Chairs are allocated to pupils according to their stature. (2) The teachers are not satisfied with the chairs and the method by which the chairs are allocated to their pupils. (3) The pupils complain of low seat height, narrow seat, and hard backrest, among other conditions. (4) The pupils select a chair one size larger than that suggested by their body size. (5) The poor posture of the pupils is traced to the seat height and sasyaku$(sitting height {\times} 1/3-1)$ of their chairs, their habit, their way of holding pencils, and lack of instruction by their teachers. The following recommendations are made to solve these problems: (1) Adjust the seat height and desk height to accommodate the pupils. (2) Provide both teachers and pupils with adequate knowledge of chails. (3) Provided each pupil with one desk and make the desk adjustable to sit his or her body dimensions. (4) Allocate a chair and desk to each pupil for his or her exclusive use. (5) Reserch and develop conversion tables that help to find suitable chails for individual pupils. New values of sasyaku and desk height, not specified in Korean Industrial Standards(KS), are proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate activation of accessory respiratory muscles using electromyography during chest expansion upper extremity flexion, abduction, and external rotation exercises with an elastic band in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: The subjects were 10 children with cerebral palsy. The inclusion criterion for participation was a Gross Motor Function Classification System level of I to III. The subjects were instructed to perform upper extremity flexion, abduction, and external rotation exercises with inspiration, and extension, adduction, and internal rotation exercises with expiration while seated on a chair without a backrest. PM (Pectoralis major), SCM (sternocleidomastoid), RA (rectus abdominis), and EO (external oblique) muscle activities were measured using electromyography. RESULTS: All tested muscles showed a statistically significant increase in activity after elastic band exercise. There were significant differences in PM, SCM, RA, and EO results after chest expansion exercise using elastic band. SCM showed the largest increase in activity after use of elastic bands, at $52.37{\pm}45.88$%, followed by the RA ($50.56{\pm}79.31$), EO ($35.42{\pm}35.45$), and PM ($31.72{\pm}25.64$). The increase in the SCM was greatest, followed by increases in the RA, EO, and PM CONCLUSION: These finding suggest that activity of accessory respiratory muscles increases with use of elastic bands during chest expansion exercise in cerebral palsy.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.155-160
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was to identify the effect of cervical stabilization exercise with visual feedback on the craniovertebral angle and foot pressure in subjects with forward head posture. Methods: Thirty healthy adults were recruited in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to the stabilization exercise with visual feedback (SE-VF) group (n=15) or stabilization exercise (SE) group (n=15). The SE-VF group performed cervical stabilization exercise while sitting on a chair without a backrest and checking their side profile in real time a monitor 3m away. The SE group performed the same cervical stabilization exercise as the SE-VF group accompanied by without visual feedback. Craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured to quantify forward head posture, and the foot pressure of the subjects were evaluated. Results: The foot pressure showed statistically significant differences pre and post in both midfoot and left metatarsal only in SE-VF group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings of this study showed that the cervical stabilization exercise with visual feedback was effective for the foot pressure of subjects. In addition, based on the results of this study, it is suggested that visual feedback will be effective in cervical stabilization exercise.

• Archives of design research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.73-80
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• 1999

Many domestic users complain about severe pain to the waist, neck, and shoulder as well as work performance because the domestic chair design was developed with western anthropometry dimension and design criteria. Ergonomic design standards are needed for office chair design to reduce stress and poor physical posture for various user body types. In this study, we have suggested design dimensions recommended from previous studies and Korean anthropometry data. We also have reviewed users' preference dimension through measured subjects and analyzed differences between users' preference dimension and the previous design criteria to verify physical appropriateness. We evaluated general office chairs and adjustable chairs which can adjust to fit each person. we also analyzed how each design dimension was reached and affected the human body by evaluation of physical discomfort and comfort. We have found seat height is very important in a workstation. If the seat height is high, it effects the thigh. If width, height, and angle of the backrest are wrong, fatigue to the shoulder, neck, and waist, etc.. As a result of this experiment, we suggested that the height of a seat for Koreans be 425mm for the fixed type and 365-484mm for the adjustable type. Also other design recommendations were suggested in the thesis. In conclusion, our research will be very important in the database because it provides adjustable ranges to fit user's body types in the various design fields.