• 대한전기학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한전기학회 2006년도 제37회 하계학술대회 논문집 D
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• pp.1929-1930
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• 2006

Human like robot arm posture for grasping by considering the shape of the target object is quite a challenge in the field of robotics. In this paper, an optimized grasp posture with respect to the shape of the object considering the wrist joint angle and elbow elevation angle, in order to verify that the grasp posture is human like has been proposed. Given a target object, the candidates for grasp are computed by the method described in this paper. For each candidate, the closed loop inverse kinematics has been solved for the corresponding hand position and orientation. From the obtained joint angles through inverse kinematics, the elbow elevation angle has been computed and compared with the elbow elevation angle obtained through human movement data by the characteristic equation. After considering all the candidates, the hand position and orientation with minimum wrist joint and difference in elbow elevation angles has been utilized as the optimized grasp posture. Simulation results are presented.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.113-124
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• 2002

The objectives of this study was to investiage the effects of sitting posture on carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) continues to be one of the most widely publicized maladies of the cumulative trauma disorder. Many studies have reported a positive association between CTS and highly repetitive work, high force, and poor posture. High force and repetitive work have especially been associated with CTS, but the evidence for work being a primary cause of CTS is strongest when these factors are combined. In addition to carpal tunnel syndrome, hand, wrist, and other disorders are attributed to these work-related movements. Such disorders are referred to as repetitive stress injuries, cumulative trauma disorder, overuse syndromes, and chronic upper limb pain syndrome. Incorrect posture also may play a role in the development of CTS in people who work at a computer and other types of keyboards. The tendency to roll the shoulders forward, round the lower back, and thrust the chin forward can shorten the neck and shoulder muscles, compressing nerves in the neck. This, in turn, can affect the wrist, fingers, and hand. The treatment and prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome continue to be approached with a segmental view of the human body. For example, the most common ergonomic solution for carpal tunnel syndrome associated with keyboard use is to keep the wrists in a neutral position by using a wrist rest in front of the keyboard and good sitting posture.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• 제17권12호
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• pp.2004-2009
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to define how wrist motion is affected by different postures and supporting devices and to discover functional range of wrist motion for keyboard typing. The range of wrist motion (ROM) needed for fourteen experienced typists to type on a computer keyboard was measured by flexible and biaxial electrogoniometers. The most frequent wrist motion during typing was in extended and ulnarly deviated positions in both wrists. Range of wrist motion was similar in both wrists. The average ROM for keyboard typing with the typists' own posture was about 39 in flexion/extension (FEM) and 29 in radial/ulnar deviation (RUD) in both wrists. The range of wrist motion was significantly reduced to 30 in FEM and 27 in RUD with use of either wrist or forearm supporting devices, which suggests that these devices might help to relieve fatigue, discomfort, or pain during and/or after typing. Results of this study will be of interest to clinicians and helpful to those who are professionally or non-professionally involved in typing.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.36-49
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the work postures and upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders(CTDs) in female medical insurance bill reviewers(n=448). This study included diagnosis for CTDs, anthropometry and job analysis (workstations and posture). The characteristics of subject were 33.6 years of average age and 8.7 years of average work duration. The results were as fallows. Ergonomic conditions of workstation were unsuitable compared with anthropometry result. The height of work surface(79.5 cm) and chair(43.0 cm)were high. work space was small, and legs space under the table was limited. Work postures were awkward compared with recommended neutral postures. Neck flexion($21.0-36.0^{\circ}$), elbow elevation, shoulder abduction ($46.0-47.0^{\circ}$). wrist radial and ulnar deviation, forearm supination and pronation, and wrist repeated motion(12.7-21.5 freq./min) were analyzed as hazardous risk factors by job analysis. The prevalence of CTDs was 32.8 % by medical diagnosis. The prevalence rate of CTDs in hazardous work posture group was significantly greater than safe work posture group both neck-shoulder (relative prevalence = 5.2, p<0.001) and wrist-hand (relative prevalence = 2.5, p<0.05).

• 한국경영과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한산업공학회/한국경영과학회 1990년도 춘계공동학술대회논문집; 한국과학기술원; 28 Apr. 1990
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• pp.151-162
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• 1990

Occupational disease among typists such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome(CTS) and tendonitis has increased along with rapid expansion of office automation. During typing, the posture can be defined as forearm pronation, ulnar abduction, wrist extension and finger flexion. The CTS results from awkward posture between forearm-wrist-hand and the keyboard arrangement. Therefore, ergonomic principles should be emphasized in keyboard design. The objective of the study is to improve keyboard design by analyzing anatomical posture of forearm and hand during typing. An experimental study was performed to investigate relationships between a keyboard and typing performance. Results showed that typing performance is dependent to angles and slopes of a keyboard. Statistical analysis indicated that the suggested ergonomic keyboard improved typing speed significantly(17%).

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.35-43
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• 2004

There were two purposes of this study. The first was to research the effects of standard and fixed-split keyboards on wrist posture and movements during word processing. The second was to select optimal computer input devices in order to prevent cummulative trauma disorder in the wrist region. The group of subjects consisted of thirteen healthy men and women who all agreed to participate in this study. Kinematic data was measured from both wrist flexion and extension, and wrist radial and ulnar deviation during a 20 minute period of word processing work. The measuring tool was an electrical goniometer, and was produced by Biometrics Cooperation. The results were as follows: 1. The wrist flexion and extension at resting starting position were not significantly different (p>.05), however the angle of radial and ulnar deviation were significantly different in standard and split keyboard use during word processing (p<.05). 2. In the initial 10 minutes, the dynamic angle of wrist flexion and extension were not significantly different (p>.05), however the dynamic angle of radial and ulnar deviation was significantly different in standard and split keyboard use during word processing (p<.05). These results suggest that the split keyboard is more optimal than the standard keyboard, because it prevented excessive ulnar deviation during word processing.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.412-422
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• 2009

This study was conducted to assess exposure to musculoskeletal disorder(MSD) risk factors in hospital personnel who performed non-routinized work tasks. A tool ("PATH-KOSHA" version) was newly revised from PATH(Posture, Activity, Tools and Handling) method and uploaded into a personal digital assistant(PDA). The version was used, on a basis of direct-observation, to collect PATH data at the 2 hospital settings in different regions. Job analysis was performed to get various information (e.g., work and rest time, task type) as well. The data collected were visually checked for data cleaning and stored for future data analysis. A total of 1,992 PATH observations were made for 37 hospital workers. Exposure levels varied across 18 items of the MSD risk factors. The highest percent time spent on non-neutral postures was 53% for wrist deviation, followed by 47%(pinch grip), 35%(trunk posture), 23%(neck posture), and 20%(shoulder/arm posture). The highest percent time spent among hand activity level(HAL) variables was 55% for HAL-cat2 (HAL: 3.3 - <6.7). The percent time of items with respect to both loads with more than 5kg and contact stress was less than 4%. Vibration was not exposed in the study workers. Different aspects were discussed for findings. The study results showed that wrist deviation was highest in percent time spent on awkward posture while HAL-cat2 was highest in hand repetition. The study suggests that distal upper extremity posture and HAL should be primarily addressed and controlled in non-routinized work including the hospital settings.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.168-175
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• 1999

The objective of this research is to review the ergonomic keyboard developed to prevent musculo-skeletal disorders from being occurred during keyboard work. It was studied by comparing it with the traditional keyboard after analyzing and comparing the typing performance and work advantages both the two keyboards. Twelve male subjects with no history of musculo-skeletal disorders participated in the experiment. The quantitative data such as typing speed, accuracy, performance time, and the number of typing errors were obtained from the HTT software that was adjusted for this experiment. RULA worksheet and the degrees of extension and ulnar deviation on right and left wrist were used to analyze the upper body postures. The experiment results showed that the typing performance of the ergonomic keyboard decreased a little, but no significant difference statistically, compared with that of the traditional keyboard. On the work posture, the ulnar deviation during typing decreased in case of the ergonomic keyboard. But, the wrist extension was increased unexpectedly. Therefore, it can be regarded as these results occur due to the shape of wrist rest and the overall height of keyboard on a table. As a result, the reconsideration and redesign on the ergonomic keyboard are requested.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.43-52
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• 2006

The goal of this study is to investigate the ergonomic factors in designing or selecting the hand tool handle. Electromyogram (EMG) were measured for various wrist postures and handle sizes under two loading conditions. Anthropometric data were measured and the correlation with EMG measurement data were analyzed. Investigations of this study show that wrist posture should be neutral for minimum muscle tension and optimum handle size can be found by measuring the EMG measurement data. It show that hand width and EMG measurement data is greatly correlated also. This study can be a guide of designing or selecting a hand tool, but further study with large sample sizes and various groups is needed for making general conclusion.

• International Journal of Safety
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.32-35
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• 2011

Lifting capacity and difficulty of task are influenced by body posture. In RULA and REBA, the body was divided into segments which formed two groups, A and B. Group A includes the upper and lower arm and wrist while group B includes the neck, trunk and legs. This ensures that whole body posture is recorded so that any awkward or constrained posture of the legs, trunk or neck which might influence the posture of the upper limb. This study aimed to measure MVC (maximum voluntary contraction) and subjective judgment in psychophysical method (Borg's scale) according to trunk and upper arm angle and to analyze results statistically. The results of this study were that lifting capacity was more influenced by interaction of body posture rather than angles of each part, and MVC variation according to trunk and upper arms angles should different patterns. This means that we consider the interaction of trunk angles and upper arm angles when we access risk factors of the postures. This survey would be also the basic data to evaluate difficulty of lifting tasks according to body postures ergonomically.