• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.110-116
• /
• 2023

In this study describes the design of Exo-suit to assist those who work in unstructured positions. The present study aimed to analyze various types of work, especially those performed in unstructured postures by heavy industry workers. Based on the motion capture analysis results, an attempt was made to develop a shoulder muscle-assistive Exo-suit capable of assisting a wearer who is working using shoulder muscles. In the present study, as the first step of developing a shoulder muscle-assistive Exo-suit, different working scenarios were simulated, and the corresponding motion data were estimated using motion capture devices. The obtained motion data were reflected in the design of the Exo-suit. The main structure of the shoulder muscle-assistive Exo-suit was made of a carbon fiber-reinforced composite to obtain the weight reduction. The shoulder muscle assistive Exo-suit was designed to fully cover the range of motion for workers working in unstructured postures.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.177-184
• /
• 1996

In light-weight hand tools, static posture may result in postural fatigue. Psotural tremor of the upper extremity in a static posture was measured to provide guidelines for hand tool weight. Postural tremor was measured on five levels of tool weitht : no weight, 400g, 800g, 1200g, and 1600g. Three types of camcorder recording postures were selected. For each condition, postural tremor was measured together with ENG of biceps, deltoid and pectoralis major, and Borg's CR-20 ratings of perceved exertion. Results of the experiment are as follows : frequency analysis of tremor revealed increased amplitude of frequency bands of 2-4Hz and 10-14Hz. Postural tremor of the upper extremeity maintained the initial level until fatigue developed. After the development of fatigue, the rate of change of postural tremor significantly increased. Different tool weights and hand postures showed different rates of tremor increase. Time tp fatigue and corresaponding endurance time were positively correlated with Borg's RPE scores.

• Proceedings of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association Conference
• /
• autumn
• /
• pp.98-100
• /
• 2004

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2005

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is often attributed to malalignment and maltracking of patella within the patellofemoral joint. Most exercise for PFPS has focused on selectively strengthening the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO). This study was designed to identify the effect of medial, lateral wedge and difference of Quadriceps angle (Q-angle) on vastus medialis oblique/vastus lateralis muscle (VL) activity ratios. The subjects were twenty young adult males who had not experienced any knee injury. They were asked to perform isometric contraction exercises in three postures using medial and lateral wedge. The EMG activity of the VL and VMO were recorded in three postures by surface electrodes and normalized by %MVC values derived from seated, isometric knee extensions. The normalized EMG activity levels (%MVC) of the VL and VMO for the three postures of the lower extremities were compared using 2-way repeated measures ANOVA with 1 between-subject factor (group), and 1 within-subject factor (wedge). Results of repeated measures of ANOVA's revealed that the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise produced significantly greater EMG activity of VMO/VL ratios in Group I (Q-angle $18^{\circ}$ or less) (p<.05). But, the medial wedge isometric contraction exercise was no significant difference of VMO/VL ratios in Group II (Q-angle $19^{\circ}$ or more) (p>.05). These results have important implications for selective VMO muscle strengthening exercises in PFPS patients.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.481-489
• /
• 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop an ergonomic checklist (AULA: Agricultural Upper-Limb Assessment) which can assess the risks of the work-related upper limb disorders of farming tasks in Korea. Background: There are few assessment tools that reflect the current condition of agricultural works as of now. Method: AULA was developed as following three stages. First of all, a physiological experiment was conducted with selected 14 upper limb postures which are frequently occurred in farming tasks and then, an ergonomic checklist was developed with determining risk levels of each body posture based on the experimental findings. Lastly, the ergonomic checklist was validated by comparing with the existing assessment tools. Results: When comparing the AULA which was developed in this study with the existing assessment tools, it was found that the AULA may get over limits of the existing ones which are sensitive to particular postures, but aren't sensitive to the rest of them. Conclusion: It is predicted that the developed upper limb posture assessment tool which gets over the existing tools' limits and is proper for domestic farm work conditions, will help to reduce musculoskeletal disorders caused by farm works, by assessing farm works more easily and objectively. Application: By further developing the theoretical groundwork on the induction of muscular skeletal system symptoms relating to agricultural works, it is expected to improve the level of preventing and managing such muscular skeletal system symptoms in the field of agricultural and farming works, which is relatively less advanced in terms of labor difficulties.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2005

Two hundreds of female aged 19 years old and up were recruited to evaluate the postural changes and bilateral variation of asymmetry over age. To find out the differences among the age group, subjects were classified into 5 groups, early young age(19-29), late young age(30-39), early middle age(40-49), late middle age(50-59), and old age(60-). 35 body measurements were taken by the 3-D body scanner which allowed us to take measurements which cannot be measured using traditional methods, including the shape of a cross section, slice area surface are, and volume. Bilateral variations were observed as a function of age; Depth of scapular point level, scapular point to center back, and blade angle. Postural change of anterior cervical angle, upper anterior thoracic angle, upper posterior thoracic angle, posterior cervical angle, and center back/center front ratio were also exhibited. In each measurements, subjects were classified into normal, and abnormal group. Percentiles of abnormal in shoulder line angle, blade angle, neck point $\∼$ acromial point $\∼$ scapular point, posterior cervical angle, and upper posterior thoracic angle were increased over age group. The upper body of lateral view was classified into 3 types of posture based on the previous research; straight, erect(leaning back), and stooped(bent forward). The percentiles of subjects who have straight postures were decreased as a function of age, but those of stooped postures were increased. Subjects who have erect postures did not so. The stooped posture group shows the big cervical fossa angle, anterior cervical angle, posterior cervical angle, upper posterior thoracic angle, and the small upper anterior thoracic angle comparing to the straight and erect posture group. These results could be apply for clothing construction reflecting the changes in back, shoulder, neck, and the bilateral asymmetry according to the target age group.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.115-126
• /
• 2008

The construction of an athlete's tight-fitting garments is very important to the wearer in terms of athletic performance. Therefore pattern development of tight-fitting garments must allow for the full range of human movement and postures. In this study the relationship between the construction of a skate pants pattern and clothing fitting was explored with the aim of improving the comfort of the clothing. The four male subjects were university students between the ages of 20 to 24. Subjective wear sensations of the experimental garments were rated using a seven-point Likert scale on four consecutive days. While wearing the garments, subjects were asked to take five different postures including waist flexion, sitting and others. A Likert-type scale was used for the evaluation, with 7 points indicating the best fit in tight-fitting pants. Results showed differences in the front-rise length and back-rise length between basic pants(A) and modified pants(B,C,D) were -5.16cm and +5.64cm. Comparing the basic pants pattern(A) with modified pants pattern(B), the latter was superior to basic pants(A) in terms of pressure sensation and closeness of fit, but there was no significant difference. Among the four tight-fitting skate pants, A and B pants were superior to the others in terms of fitting and stability of waist and hip sections. In the case of the skate pants, the number of cutting lines in the pattern had an influence on clothing comfort. A minimum cutting line for tight skate pants was better than a maximum cutting line in terms of clothing comfort.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.22-40
• /
• 2008

Unnatural working postures usually cause musculoskeletal problems for workers in work field, especially in traditional industry. Many analysis and survey methodologies have been developed to identify unnatural postures and disorder risks in workplaces. The Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System (OWAS) and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) are the representative methods and applied widely. This study applied the both tools to investigate the work field of a manufacturing factory of the water heater's case. We divided the manufacturing process into nine workshops, took the pictures of working motions by DV camera and analyzed the postures on OWAS. From the OW AS results, we could identify the risks level of musculoskeletal symptoms as four Action Categories (AC). And from the comparison of OWAS and NMQ results, we could provide the suggestions to improve the working methods and environment. From the results of OWAS, we found that the operators' head/neck and back were above AC3 in some workshops. If the situation continued in long period, the operators might have the risk to get musculoskeletal symptoms. From the investigation of NMQ, we also found that the percentage of aches on neck, shoulders and lower back were higher than other parts of body. The correlation between aches and jobs was more than 75%. So we provided some suggestions to improve: work rotation and adjustment of work surface/height to fit in with Ergonomics. Then the risks of musculoskeletal symptoms would be reduced.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2011

This study developed a method of calculating dynamic wearing ease (DWE) to make patterns for coverall work clothing. The DWE was measured from 3D body scan data of women in their 20's (n = 10). The body postures adopted for measuring the DWE were sitting and deep bending postures. Three types of experimental patterns (A, B, C) were developed. The DWE was applied at the waist and hip lines of the pattern. The location and size of the DWE varied from one pattern to another. For pattern B, DWE of 8.8cm was applied at the back of the waistline. For pattern C, 5.3cm was applied at the waist for the center back line, and 3.5cm was applied at the under hip level. The comfort of the experimental clothing was evaluated in six body postures. The results showed that patterns B and C were comfortable at the crotch, shoulders, and arm pits. Pattern C was comfortable at the hip and crotch areas in the arms lifting-up posture and the stepping-up posture. The appearance and fit of the experimental clothing were evaluated by the panels. Patterns B and C fitted better than pattern A at the abdomen. The results suggest that DWE should be applied at the waist and hip levels for making coverall work clothing patterns.

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