Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace are a growing problem in Europe. The measurement of these disorders in a working environment presents multiple limitations concerning equipment and measurement reliability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of inertial measurement units against a reference system for their use in the workplace. Ten healthy volunteers conducted three lifting methods (snatching, pushing, and pulling) for manhole cover using a custom-made tool weighting 20 and 30 kg. Participants’ back and dominant arm were equipped with IMU, EMG, and reflective markers for VICON analysis and perception of effort was estimated at each trial using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The Bland–Altman method was used and results showed good agreement between IMU and VICON systems for Yaw, Pitch and Roll angles (bias values < 1, −4.4 < LOA < 3.6°). EMG results were compared to VAS results and results showed that both are a valuable means to assess efforts during tasks. This study therefore validates the use of inertial measurement units (IMU) for motion capture and its combination with electromyography (EMG) and a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) to assess effort for use in real work situations.
Highlights
Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) are the most common work-related problem in Europe
8 of 5–7 the range of motion (ROM) of the Yaw–Pitch–Roll angles computed from the inertial measurement units (IMU) and the and IMU systems during snatching motion
Motion capture was performed by means of IMU and sensors, which which were compared to optoelectronic motion-capture data and EMG sensors, were compared to optoelectronic motion-capture data and Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) the rateffort of each trial, respectively
Summary
Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) are the most common work-related problem in Europe. An international scientific consensus has emerged on a consensual and multifactorial approach to MSDs integrating certain physical, psychological, social and organisational characteristics of work situations [4,5,6,7,8,9]. Despite this multifactorial etiological model, preventions mainly aim to reduce biomechanical and physiological factors as these are the easiest to measure [10]. An improvement in working postures that does not consider the intensification of repetitive gestures fostered by a new work setup might lead to a rebound source of MSDs. Musculoskeletal Disorders; Disorders; US US ISSN.
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