Postural Evaluation Research Articles

A Field-Programmable Gate Array-Based Adaptive Sleep Posture Analysis Accelerator for Real-Time Monitoring.

This research presents a sleep posture monitoring system designed to assist the elderly and patient attendees. Monitoring sleep posture in real time is challenging, and this approach introduces hardware-based edge computation methods. Initially, we detected the postures using minimally optimized sensing modules and fusion techniques. This was achieved based on subject (human) data at standard and adaptive levels using posture-learning processing elements (PEs). Intermittent posture evaluation was performed with respect to static and adaptive PEs. The final stage was accomplished using the learned subject posture data versus the real-time posture data using posture classification. An FPGA-based Hierarchical Binary Classifier (HBC) algorithm was developed to learn and evaluate sleep posture in real time. The IoT and display devices were used to communicate the monitored posture to attendant/support services. Posture learning and analysis were developed using customized, reconfigurable VLSI architectures for sensor fusion, control, and communication modules in static and adaptive scenarios. The proposed algorithms were coded in Verilog HDL, simulated, and synthesized using VIVADO 2017.3. A Zed Board-based field-programmable gate array (FPGA) Xilinx board was used for experimental validation.

Cross-cultural Adaptation, Validity, and Reliability of the Persian Version of Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Adults

Background and Objectives: Back pain and neck pain are prevalent health concerns, emphasizing the importance of identifying effective risk factors for prevention. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and validate a tool assessing back and neck pain in adults, with a specific focus on body posture, to the Persian language. Methods: A methodological study was conducted involving forward and backward translation of the original English questionnaire into the Persian language. Face validity was evaluated with feedback from 30 participants, and content validity was determined using content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index based on expert opinions from 10 physiotherapy specialists. A total of 237 participants were involved in the study, with 90 completing the questionnaire again after one week for test re-test reliability assessment. Results: The Persian version of the questionnaire demonstrated high content validity with a CVR above 0.6. The Persian version had suitable face validity. Test re-test reliability, assessed using percentage agreement and the Kappa coefficient, revealed satisfactory results, with all percentages above 70%. Notably, the intraclass correlation coefficient for questions 16 and 20 was 0.898 and 0.878, respectively. Conclusion: The Persian version of the tool exhibits high validity and reliability, making it a valuable instrument for use within the Persian-speaking community.

Postural analysis of adolescent young athletes in different sports branches

The effects of posture on athletic performance have been the focus of attention of many researchers and the importance of body posture in achieving success has become undeniable. This study aimed to perform the postural evaluation of adolescent youth athletes who are trained in basketball, soccer, volleyball, and swimming branches. A total of 88 adolescent athletes (32 boys and 56 girls) with an average age of ±12.37 years, an average height of ±1.58 cm, an average body weight of ±48.2 kg, an average BMI of ±18.19 and an average training age of ±2.06 years from football, volleyball, and swimming branches actively active in Manisa and Bursa provinces participated in the study. Posture analysis of the athletes was performed using the Apecs-AI Posture Evaluation and Correction System® mobile posture application. The data obtained from the athletes were evaluated with the NewYork Posture Assessment Test (NYPD). The data obtained from the study were analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 package program. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for independent samples. According to the results of the analysis, there was a significant difference between training age and NYPD scores according to branches (p<.05). Significance was found between NYPD and body axis scores in volleyball and soccer athletes (p<.05). There was no difference between NYPD and other variables in swimming and basketball. As a result, it is thought that the effect of the training age variable on posture structures differs specifically according to the branches, and posture is negatively affected as the training age increases in volleyball and soccer players.

Evaluation of craniocervical posture after myofascial pain treatment in adults with bruxism: A randomized clinical trial

BackgroundDespite numerous clinical studies on bruxism management, critical evaluation parameters, including the impact of bruxism pain on quality of life and secondary issues like changes in craniocervical posture, are often disregarded. Research questionEvaluate the effect of two treatments on the craniocervical posture of adult patients with myofascial pain. MethodsThis parallel randomized clinical trial included 60 patients with myofascial pain due to probable bruxism that fulfilled the study requirements. A computer-generated random sequence was used to allocate treatments: botulinum toxin-A or occlusal appliance. Follow-up time was 3 and 6 months. Kyphosis angle (α) and head posture measurement by cervical radiograph were assessed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA (alpha = 0.05). ResultsSixty patients were randomized (mean age 30 ± 7.6) and 6 were excluded from the analysis (did not attend follow-up). No statistically significant difference was observed for the head posture measure (p = 0.98) and kyphosis angle (p = 0.74). Mild pain was reported by one patient after botulinum toxin-A application. SignificanceResults indicate that craniofacial posture does not seem to be influenced by the treatment of pain in bruxers. If a better posture is desired, this should probably be targeted with other therapies. Trial registrationClinical Trials NCT03456154.

Ergonomic Evaluation of Driver Posture and Seats in Metropolitan Subway Vehicles

Ergonomic Evaluation of Driver Posture and Seats in Metropolitan Subway Vehicles

The Relationship between Sleep Quality and Posture: A Study on University Students.

The aim of this study is to investigate body posture, physical exercises, head-neck relationship, and sleep quality among university students. A total of 96 students, with an average age of 20.86 ± 1.24 years and an average BMI of 23.41 ± 2.56, voluntarily participated in the study. The REEDCO Posture Evaluation (RPE) was used to assess the participants' body posture scores. Head and neck measurements were taken using the Apecs-AI Posture Evaluation and Correction System® (Apecs Posture Analysis Pro Plus Version 8.2.6). Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that increased caffeine consumption was associated with poorer sleep quality (r = 0.267, p < 0.05). Additionally, increased participation in physical activities was associated with improved sleep quality, with those engaging in sports having better sleep quality scores (r = -0.278, p < 0.05). As physical activity increased, REEDCO scores decreased (r = -0.423, p < 0.05), while scores for right head (r = 0.210, p < 0.05) and left head (r = 0.247, p < 0.05) increased. Significant negative correlations were found between REEDCO scores and right head (r = -0.296, p < 0.05) and left head (r = -0.463, p < 0.05) scores. In conclusion, due to the limited number of studies investigating head-neck relationships and sleep quality, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn; further and more comprehensive research is needed.

Artificial Intelligence for the Evaluation of Postures Using Radar Technology: A Case Study.

In the last few decades, major progress has been made in the medical field; in particular, new treatments and advanced health technologies allow for considerable improvements in life expectancy and, more broadly, in quality of life. As a consequence, the number of elderly people is expected to increase in the following years. This trend, along with the need to improve the independence of frail people, has led to the development of unobtrusive solutions to monitor daily activities and provide feedback in case of risky situations and falls. Monitoring devices based on radar sensors represent a possible approach to tackle postural analysis while preserving the person's privacy and are especially useful in domestic environments. This work presents an innovative solution that combines millimeter-wave radar technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to detect different types of postures: a series of algorithms and neural network methodologies are evaluated using experimental acquisitions with healthy subjects. All methods produce very good results according to the main parameters evaluating performance; the long short-term memory (LSTM) and GRU show the most consistent results while, at the same time, maintaining reduced computational complexity, thus providing a very good candidate to be implemented in a dedicated embedded system designed to monitor postures.

Comparison of postural assessment and awareness in individuals receiving posture training using the digital AI posture assessment and correction system

Objectives. This study aimed to compare postural assessment and postural awareness using the artificial intelligence posture evaluation and correction system (APECS) in individuals receiving posture training. Methods. Participants’ physical characteristics were recorded. The participants’ posture was evaluated with APECS and the New York posture rating chart test (NYPR), and their body and postural awareness was evaluated with the body awareness questionnaire (BAQ), postural awareness form (PAF) and postural habits and awareness scale (PHAS). Results. In the study, results of the PAF (p = 0.000), BAQ (p = 0.013) and PHAS (p = 0.033) were found to be different between the groups. While the groups were similar in the PHAS sub-dimension of postural habit (p = 0.331), there was a significant difference between the groups in postural awareness (p = 0.04). NYPR results of the participants in the group receiving posture training were similar to those in the group not receiving posture training (p = 0.45). Conclusion. Postural deviations measured by digital posture assessment in individuals receiving posture training were significantly different in the group receiving posture training. Postural awareness and body awareness were better in individuals who received posture training than in individuals who did not receive posture training.

Study of Pain and Disabilities in Musculoskeletal System among Urban Bus Drivers with respect to Body Postures, Job Satisfaction, and Individuals Factors

Background and Objective: Pain and disabilities in the musculoskeletal system can lead to reduced productivity and job turnover. This research aims to study the role of posture, as well as individual and organizational factors, in causing musculoskeletal pain and disabilities among urban bus drivers. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 bus drivers from Hamadan city were investigated using a census method. Standardized questionnaires were employed to assess musculoskeletal disorders and job satisfaction. Additionally, posture evaluation was conducted using the RULA. Finally, common statistical methods were applied in SPSS version 24 for data analysis. Results: The highest and lowest frequencies of pain in the past year were related to the back (94 people, equal to 72.3%) and ankle (5 people, equal to 3.8%), respectively. The average body posture score for the left and right sides of the drivers’ bodies was 5.85±1.14 and 6.06±1.05, respectively. The intensity of pain and disability in the musculoskeletal system had a direct relationship with age, work history, body mass index, and posture score, and an inverse relationship with the average number of hours of sleep. Additionally, the type of work shift and job satisfaction were directly related to pain and disability. Conclusions: severity of pain and disability in the musculoskeletal system was associated with the drivers’ posture score, age, work experience, body mass index, exercise habits, shift work, hours of sleep, and level of job satisfaction. The findings from this study can inform interventions aimed at enhancing the musculoskeletal health of bus drivers.

A Mobile based Decision Support System for Postural Evaluation of Agricultural Activities with Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)

Agriculture is an unorganized sector and it is a very high drudgery prone profession due to the absence of awareness and entry of advanced agricultural technologies. Many farming activities and operations are carried out by farm workers in the agriculture sector, where they are subject to very poor working conditions which can lead to physical and mental stress. Workers in agriculture experience musculoskeletal disorders in various body parts throughout various agricultural operations. These problems are caused by heavy work loads, repetitive movements, uncomfortable postures, prolonged periods of time spent in neutral or unsupported positions and the use of conventional equipment and implements that are not ergonomically built. The ergonomic risk factors present in the workplace can be examined using various evaluation instruments to ascertain the workers abilities and drawbacks. The work-related risks are measured using the scientifically validated posture assessment instruments. Rapid entire body assessment (REBA) is a technique that assess a person’s complete body including wrists, fore arms, elbows, shoulders, neck, trunk, back, legs and knees. It uses a systematic process to find the postural musculoskeletal disorders and risks associated with the job tasks. A mobile application is developed to assess the agricultural activities on the basis of physiological analysis and postural analysis using REBA ergonomics technique. The application evaluates the drudgery involved in the agricultural work by using physical assessment followed by postural ergonomics methods and provide recommendation of correct posture to avoid developing musculoskeletal disorders.

Alinhamento toraco-lombo-pélvico em adolescentes que frequentam aulas de balé clássico

This study aimed to assess factors associated with altered thoraco-lumbo-pelvic alignment among adolescents who attend classical ballet class. 57 adolescents were distributed into a case group formed by student ballet dancers with altered thoraco-lumbo-pelvic alignment and a control group formed by student ballet dancers with neutral alignment. The adolescents were subjected to an anthropometric and postural evaluation (photographic record of posture in the lateral view analysed using the vector graphics editor software Corel Draw 3), abdominal muscle strength test and questionnaire. The practice of ballet through Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) method was 10.47 times more likely to be associated with altered thoraco-lumbo-pelvic alignment than the practice through Vaganova method in adolescents, and muscle strengthening was 6.23 times more likely to be associated with altered alignment when controlling for the other study variables. RAD method combined with muscle strengthening was associated with altered thoraco-lumbo-pelvic alignments among adolescents who showed weak or normal abdominal muscle strength, performed another physical activity, danced ballet for five years or less, had a weekly training load over three hours and usually slept in the prone position. The practice of ballet by the RAD method, in addition to the practice of muscle strengthening, was a factor associated with altered thoraco-lumbar-pelvic alignment.

BIOMEHANICAL AND POSTURAL EVALUATION OF OPTIMAL BIKE FIT FOR NON-TRAUMATIC INJURY PREVENTION AMONG CYCLISTS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

This review article assesses the evidence for the efficacy of bike fit and its impact on cyclist’s posture in averting overuse injuries in cycling and provides a summary of research using a biomechanical approach to give evaluations of joint kinematics, kinetics, or muscle activity. Databases were searched for published material like Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar between 1980 and 2023. Posture, bike fit, and biomechanics of cycling were few keywords used. Twenty-four published articles were included in this review. Clearance of 1–2 inches should be present between the ground and tyres when the bike is lifted while straddling it, for straight and parallel to ground top tubes and sloping top tubes, respectively. Handlebar height should be 1–2 inches below the top of the saddle. The reach of the handlebars should be measured by placing an elbow on the tip of saddle and extended fingers should touch the transverse part of the handlebars. The ball of foot should sit over the pedal axis. In cyclist’s seated position, the knee flexion angle of the extended leg at 6 o’clock position should be 25–30[Formula: see text]. With pedals at 3 and 9 o’clock, the front of the patella should be directly in line with the front of the crank arm. About 10 to 15[Formula: see text] anterior saddle tilt significantly reduces low back discomfort.

Analisis Kinematik Power Clean Terhadap Klub Batavia Bersatu Maju 2024

The purpose of this study is to find out the kinematic analysis of power clean for the Batavia Bersatu Forward 2024 club. This type of research is research. The research population is several members of the Batavia Bersatu Maju weightlifting located in Parung Panjang, Jagabita village, Bogor Regency with a total of 16 lifters, 8 male members and 8 female members. The sampling technique uses Total Sampling as saturated sampling or census, is a sampling technique in which the entire research population is selected as a sample. Kinematic data collection of power clean, namely angles using APECS software media: Body Posture Evaluation by sampling, namely by recording a video after that and then analyzing each angle of kinematic movement of power clean. From the results of the kinematic analysis of the power clean, they include Hip Angle, Torso Angle and Knee Angle. The results of the study showed that athletes 1 to 16 were inferred to be the Angle that was present to analyze the power clean, namely the Knee Angle, Hip Angle, and Torso Angle. The number of Mean Knees was 114.1875 ago, the Mean Torso was 102.125 ago, and the Mean Hip was 131.354. Then the Median Knee Number 102, then the Median Torso 111, then the Median Hip Number 102, then finally the number of Knee Mode 111, then Torso Mode 104, then Hip Mode 128.5.

Evaluation of Pain-Associated Behavioral Changes in Monoiodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritic Rats Using Dynamic Weight Bearing Analysis.

Pain is the primary clinical indication of osteoarthritis (OA), and behavioral assessments in rodent pain models are widely used to understand pain patterns. These preclinical pain assessments can also help us to understand the effectiveness of emerging therapeutics for prolonged OA pain management. Along with evoked methods like mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, non-evoked methods such as dynamic weight bearing (DWB) analysis are valuable tools for behavioral assessments of pain. Both these methods were utilized to study pain-induced behavioral changes in a monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritic pain model, which is a well-established preclinical OA pain model. However, the utility of DWB analysis as an indicator of long-term pain sensitivity (more than 4 weeks) remains largely unexplored. Understanding the long-term sensitivity of DWB is valuable to study the effectiveness of novel prolonged pain-relieving therapeutics. Here, we studied the dynamic behavioral changes in MIA-induced OA rats over a period of 16 weeks using DWB measurements. Female Sprague Dawley rats were injected in the right knee joint with MIA (3 mg) using X-ray guidance. Multiple dynamic postural evaluations such as ipsilateral weight percentage, paw area, contralateral/ipsilateral weight ratio and area ratio were assessed to understand the behavioral changes. The data showed that the ipsilateral weight bearing percentage alone is not sufficient to assess pain-related behavior beyond 6 weeks. This study shows the advantages and limitations of dynamic weight bearing as an assessment tool for the long-term progression of pain behavior in MIA-induced OA rats.

Influence of regularly repeated asymmetric load on the locomotor system in sweep rowers

ABSTRACT This study aims to objectively evaluate the trunk posture of sweep rowers (bow-side rowers/stroke-side rowers) and compare the results with scull rowers and non-rowing controls. Sixty-four healthy individuals divided into four groups were assessed using a DIERS formetric III 4D device that is based on a method of moiré topography. There were seven parameters observed in an assessment of standing posture, and eight parameters were studied for an evaluation of posture during the gait cycle. In comparison with non-rowing controls and scull rowers, stroke-side rowers showed significantly greater rotational deviation of the trunk at the L3 vertebra level and a greater magnitude of scoliosis angle during walking throughout the single support phase on the left leg (p < 0.05). Stroke-side rowers also demonstrated greater magnitude of scoliosis angle than non-rowing controls in double support phase in the transition from the left to the right leg (p < 0.05). Moreover, as opposed to non-rowing controls, stroke-side rowers and scull rowers showed significantly greater values of coronal imbalance (p < 0.05). Bow-side rowers differed from non-rowing controls and scull rowers in a significantly greater magnitude of scoliosis angle throughout the single support phase on the left leg (p < 0.05). Trial registration number: clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT05685563).

IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF CUSTOM-MADE BOSTON-TYPE THORACO-LUMBO-SACRAL ORTHOSIS ON BALANCE AND POSTURAL STABILITY IN ADOLESCENT IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) can impair postural stability and balance functions. Boston brace systems with varying external corrective force strategies are used as one of the common conservative treatments in AIS. Although multiple studies have found that various orthotic therapies enhance curve advancement, the effects of spinal bracing on postural equilibrium and stability remain unknown. The primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of the immediate use of custom-made Boston-type thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthosis (TLSO) on balance and postural stability in AIS. Postural balance using the center of pressure (CoP) measures was measured by the HUMACⓇ Balance &amp; Tilt System (CSMi, Stoughton, MA). The line laser tool (Bosch, GLL 3 X P, Stuttgart, Germany) was used for measuring the decompensation distance for postural evaluation. The balance parameters such as stability score (%), path length (cm), average velocity (cm/s), and compensation–decompensation for posture were evaluated and compared between brace-on and brace-off conditions. Improvement of standing posture indicates spinal symmetry and cosmesis whereas enhancement of static balance was statistically nonsignificant ([Formula: see text] &gt; 0.05). Although the mean stability score, path length and average velocity of CoP in braced condition (91.4 ± 4.57, 115.62 ± 22.34 cm and 1.05 ± 0.12 cm/s) was found to be improved than unbraced condition (90.5 ± 5.09, 121.46 ± 35.52 cm and 1.11 ± 0.24 cm/s), the results were nonsignificant ([Formula: see text] = 0.078, 0.425 and 0.263). The scoliotic compensation was improved in the braced condition (0.64 ± 0.60 cm) compared to brace-off condition (1.74 ± 0.61 cm) showing improved posture ([Formula: see text] = 0.00013). Wearing the custom-made Boston-type TLSO showed positive effects on static posture and mean balance parameters. In future studies, the long-term effectiveness of this brace should be examined in patients with different spinal curve patterns and degrees of scoliosis.

Inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability of the foot posture index (FPI-6) for assessing static foot posture in elderly female patients with knee osteoarthritis and its association with quadriceps muscle tone and stiffness.

1. To assess the Inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability of FPI-6 total score and individual scores in static foot posture evaluation among elderly female patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), aiming to establish the reliability of the FPI-6 scale. 2. To investigate the disparity between dominant and non-dominant quadriceps characteristics in elderly female KOA patients, as well as explore the correlation between quadriceps characteristics and abnormal foot posture, thereby offering novel insights for the prevention and treatment of KOA. The study enrolled a total of 80 lower legs of 40 participants (all female) with unilateral or bilateral KOA, who were assessed by two raters at three different time points. The inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the FPI-6 was evaluated using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), while the absolute reliability of FPI-6 was examined using the standard error of measurement (SEM), minimum detectable change (MDC), and Bland-Altman analysis. The internal consistency of FPI-6 was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Additionally, MyotonPRO was employed to assess quadriceps muscle tone and stiffness in all participants, and the association between quadriceps muscle tone/stiffness and the total score of FPI-6 was analyzed. Our study found excellent inter-rater and test-retest reliability (ICC values of 0.923 and 0.931, respectively) for the FPI-6 total score, as well as good to excellent reliability (ICC values ranging from 0.680 to 0.863 and 0.739-0.883) for individual items. The SEM and MDC values for the total score of FPI-6 among our study inter-rater were 0.78 and 2.15, respectively. and the SEM and MDC values for the test-retest total score of FPI-6 were found to be 0.76 and 2.11, respectively. Furthermore, the SEM and MDC values between inter-rater and test-retest across six individual items ranged from 0.30 to 0.56 and from 0.84 to 1.56. The Bland-Altman plots and respective 95% LOA showed no evidence of systematic bias. In terms of the mechanical properties of the quadriceps on both sides, the muscle tone and stiffness of rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and vastus lateralis (VL) were significantly higher in the non-dominant leg compared to the dominant leg. Additionally, in the non-dominant leg, there was a significant positive correlation between the muscle tone and stiffness of VM, VL, RF and the total score of FPI-6. However, in the dominant leg, only VM's muscle tone and stiffness showed a significant positive correlation with the total score of FPI-6. The reliability of the FPI-6 total score and its six individual items was good to excellent. Our findings offer a straightforward and dependable approach for researchers to assess foot posture in elderly female patients with KOA. Furthermore, we observed significantly greater quadriceps tension and stiffness in the non-dominant leg compared to the dominant leg. The FPI-6 total score exhibited a significant correlation with changes in quadriceps muscle performance among KOA patients. These observations regarding the relationship between changes in quadriceps muscle performance and foot posture in elderly female KOA patients may provide novel insights for disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Virtual entertainment robot based on artificial intelligence image capture system for sports and fitness posture recognition

Currently, artificial intelligence and virtual technology are widely used in motion monitoring. Virtual entertainment robots can provide adaptive and personalized fitness services for different user groups, allowing users to experience the exercise process in games. This article studies the virtual entertainment robot based on artificial intelligence image capture system for sports and fitness posture recognition. Firstly, this article explores deep learning methods for motion recognition. By constructing a generative adversarial network to obtain discrimination results, and calculating its anti-loss function. This approach can improve the efficiency of human body movement style conversion through adversarial training. Finally, through the evaluation of movement posture and action recognition, quantitative evaluation results and targeted guidance strategies can be provided to help correct incorrect movements and master correct techniques. Using motion capture systems to identify user movements during exercise not only accurately extracts user fitness movement information, but also makes it easier to use and reduces user costs. The system uses motion evaluation techniques for evaluation to help users correct incorrect fitness habits, prevent exercise losses, and exercise more safely and effectively.

Workload analysis using energy expenditure and the work posture evaluation approach with brief method at PT XYZ

Abstract PT XYZ is a company operating in the tire retreading sector on JL. Medan-Banda Aceh, Cot Seurani Village, Muara Batu District, Aceh Utara. Retreading truck tires is carried out through several processes such as inspection, grating, repairing, gluing tire, installing tire treads, installing wheels and rings, cooking tires and finishing. The vulcanization process which is carried out manually and repeatedly makes workers easily fatigued, making them vulnerable to injury and the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). This research aims to calculate the workload of PT XYZ workers. PT XYZ to determine the level of worker fatigue using the Energy Expenditure approach and assessing worker work posture using the BRIEF method to assess work postures that cause complaints of pain in workers’ body parts. Researchers measured the resting pulse and working pulse of 8 workers, then classified the Cardiovascular Load (%CVL) and Energy Expenditure workload levels of the workers and assessed work posture using the BRIEF worksheet. The results of calculating the worker’s workload obtained an average %CVL value of 57.92%, the average result of the worker’s Energy Expenditure was 6,8048 Kcal/8 hours with very heavy work criteria. The average BRIEF work posture value is 3.28 in the high risk category. The suggestions given regarding the problem of workers who easily experience fatigue, high workloads and unergonomic work postures are to increase the number of workers, add benchrest jacks at each work station, add a table with wheels and rings and add chairs for finishing workers, lighten the work and reduce excessive bending activities for tire retreading workers.

Automated Kinect-based posture evaluation method for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of construction workers

ABSTRACT Construction workers often suffer from musculoskeletal disorders due to awkward postures and weight-carrying in hot environments. Previous studies have focused on posture, neglecting weight-carrying or the environment. This study develops an automated real-time version of the RULA-based posture assessment method, identifying a worker’s posture and load weight using an RGB-D Microsoft Kinect sensing camera. The method includes ambient workplace temperature and is tested on a small-scale bricklaying and reinforcement task. Laboratory tests show the method improves assessment efficiency significantly. This is the first of its kind to fully automate the assessment of construction worker WMSD propensity, providing a continuous warning system to replace manual supervision.