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Figueira V, Silva S, Costa I, Campos B, Salgado J, Pinho L, Freitas M, Carvalho P, Marques J, Pinho F. Wearables for Monitoring and Postural Feedback in the Work Context: A Scoping Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:1341. [PMID: 38400498 PMCID: PMC10893004 DOI: 10.3390/s24041341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Wearables offer a promising solution for simultaneous posture monitoring and/or corrective feedback. The main objective was to identify, synthesise, and characterise the wearables used in the workplace to monitor and postural feedback to workers. The PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed. Studies were included between 1 January 2000 and 22 March 2023 in Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese without geographical restriction. The databases selected for the research were PubMed®, Web of Science®, Scopus®, and Google Scholar®. Qualitative studies, theses, reviews, and meta-analyses were excluded. Twelve studies were included, involving a total of 304 workers, mostly health professionals (n = 8). The remaining studies covered workers in the industry (n = 2), in the construction (n = 1), and welders (n = 1). For assessment purposes, most studies used one (n = 5) or two sensors (n = 5) characterised as accelerometers (n = 7), sixaxial (n = 2) or nonaxialinertial measurement units (n = 3). The most common source of feedback was the sensor itself (n = 6) or smartphones (n = 4). Haptic feedback was the most prevalent (n = 6), followed by auditory (n = 5) and visual (n = 3). Most studies employed prototype wearables emphasising kinematic variables of human movement. Healthcare professionals were the primary focus of the study along with haptic feedback that proved to be the most common and effective method for correcting posture during work activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vânia Figueira
- Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Rua José António Vidal, 81, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (S.S.); (I.C.); (B.C.); (J.S.); (L.P.); (M.F.); (J.M.); (F.P.)
- H2M—Health and Human Movement Unit, Polytechnic University of Health, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, CRL 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
- Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Silva
- Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Rua José António Vidal, 81, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (S.S.); (I.C.); (B.C.); (J.S.); (L.P.); (M.F.); (J.M.); (F.P.)
- H2M—Health and Human Movement Unit, Polytechnic University of Health, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, CRL 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
- School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Inês Costa
- Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Rua José António Vidal, 81, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (S.S.); (I.C.); (B.C.); (J.S.); (L.P.); (M.F.); (J.M.); (F.P.)
| | - Bruna Campos
- Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Rua José António Vidal, 81, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (S.S.); (I.C.); (B.C.); (J.S.); (L.P.); (M.F.); (J.M.); (F.P.)
| | - João Salgado
- Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Rua José António Vidal, 81, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (S.S.); (I.C.); (B.C.); (J.S.); (L.P.); (M.F.); (J.M.); (F.P.)
| | - Liliana Pinho
- Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Rua José António Vidal, 81, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (S.S.); (I.C.); (B.C.); (J.S.); (L.P.); (M.F.); (J.M.); (F.P.)
- H2M—Health and Human Movement Unit, Polytechnic University of Health, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, CRL 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
- Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Center for Rehabilitation Research (Cir), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Freitas
- Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Rua José António Vidal, 81, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (S.S.); (I.C.); (B.C.); (J.S.); (L.P.); (M.F.); (J.M.); (F.P.)
- H2M—Health and Human Movement Unit, Polytechnic University of Health, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, CRL 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
- Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Center for Rehabilitation Research (Cir), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Carvalho
- Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal;
| | - João Marques
- Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Rua José António Vidal, 81, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (S.S.); (I.C.); (B.C.); (J.S.); (L.P.); (M.F.); (J.M.); (F.P.)
- H2M—Health and Human Movement Unit, Polytechnic University of Health, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, CRL 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
| | - Francisco Pinho
- Escola Superior de Saúde do Vale do Ave, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Rua José António Vidal, 81, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal; (S.S.); (I.C.); (B.C.); (J.S.); (L.P.); (M.F.); (J.M.); (F.P.)
- H2M—Health and Human Movement Unit, Polytechnic University of Health, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, CRL 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
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Lim S, Yang X. Real-time vibrotactile feedback system for reducing trunk flexion exposure during construction tasks. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2023; 110:104019. [PMID: 36948048 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Workplaces are increasingly evaluating the use of wearables for ergonomic assessment and providing biofeedback as a real-time postural intervention to improve workers' posture. However, the effectiveness of such intervention systems has yet to be thoroughly investigated in different types of industrial tasks. This study tested the immediate effects of using vibrotactile feedback in simulated construction work tasks including lifting-lowering, shoveling, and tying rebar, to investigate the potential for such an intervention as a way to instruct workers in reducing excessive trunk flexion exposures. Fourteen male participants completed simulated work tasks with three different feedback locations, namely, no feedback, back, and wrist. The results demonstrate that the 95th, 90th, and 50th percentiles of trunk flexion angles are significantly lower for lifting-lowering and shoveling tasks when the feedback system is used. No significant postural changes were observed for the rebar tying task at any combination of percentile and feedback location. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for each task did not differ significantly between feedback conditions. Productivity remained the same with the feedback for lifting-lowering and rebar tying, while it was significantly reduced (4.5% of working rate reduction) in shoveling. Participants rated the wrist as the most preferred feedback location. The results of this study suggest that vibrotactile feedback has potential as an effective postural intervention for ergonomic risk factors in selected construction work tasks. Implications for the future design of real-time wearable, sensor-based vibrotactile feedback systems for postural control intervention during dynamic work tasks are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sol Lim
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Xiang Yang
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
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Lind CM, Abtahi F, Forsman M. Wearable Motion Capture Devices for the Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Ergonomics-An Overview of Current Applications, Challenges, and Future Opportunities. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:s23094259. [PMID: 37177463 PMCID: PMC10181376 DOI: 10.3390/s23094259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major contributor to disability worldwide and substantial societal costs. The use of wearable motion capture instruments has a role in preventing WMSDs by contributing to improvements in exposure and risk assessment and potentially improved effectiveness in work technique training. Given the versatile potential for wearables, this article aims to provide an overview of their application related to the prevention of WMSDs of the trunk and upper limbs and discusses challenges for the technology to support prevention measures and future opportunities, including future research needs. The relevant literature was identified from a screening of recent systematic literature reviews and overviews, and more recent studies were identified by a literature search using the Web of Science platform. Wearable technology enables continuous measurements of multiple body segments of superior accuracy and precision compared to observational tools. The technology also enables real-time visualization of exposures, automatic analyses, and real-time feedback to the user. While miniaturization and improved usability and wearability can expand the use also to more occupational settings and increase use among occupational safety and health practitioners, several fundamental challenges remain to be resolved. The future opportunities of increased usage of wearable motion capture devices for the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders may require more international collaborations for creating common standards for measurements, analyses, and exposure metrics, which can be related to epidemiologically based risk categories for work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Mikael Lind
- IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Farhad Abtahi
- Division of Ergonomics, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Mikael Forsman
- IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Ergonomics, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, 113 65 Stockholm, Sweden
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