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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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Forsman M, Fan X, Rhen IM, Lind CM. Mind the gap - development of conversion models between accelerometer- and IMU-based measurements of arm and trunk postures and movements in warehouse work. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2022; 105:103841. [PMID: 35917697 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sensor type (accelerometers only versus inertial measurement units, IMUs) and angular velocity computational method (inclination versus generalized velocity) have been shown to affect the measurements of arm and trunk movements. This study developed models for conversions between accelerometer and IMU measurements of arm and trunk inclination and between accelerometer and IMU measurements of inclination and generalized (arm) velocities. Full-workday recordings from accelerometers and IMUs of arm and trunk postures and movements from 38 warehouse workers were used to develop 4 angular (posture) and 24 angular velocity (movement) conversion models for the distributions of the data. A power function with one coefficient and one exponent was used, and it correlated well (r2 > 0.999) in all cases to the average curves comparing one measurement with another. These conversion models facilitate the comparison and merging of measurements of arm and trunk movements collected using the two sensor types and the two computational methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Forsman
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-141 57, Huddinge, Sweden; IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, SE-113 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xuelong Fan
- IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ida-Märta Rhen
- IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, SE-113 65, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Carl Mikael Lind
- IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
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Fan X, Lind CM, Rhen IM, Forsman M. Effects of Sensor Types and Angular Velocity Computational Methods in Field Measurements of Occupational Upper Arm and Trunk Postures and Movements. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21165527. [PMID: 34450967 PMCID: PMC8401405 DOI: 10.3390/s21165527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Accelerometer-based inclinometers have dominated kinematic measurements in previous field studies, while the use of inertial measurement units that additionally include gyroscopes is rapidly increasing. Recent laboratory studies suggest that these two sensor types and the two commonly used angular velocity computational methods may produce substantially different results. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the effects of sensor types and angular velocity computational methods on the measures of work postures and movements in a real occupational setting. Half-workday recordings of arm and trunk postures, and movements from 38 warehouse workers were compared using two sensor types: accelerometers versus accelerometers with gyroscopes-and using two angular velocity computational methods, i.e., inclination velocity versus generalized velocity. The results showed an overall small difference (<2° and value independent) for posture percentiles between the two sensor types, but substantial differences in movement percentiles both between the sensor types and between the angular computational methods. For example, the group mean of the 50th percentiles were for accelerometers: 71°/s (generalized velocity) and 33°/s (inclination velocity)-and for accelerometers with gyroscopes: 31°/s (generalized velocity) and 16°/s (inclination velocity). The significant effects of sensor types and angular computational methods on angular velocity measures in field work are important in inter-study comparisons and in comparisons to recommended threshold limit values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelong Fan
- IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (X.F.); (I.-M.R.); (M.F.)
| | - Carl Mikael Lind
- IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (X.F.); (I.-M.R.); (M.F.)
- Division of Ergonomics, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Hälsovägen 11C, SE-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| | - Ida-Märta Rhen
- IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (X.F.); (I.-M.R.); (M.F.)
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, SE-113 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mikael Forsman
- IMM Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (X.F.); (I.-M.R.); (M.F.)
- Division of Ergonomics, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Hälsovägen 11C, SE-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, SE-113 65 Stockholm, Sweden
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Arvidsson I, Dahlqvist C, Enquist H, Nordander C. Action Levels for the Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Neck and Upper Extremities: A Proposal. Ann Work Expo Health 2021; 65:741-747. [PMID: 33831146 PMCID: PMC8341001 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
There are several well-known risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Despite this knowledge, too many people still work in harmful conditions. The absence of occupational exposure limits (OELs) for physical workload impedes both supervision and preventive work. To prevent myalgia, tendon disorders, and nerve entrapments in the upper musculoskeletal system, we propose action levels concerning work postures, movement velocities and muscular loads recorded by wearable equipment. As an example, we propose that wrist velocity should not exceed 20°/s as a median over a working day. This has the potential to reduce the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in highly exposed male occupational groups by 93%. By reducing upper arm velocity in highly exposed female groups to the suggested action level 60°/s, the prevalence of pronounced neck/shoulder myalgia with clinical findings (tension neck syndrome) could be reduced by 22%. Furthermore, we propose several other action levels for the physical workload. Our ambition is to start a discussion concerning limits for physical workload, with the long-term goal that OELs shall be introduced in legislation. Obviously, the specific values of the proposed action levels can, and should, be discussed. We hope that quantitative measurements, combined with action levels, will become an integral part of systematic occupational health efforts, enabling reduction and prevention of work-related MSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inger Arvidsson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Medicon Village, SE-223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | - Camilla Dahlqvist
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Medicon Village, SE-223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | - Henrik Enquist
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Medicon Village, SE-223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | - Catarina Nordander
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Medicon Village, SE-223 81, Lund, Sweden
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Rolander B, Forsman M, Ghafouri B, Abtahi F, Wåhlin C. Measurements and observations of movements at work for warehouse forklift truck operators. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS 2021; 28:1840-1848. [PMID: 34193025 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2021.1943866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Inclinometry and video analyses can provide objective measures of physical workloads. The study aim was to measure and observe arm, back and head postures and movements among forklift truck operators (FLTOs) during a working day, analyzing differences between types of forklift trucks and to assess reported workload and health. Twenty-five male FLTOs in a high-level warehouse were randomly included. The data collected comprised technical measurements, video analyses of postures and movements, and a questionnaire measuring health, pain and workload. On average, the FLTOs rotated their head more than 45°, in total, 232 times/h. Video analysis revealed that FLTOs periodically drive the forklift truck sideways with the head rotated in the direction of travel, and in periods look upwards, in which the head is highly rotated and extended. Inclinometry and observations during the working day has the potential to be a valuable part of risk assessment promoting occupational safety and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Rolander
- School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden.,Futurum, Academy for Health and Care, Region Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Mikael Forsman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.,Division of Ergonomics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
| | - Bijar Ghafouri
- Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Farhad Abtahi
- Division of Ergonomics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Wåhlin
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.,Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Institute for Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Schall MC, Zhang X, Chen H, Gallagher S, Fethke NB. Comparing upper arm and trunk kinematics between manufacturing workers performing predominantly cyclic and non-cyclic work tasks. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2021; 93:103356. [PMID: 33454432 PMCID: PMC9298156 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among manufacturing workers. Exposure to non-neutral postures and high movement speeds associated with MSDs among manufacturing workers may depend on the extent of the variability in the work tasks performed (i.e., predominantly "cyclic" versus "non-cyclic" work). The objectives of this study were to (i) compare mean levels of full-shift exposure summary metrics based on both posture and movement speed between manufacturing workers performing predominantly cyclic (n = 18) and non-cyclic (n = 17) tasks, and (ii) explore patterns of between- and within-worker exposure variance and between-minute (within-shift) exposure level and variation within each group. Inertial sensors were used to measure exposures for up to 15 full shifts per participant. Results indicated (i) substantially higher upper arm and trunk movement speeds among workers performing predominantly cyclic tasks relative to workers performing non-cyclic tasks despite similar postures, and (ii) greater exposure variability both between and within workers in the non-cyclic group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Schall
- Auburn University, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 3323F Shelby Center for Engineering Technology, Auburn, AL, 36849-5346, USA.
| | - Xuanxuan Zhang
- Marshall University, Department of Applied Sciences and Technology, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, 25755, WV, USA.
| | - Howard Chen
- Auburn University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1418 Wiggins Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849-5346, USA.
| | - Sean Gallagher
- Auburn University, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 3304 Shelby Center for Engineering Technology, Auburn, AL, 36849-5346, USA.
| | - Nathan B Fethke
- University of Iowa, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, S347 College of Public Health Building, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
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Sala E, Lopomo NF, Tomasi C, Romagnoli F, Morotti A, Apostoli P, De Palma G. Importance of Work-Related Psychosocial Factors in Exertion Perception Using the Borg Scale Among Workers Subjected to Heavy Physical Work. Front Public Health 2021; 9:678827. [PMID: 33996736 PMCID: PMC8116491 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.678827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to analyse the role of several environmental and time variables, as well as individual and psychosocial factors, on the perception of exertion, expressed by using the Borg scale, on logistics workers performing heavy manual tasks. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 56 subjects working in logistics sector that were interviewed on the perceived exertion required to execute a task of manual lifting of heavy loads, by using the Borg scale. The interviews were carried out during different shifts, at different times during the shifts and during several different months of the year. We also assessed the workers' anthropometric characteristics, length of service, any musculoskeletal diseases, and physical activity outside work. Workers were also interviewed using the structured OREGE questionnaire, in order to evaluate the main symptoms of stress and work-related psychosocial risk factors. Results: Overall, the subjective perception of the strength exerted by the workers exposed to a high risk of manual handling of loads was moderate. The rating attributed using the Borg scale showed no correlation with any of the investigated variables. 100% of the workers denied to suffer from symptoms of stress, whereas in terms of psychosocial factors, the workload was globally perceived as positive. Conclusion: The study results support the hypothesis that optimal work conditions-from a psychosocial point of view-reduce the subjective perception of exertion by workers even if exposed to a high risk of biomechanical overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Sala
- Unit of Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Occupational Prevention, University Hospital Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Cesare Tomasi
- Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Romagnoli
- Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Morotti
- Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Pietro Apostoli
- Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Palma
- Unit of Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Occupational Prevention, University Hospital Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.,Unit of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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