Measuring the likelihood of VR visual fatigue through ocular biomechanics

Immersion in virtual reality is still linked to symptoms of visual fatigue such as eye strain, dizziness, and overall discomfort. Studies have investigated visual fatigue through pre- and post-immersion tests of the visual function. In this work, we extend on our previous study and derive a visual fatigue likelihood metric using biomechanical analysis. Previously, we have investigated the effect of VR on the vergence system during immersion. The proposed visual fatigue metric exhibited a significant correlation to vergence angle variability which was previously linked to vergence accommodation conflict in VR. We also discuss subjective feedback and its relationship with the proposed visual fatigue metric.     

Comparing the revised NIOSH lifting equation to the psychophysical,biomechanical and physiological criteria used in its development

The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic and comprehensive comparison between the recommended weights of lift (RWL) from the revised NIOSH lifting equation, and the specific biomechanical, psychophysical and physiological criteria that were stated to be used in the equation's development. A composite acceptable load (CAL) table was developed for the 216 conditions presented in the female lifting table of Snook and Ciriello (1991). Each CAL value was calculated to correspond to the most conservative load of the three design criteria. The RWLs caused lumbar compression forces close to the biomechanical limit of 3400 N for lifts below knuckle height, but resulted in compression forces that are much lower at higher lifting heights. At moderate lifting frequencies, the average RWL would be acceptable to more than 95% of female workers according to the psychophysical criterion. At the highest frequencies, the RWL was found to be an average of 63% of the CAL values based on the integration of the psychophysical and physiological criteria. It is recommended that ergonomists acknowledge the very conservative nature of the revised NIOSH lifting equation when using it to evaluate occupational lifting tasks.     

Studies on a New Concept of 3D Data Integration about Reaches and Forces of a Disabled Person on a Wheelchair (CAD Methods in Car and Market Ergonomics)

The article presents a new concept of combining the three dimensions (3D) of a person's manipulation space. The data concern information about the reach of the arms and biomechanical data about limiting the load of a disabled person sitting in a wheelchair. Measurement data were acquired empirically, on original measuring station. The data included, respectively, arms' reach (static and dynamic) or, alternatively, measurements of limiting forces. The obtained data were processed into virtual 3D surfaces of arms' reach and forces. These surfaces provide the required graphic model of anthropotechnical and biomechanical data. Developed model was utilized to perform a virtual analysis of the accessibility of a disabled person to technical means: in a market sale space and in the ergonomic analysis into the space of a personal car. The presented method of 3D graphic modeling of anthropometrical and biomechanical data can be universally applied in ergonomic designing of work stations not only for disabled persons. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The impact of drywall handling tools on the low back

Carpenters and other construction workers who install drywall have high rates of strains and sprains to the low back and shoulder. Drywall is heavy and awkward to handle resulting in increased risk of injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate several low-cost coupling tools that have the potential to reduce awkward postures in drywall installers. Five coupling tools were evaluated using the Lumbar Motion Monitor that measures trunk kinematics and predicts probability of low back disorder group membership risk (LBD risk). Workers answered surveys about their comfort while using each tool. The results indicate that use of the 2-person manual lift and the J-handle provide the best reduction in awkward postures, motions, low back sagittal moment, and LBD risk. The two-person manual lift appears to be the safest method of lifting and moving drywall, though using the two-person J-handle also significantly reduces injury risk. Given that carpenters are skeptical about using equipment that can get in the way or get lost, a practical recommendation is promotion of two-person manual lifting. For single-person lifts, the Old Man tool is a viable option to decrease risk of MSDs.     

Biomechanical assessment of lateral stiffness elements in the suspension system of a backpack

The purpose of this study was to examine the change in load distribution characteristics associated with adding lateral stiffness elements (rods) to a rucksack (backpack). A load distribution mannequin was instrumented with two 3D load cells to allow determination of the load applied to the shoulders and upper torso independent of the load applied to the hips and lower trunk. Position and mass of the payload (25?kg) were fixed at the centre of the volume of the rucksack and held constant during all testing. It was hypothesized that lateral rods would provide a force bridge that transfers part of the vertical load of the pack from the upper back and shoulders to the hip belt thereby reducing the vertical load on the torso, and possibly reducing the horizontal reaction force that produces a shear load on the spine. Results showed that these active stiffness elements shifted 14% of the vertical load from the upper torso to the pelvic region with lumbar shear load remaining relatively unchanged for all combinations of shoulder strap and waist belt tension. The lateral rods also provided a mean increase of 12% in the extensor moment at the L3?–?L4 level, thus reducing some demand on the erector spinae muscles.     

Biomechanically and electromyographieally assessed load on the spine in self-paced and force-paced lifting work

The purpose of this study was to measure dose of spinal load when different pacing methods were applied to lifting work and to develop methodology for such measurements. The compressive load on the spine computed by a dynamic biomechanical model and the electromyographic activity of back muscles were used for describing the spinal load. Five men and five women worked in a laboratory on two days lifting a box up and down for 30 min on both days, on one day force-paced (4 lifts/min), and on the other self-paced in random order. The weight of the box was rated by the subjects to be acceptable for the work done. The lift rate of our female subjects was higher and that of the male subjects lower in self-paced than in force-paced work. There were no significant differences in peak lumbosacral compressions nor in the amplitude distributions of electromyography between the two pacing methods. The biomechanically-calculated compressive forces on the spine were lower (about 2·7 kN for the men and 2·3 kN for women) than the biomechanical recommendations for safe lifting, but the EMG activity showed quite high peaks so that for 1% of work time the activity was on women above 60% and on men above 40% of the activity during maximum isometric voluntary test contraction.     

Evaluation of artificial neural network modelling to predict torso muscle activity

Owing to the complexities involved in obtaining direct measures of in vivo muscle forces, validation of predictive models of muscle activity has been difficult. An artificial neural network (ANN) model had been previously developed for the estimation of lumbar muscle activity during moderate levels of static exertion. The predictive ability of this model is evaluated in this study using several techniques, including comparison of response surfaces and composite statistical tests of values derived from model output, with multiple EMG experimental datasets. ANN-predicted activation levels were accurately modelled to within 3% across a range of experiments and levels of combined flexion/extension and lateroflexion loadings. The results indicate both a high degree of consistency in the averaged muscle activity measured in several different experiments, and substantiate the ability of the ANN model to predict generalized recruitment patterns. It also is suggested that the use of multiple comparison methods provides a better indication of model behaviour and prediction accuracy than a single evaluation criterion.     

Biomechanical comparison of carpet-stretching devices

Peak impact forces, measured from seven male carpetlayers using a knee-kicker over 39 trials were 2933?N (SD 397), taking 9·5?ms (SD ± 1·1) to reach peak. The knee-kicking cycle involved high knee decelerations of 880?m.s^?2 (SD ±271). Angles at peak force for the knee (63° SD ± 10°) and hip (80° SD ± 35°) showed considerable variation between individuals. Kneeling forces on the non-kicking leg during the kick cycle were 894?N: comparative forces were 368?N and 476?N measured during use of the power stretcher and crab re-stretcher, respectively. Under dynamic conditions the effective mechanical advantage of the knee-kicker was less than 1·0. In comparison, the mechanical advantage of the power stretcher was approximately 14 times greater over the stretch action. When tested with a crab re-stretcher, the breaking strength of the smooth-edge to which the carpet attaches averaged 2384?N (SD ± 245). Design guidelines for an improved carpet stretching device are provided.     

Development and validation of a three dimensional dynamic biomechanical lifting model for lower back evaluation for careful box placement

One of the major causes to low back injury is the box lifting activity, thus for many years biomechanics has been utilized by designers for ergonomic evaluations of the box lifting activity which includes the placement of the box. More recently these ergonomic investigations have focused on the careful placement of the box. The AnyBody (AB) biomechanical models and optimization within the AB software system in conjunction with motion capture has been shown to obtain adequate estimates of joint reaction forces of the body. To date there has not been a dynamic 3D box lifting model developed and validated for carefully placing a box using the AB modeling system and motion capture. Thus the focus of this paper is on the development, verification and validation of a box lifting full body model for lower back evaluations for a dynamic lifting activity for carefully placing a box on a shelf.