Journal of Fashion Business (패션비즈니스)

The Korean Society of Fashion Business (한국패션비즈니스학회)
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Evaluation of Pressure Distribution, Muscle Activity, and Subjective Comfort according to the Baby Carrier Type

아기 띠 종류에 따른 압력분포와 근활성도, 주관적 착용감 평가

  • Lee, Heeran (Dept. of Clothing and Textiles, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Hong, Kyung Hwa (Dept. of Fashion Design and Merchandising, Kongju National University)
  • 이희란 (충남대학교 의류학과) ;
  • 홍경화 (공주대학교 의류상품학과)
  • Received : 2017.07.11
  • Accepted : 2017.09.08
  • Published : 2017.09.30
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Abstract

Continuous lifting and carrying of babies constitutes a serious physical burden, leading to issues such as muscle fatigue and pain in child-care workers. However, there is a lack of research on the pressure and subjective comfort of baby carriers that are commercially available in the market. Therefore, this study was intended to determine the most comfortable and least burdensome type of baby carrier. This was done by analyzing muscle activity and pressure when subjects carried babies using three types of baby carriers. The types of baby carriers evaluated included a 'baby carrier of thin shoulder straps without back support band (X-type)', a 'baby carrier with a back-support band and without a hip sheet (H-type)', and a 'baby carrier with back support band and hip support (H-hip type). The subjective comfort of subjects wearing each type of baby carrier was investigated and compared to the objectively measured data. As a result, the X-type baby carrier showed the heaviest pressure on the shoulders and the subjective comfort was found to not be good. On the waist region, the H-type and H-hip type baby carriers showed significantly less muscle activation than the X-type baby carrier. However, subjects showed a stronger preference for the X-type baby carrier on the waist region, despite greater muscle activation. This appears to be because although the back-support band disperses the weight and thus improves physiological comfort; the wearers feel cramped and thus, lower their psychological comfort.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : 한국연구재단

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