• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.57-69
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• 2003

This study was performed to investigate the isometric endurance time as percentages of maximum voluntary contraction. Electromyogram(EMG) and Borg's CR-I0 value were measured by push-pull-up-down tasks for 10 healthy males. The normalized EMG value and the MPF(mean power frequency) were used to estimate the muscle recruitment pattern and the development of muscle fatigue. The subjects exerted and maintained 5 levels of %MVC(maximum voluntary contraction) in $90^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion/ 180oelbow extension at sitting posture. The up-task showed the lower endurance time and higher Borg's CR-I0 value than the other task types. Comparing Rohmert's curve with the endurance time of task types. Rohmert's curve overestimated the endurance time of up-task and underestimated the endurance time of push-pull-down tasks. The normalized EMG value showed that muscles recruitment patterns were different from task types. The 4 muscles(biceps brachii muscle, tricep brachii muscle. middle deltoid muscle. trapezius muscle) recruitment patterns of up-task were higher than those of other tasks. The MPF value decreased with the endurance time, and the shift of MPF at up-task was larger than that of the other task types.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.75-86
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• 2005

To investigate the fatigue characteristic of upper limbs, this study analyzed RMS(root mean square) and MPF(mean power frequency) value between initial and terminal stages of each experiment condition. And the effect of intermittent endurance time was evaluated using the Borg's CR10 value that was measured for the parts of upper limb. According to the results of ANOVA on RMS value, there were significant difference on the %MVC about push, pull, and down force exertion. Particularly the ANOVA of up force exertion was significant difference on shoulder flexion, elbow flexion and rest time as well as %MVC. The results of ANOVA for MPF value were significant difference on the %MVC in regard of the push and up force exertion. In case of up force exertion, MPF value tended to shift low frequency at all of the experiment conditions. According to the analysis of duty cycle, RMS value considerably increased over 50% duty cycle and as the %MVC increased, the duty cycle affected the increase of RMS value. MPF value for up and down force exertion decreased at 33%, 50% and 67% duty cycle for all of %MVC. Borg CR10 value of hand and forearm were below the 3-point to the 40% of endurance time at 30%MVC and to the 20% of endurance time at 50%MVC with the exception of up force exertion. But Borg CR10 values of upper arm and shoulder at up force exertion were more than 3-point to the 20% of endurance time at 30%MVC and in the start point of endurance time at 50%MVC.

• IE interfaces
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.222-228
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• 2003

Computer-dominated jobs and industrial automation have rapidly created work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) and WMSDs are also founded in employees of other general industries. WMSDs has been growing problems for Korean industries with higher incidence rate every year. The objective of this paper is to analyze the effects of the neck muscle workload according to postures(joint angle) and load weights. Seven male students participated in this study. Neck workload was rated on each person using a Borg's CR-10 scale. ANOVA showed that the CR-10 ratings were statistically significant according to postures and load weights. To reduce the large number and severity of WMSDs, which employees have been experiencing, we need to redesign the job in workplace so that we can control hazards that are reasonably likely to be causing or contributing to the WMSDs. The results of this study can be used to establish the safety criteria of joint angle and weight of neck workload.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.96-100
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• 2012

Low back pain (LBP) is a major issue in modern industrialized society which is mainly caused by manual material handling (MMH) tasks. The objective of this study was to provide scientific data for establishing work standard for Korean workers throughout the laboratory experiment including some specific lifting tasks. Thirty male college students were recruited as participants. The maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), recommended weight limit (RWL), and psychophysical safety weight using Borg's CR-10 scale were studied. Results showed that the RWL was 8.4% MVC higher than the proposed psychophysical safety weight. Based on this result, it is suggested that the NIOSH lifting equation (NLE) should not be directly applied to Korean without reasonable modifications. The ratio of psychophysical safety weight to MVC was ranged from 20.1 to 26.4%. It is expected that use of the methodology in this study may provide better expectation of the work ability of Korean for reducing lower back pains caused by MMH.

• Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.151-157
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• 1996

Postural tremor of the upper arm in a static posture was measured to provide guidelines of hand tool weight. Three types of camera recording postures were selected. Postural tremor was measured on five levels of tool weights; no weight, 400g, 800, 1200g, and 1600g. For each conditions, upper arm postural tremor was measured together with EMG of biceps, deltoid, and pectoralis major, and Borg's CR-20 scale ratings of perceived exertion. Results of the experiment are as follows; Frequency analysis of tremor revealed that increased amplitude of frequency band of 2-4Hz and 10-14Hz was observed. Postural tremor of the upper arm maintained the initial level until fatigue developed. After the development of fatigue, the rate of the change of postural tremor was significantly increased. Different tool weights and hand postures showed different rate of tremor increase. And time to fatigue and the corresponding endurance time was positively correlated with Borg's RPF scores.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 1996

In light-weight hand tools, static posture may result in postural fatigue. Psotural tremor of the upper extremity in a static posture was measured to provide guidelines for hand tool weight. Postural tremor was measured on five levels of tool weitht : no weight, 400g, 800g, 1200g, and 1600g. Three types of camcorder recording postures were selected. For each condition, postural tremor was measured together with ENG of biceps, deltoid and pectoralis major, and Borg's CR-20 ratings of perceved exertion. Results of the experiment are as follows : frequency analysis of tremor revealed increased amplitude of frequency bands of 2-4Hz and 10-14Hz. Postural tremor of the upper extremeity maintained the initial level until fatigue developed. After the development of fatigue, the rate of change of postural tremor significantly increased. Different tool weights and hand postures showed different rates of tremor increase. Time tp fatigue and corresaponding endurance time were positively correlated with Borg's RPE scores.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.67-79
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• 2007

The objective of this study is to investigate a perceived discomfort and cause of Korean elderly in various activities such as work and leisure as well as in daily activities. 120 subjects (30 female and 30 male for each age: the young and elderly) participated in the interview type of questionnaire. Each participant answered to 41 items of activities of daily living. The examination of each item was progressed with 3 steps: whether to do the activity or not, degree of activity discomfort, and the reasons or causes of discomfort. Borg's CR10 scale is used to measure the degree of discomfort of daily activities. As a result, there are differences for the proportion of performers between two age groups, except for essential activities such as individual maintenance and housekeeping. The elderly complained about their daily activities more than the young did, and the degree of discomfort of women was significantly larger than that of men with aging. There are seven items, the mean degree of discomfort of which is over three points for the elderly, and they showed significant difference between two age groups. It was the important reason that physical capacities such as muscle strength and suppleness are declined. The results showed the characteristics of Korean elderly in the whole daily activities. These will be used to understand various life styles of them and to propose a field or direction of study related to the aging.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.105-110
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• 2008

This study focused on the decreased effect of the work load on using the lower extremity supporter in kneeling posture. Fatigue measures included subjective discomfort ratings through the use of the Borg's CR-10 scale based parameters. The resting period and work method were considered as independent variables. The break time conditions are grouped into 10 seconds after work for 1 min and not exist break time. The method of work conditions are divided into four types. There are kneeling with the lower extremity supporter, kneeling with the knee protector, just kneeling and squatting. The result of the ANOVA of the shift value of subjective discomfort showed the followings: 1) There were differences as regards to the method of the work, the break time and the part of body($p{\leq}0.05$). 2) The lower extremity supporter showed the least subjective discomfort in other part of body except the upper leg.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2013

With diversity of mobile services (e.g., messenger, and social network service) on smartphone, the demand of text input using a soft keyboard is increasing. However, studies on subjective and physiological responses of users for various touch locations are lacking. The present study investigated the ergonomic effects according to touch locations of a soft keyboard on smartphone. The experiment of the present study measured perceived discomfort using Borg's CR-10 scale and electromyography (EMG) on forearm (abductor pollicis longus, and extensor digitorum communis) and thumb (abductor pollicis brevis, and first dorsal interossei) muscles. Perceived discomfort was significantly varied from 0.7 (extremely weak discomfort) to 2.5 (weak discomfort) depending on touch locations. %MVC according to touch locations was only significant at abductor pollicis brevis which varied from 10% to 23%. The experimental results of the present study can be utilized in the ergonomic design of a soft keyboard.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.20 no.4 s.72
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• pp.148-153
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• 2005

Computer dominated jobs and industrial automation have rapidly created work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) and WMSDS are expanding to employee of other general industry. Specific risk factors associated with WMSDs include repetitive motion, heavy lifting, forceful exertion, contact stress, vibration awkward posture and rapid hand and wrist movement. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of the neck muscle workload according to posture(joint angle) and load weight. Seven male students participated in this study. To analyze neck muscle workload was studied on electromyographic(EMG) activity for sternocleidomastoid and trapezius, was subjectively rated using a Borg's CR-10 scale. ANOVA showed that the CR-10 ratings and most EMG root-mean-square (RMS) value were statistically significant improvement according to posture(joint angle) and load weight. The results of this study indicate the joint angle and weight of neck muscle workload to provide safe working conditions. To reduce the large number and severity of WMSDs employees have been experiencing, we need to redesign the job in workplace to identify and control hazards that are reasonably likely to be causing or contributing to the WMSDs.