• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.553-563
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of gender (male, female) and grip spans (45, 50, 60, 70, 80mm) on total grip strength, resultant force, finger force and subjective discomfort rating. Background: In order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders, studies of hand tools need to be preceded based on grip strength, finger force, and subjective discomfort rating. However, experimental apparatus using tools such as pliers that reflect the actual work place was almost non-existent. Method: Fifty-Two (26 males and 26 females) participants were recruited from the student population. In this study, a pair of revised pliers, which can change grip span from 45 to 80mm was applied to estimate total grip strength, resultant force and individual finger forces. All participants were asked to exert a maximum grip force with three repetitions, and to report the subjective discomfort rating for five grip spans of pliers (45, 50, 60, 70, 80mm). Results: There were significant differences of total grip strength, resultant force, individual finger forces and subjective discomfort rating according to grip span. The lowest total grip strength was obtained from the grip span of 80mm for both genders. For resultant force, the highest resultant force was exerted at grip spans of 50, 60 and 70mm for females and 50 and 60mm for males. The lowest subjective discomfort rating was observed in the 50mm for both genders. Conclusion: Based on the result, 50mm and 60mm grip spans which provide the highest force and lowest discomfort rating might be recommendable for the male and female pliers users. Application: The findings of this study can provide guidelines on designing a hand tool to help to reduce hand-related musculoskeletal disorders and obtain better performance.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.469-474
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation between the stature and the muscle performance ratings and the subjective discomfort rations at performing lower arm's pronation and supination according to change sin the height of working table for more efficient performance at designing a working table and performing a work. For the purpose, this study conducted an experiment targeting 40 people in their 20s, who were classified into 4 groups each group composing 10 people at intervals of 5cm from the standard stature of 166.5cm. The experiment measured the maximum isometric pronation and the supination muscular power, and at measuring the factors, the heights of working tables were set as 800mm, 850mm, and 900mm. From the measurement results, it was found that the stature and the maximum muscular power was correlated. That is, as the experiment groups's average stature is higher, the maximum muscular power was higher. For the correlation between the motion patterns(pronation and supination) and the maximum muscular power, it was seen that the maximum muscular power was higher at performing the pronation than the supination. In the correlation between motion patterns and the subjective discomfort ratings, it was seen that the subjective discomfort rating was higher at performing the supination than the pronation. For the correlation between height adjustment and the subjective discomfort ratings, as the height of working table was lower, the subject discomfort rating was lower. Therefore there was no difference in the maximum muscular power according to the height changes of working table, but it was found that as the working table was higher, the user felt more comfortable.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.695-703
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• 2011

Objective: This study was to investigate the effects of coordinated upper-limb body postures on the subjective discomfort rating, heart rate, and muscle activities. Background: Although generally many checklists such as OWAS, RULA, and REBA were applied to evaluate various body postures, the body postures were might be overestimated or underestimated because each body part(i.e., back, shoulder, and elbow etc.) was evaluated separately, and then added all rates of individual body parts to assess an overall risk level for the body posture in these methodologies. Methods: A total of 20 participants maintained 14 postures which were combinations of back, shoulder, and elbow flexion angles and then muscle activities, subjective discomfort, and heart rates were collected every three minute during a sustained 15 minute and 0.5kg weight holding task. Four muscle groups were investigated: erector spine, anterior deltoid, upper trapezius, triceps brachii. Results: Results showed that subjective discomfort was the lowest when the angle of back and shoulder were both $0^{\circ}s$, while the body posture with $45^{\circ}$ of back angle and $45^{\circ}$ shoulder angle was rated as the most subjective discomfort posture. In general, the subjective discomfort ratings increased as back and shoulder flexion angles increased. It was noted that, however, the subjective discomfort of body posture with a $45^{\circ}$ back angle and $45^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle was lower than that of body posture with a $0^{\circ}$ back and $45^{\circ}$ shoulder flexion angle. The research findings of heart rates and muscle activities showed similar results for the analyses of subjective discomfort ratings. Conclusions: The possible limitations of the current ergonomics evaluation techniques which assessing a body posture with summing all body part score after individually analyzed in this study. Based on the analyses of subjective discomfort, heart rate, and muscle activities, it was recommended that a use of effects of coordinated upper-limb body postures would be considered when one evaluates work-load for various working postures. Application: These findings can be used for developing a more accurate assessment checklist for working posture as well as preventing musculoskeletal disorders of workers in workplaces.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.215-227
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Korea's Honam express train's first- and second-class seat discomfort by using pressure measurement, subjective discomfort rating, and physical compatibility. Background: Over the years, the demand for an express train service is continually increasing. A comfortable ride is important to achieving passenger satisfaction. A train seat plays a significant role in fulfilling passenger seating comfort. With this in view, a field survey and pressure measurements were performed on the selected train seat. Method: The pressure ratio at the body-seat interface (thigh and buttock regions) was measured by the pressure mat system. The interface pressure ratio was calculated and compared. The subjective discomfort rating scale was used to evaluate the subjects' overall feeling. The dimensions of train seats were analysed according to the anthropometric and demographic characteristics of the population data from Size Korea. Results: The results highlighted that the interface pressure ratio was greater while participants sat on the second-class seat than the first-class seat in the left- and right-side thigh regions. Also the pressure ratio was greater for the participants in the 1st~25th percentile height groups (149.8~160.8cm). The subjects rated higher discomfort for the second-class seat than the first-class seat. The physical compatibility results showed that the second-class seat's breadth was inadequate for the 95th and 99th percentile male. Conclusion: Overall, interface pressure measurement, subjective discomfort score and physical compatibility results showed that the second-class seat was more uncomfortable for the passengers than the first-class seat. Application: The adopted methodologies could be used to measure the seating comfort of the train seats.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.439-447
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study is to design a snow-removing tool using an ergonomic approach. Background: It is necessary to remove snow on the garden of a house or side street to prevent a fall hazard. When a user removes snow using a snow-removing tool, he or she experiences lots of physical discomfort. Therefore it is necessary to design a snow-removing tool to reduce a user's physical discomfort. Method: In this study, a new design for a snow-removing tool was developed considering user needs. The design prototype was compared with an existing tool through electromyography and subjective evaluation. Results: From the comparison evaluation, significant differences between the new design and the existing tool were identified in both muscle fatigue and subjective rating of discomfort. Conclusion: The result showed that the new design is better from the aspect of easing physical discomfort. Application: A new snow-removing tool can be developed using the design so that it can reduce a user's physical discomfort.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.36-39
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• 1998

In this study, the postural stresses in automobile assembly tasks were evaluated through an experiment. We had 19 subjects who simulated 42 different working postures occuring in the automobile assembly tasks for1 min and rated their whole body discomforts subjectively. We sued a free modulus magnitude estimation technique, commonly used as a psycophysical rating technique, and fully trained the subjects for the technique. The postures were selected through the analysis of the characteristics of te automobile assembly tasks and the expected difficulties. The subjective discomfort rating data were normalized by min-max standardization method. The consistency of the rating data was guaranteed by the analysis of spear man rank-order. The postures were ranked on their ratings and the relationships between the whole body discomfort ratings, and joint discomfort ratings were analysed. It is expected taht a system for evaluating postural stresses, which was specific to automobile assembly tasks, can be developed based on the relationship and can also be expended to a general purpose system with a minor modification.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2009

Repetitive movement, inadequate working posture, overuse of force, physical contact with sharp edge, vibration and temperature were well known risk factors of WMSDs (Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders). Many researchers have investigated the relationship between inadequate working postures and incidences of WMSDs of the upper extremities, whereas relatively few researchers have tried to evaluate workload associated with the lower-body postures. The effects of lower-limb postures including various knee flexion angles on the subjective discomfort, heart rate and EMG of lower-limb muscles were investigated in this study. Thirty graduate students were asked to maintain thirteen different body postures, and heart rate and EMG data of five muscle groups (electro spine, biceps femoris, vastus medialis, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior) from each posture were collected during fifteen minutes sustaining tasks. All participants were also asked to report their discomfort ratings of body parts. Results showed that high subjective discomfort ratings and heart rates were reported at the postures of knee angles of $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$, whereas low discomfort ratings were founded at the postures of chair heights with 20cm, 40cm, and sitting with crossed legged. The change of median frequency for each muscle group during fifteen minutes tasks was investigated for each body posture to evaluate the relationship between muscle fatigue and body posture. It was found that the trends of changes of median frequency were different based on muscle group as well as lower-limb body posture from this study.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.297-302
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• 2011

Many WMSDs(work-related-musculoskeletal disorders) have been reported in diverse industries and have also attracted much attention in recent years. Neck-related MSD is generally known as one of common WMSDs, especially it happens to workers who are working at the automobile assembly plants and/or shipyards. The awkward posture is considered as a main cause of neck-related MSDs. A neck supporter was developed to prevent neck-related MSDs, and 10 males were recruited to evaluate the newly developed neck supporter by measuring subjective discomfort ratings of whole body, shoulder, neck and neck-muscle activities. Muscle activities from four neck muscle groups(left/right sternocleidomastoid and upper/middle trapezius) were measured while simulating an automobile assembly task. Results showed that the neck supporter help to significantly improve subjective discomfort for whole-body, shoulder as well as neck body parts. The analyses of muscular activities also showed that the activities of left/right sternocleidomastoid muscles were statistically decreased with the neck supporter in this study. The muscle activities of upper/middle trapezius in case of wearing the neck supporter were not significantly different with the muscle activities in case of no-wearing the neck supporter. Overall findings verified that the neck supporter might help to prevent neck-related MSDs based on the current study.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-40
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• 1991

Perineal discomfort from episiotomy continues to be a problem for many postpartum women. The purposes of this study were to compare the effect of ice bag and heat lamp for the relief of perineal discomfort and to identify the sustaining time of each effect. Forty women took ice bag and heat lamp with random assignment of initial therapy. Women rated the degree of perineal discomfort before and after each therapy and at half-hour, tow-hour and four-hour intervals after each therapy. A discomfort scale, 18cm graphic rating scale, was used. The results of the study were as follows ; 1. The ice bag group showed significantly lower discomfort score than the heat lamp group at the half- hour and two - hour intervals after therapy. 2. The ice bag group showed significantly lower discomfort score for 4hrs after than before therapy, but the heat lamp group did not show significantly lower discomfort score. 3. Neither the type of episiotomy nor the previous experience of heat therapy influenced on the effect of ice bag relieving the perineal discomfort. Therefore ice bag was significantly mere effective in relieving perineal discomfort than heat lamp. Subjective responeses of patients who took both therapy were very favorable toward ice bag. I suggested that nurses should provide women with adequate information about the use of ice bag and encourage to apply ice bag instead of heat lamp after episiotomy in order to promote the relief of perineal discomfort and the healing of perineal wound.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.57-73
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• 2003

Although body pressure distribution is sensitive to movements and is relatively simple to measure even in small space, there are few researches involving applications to driver's posture and its change. The main objective in this study is the application of body pressure distribution measurements for the prediction of the driver's posture and its change. This requires quantitative analyses of the dynamic body pressure distribution, which is the change of body pressure distribution with time. The experiment involved 16 male subjects who drove for 45 minutes in a seating buck. Measurement time, stature group, and lumbar support prominence were selected as independent variables, with subjective ratings of driver's discomfort, body posture data of hip, torso. knee angle, and body pressure data variables as dependent variables. The body pressure change variables and subjective ratings were found to increase as the measurement time increased and body pressure ratio variables reflected the torso angle. From the results and analysis of the body posture data and subjective rating results, it was predicted that the seats and the design of the lumbar supports used in the experiment was not fit for tall subjects, which could also be confirmed through the body pressure distribution data.