Mechanical lifting energy consumption in work activities designed by means of the "revised NIOSH lifting equation"\u80\u9d

The aims of the present work were: to calculate lifting energy consumption (LEC) in work activities designed to have a growing lifting index (LI) by means of revised NIOSH lifting equation; to evaluate the relationship between LEC and forces at the L5-S1 joint. The kinematic and kinetic data of 20 workers were recorded during the execution of lifting tasks in three conditions. We computed kinetic, potential and mechanical energy and the corresponding LEC by considering three different centers of mass of: 1) the load (CoML); 2) the multi-segment upper body model and load together (CoMUpp+L); 3) the whole body and load together (CoMTot). We also estimated compression and shear forces. Results shows that LEC calculated for CoMUpp+L and CoMTot grew significantly with the LI and that all the lifting condition pairs are discriminated. The correlation analysis highlighted a relationship between LEC and forces that determine injuries at the L5-S1 joint

Dataset on gait patterns in degenerative neurological diseases

We collected the gait parameters and lower limb joint kinematics of patients with three different types of primary degenerative neurological diseases: (i) cerebellar ataxia (19 patients), (ii) hereditary spastic paraparesis (26 patients), and (iii) Parkinson's disease (32 patients). Sixty-five gender-age matched healthy subjects were enrolled as control group. An optoelectronic motion analysis system was used to measure time-distance parameters and lower limb joint kinematics during gait in both patients and healthy controls

Characterizing the Gait of People With Different Types of Amputation and Prosthetic Components Through Multimodal Measurements: A Methodological Perspective

Prosthetic gait implies the use of compensatory motor strategies, including alterations in gait biomechanics and adaptations in the neural control mechanisms adopted by the central nervous system. Despite the constant technological advancements in prostheses design that led to a reduction in compensatory movements and an increased acceptance by the users, a deep comprehension of the numerous factors that influence prosthetic gait is still needed. The quantitative prosthetic gait analysis is an essential step in the development of new and ergonomic devices and to optimize the rehabilitation therapies. Nevertheless, the assessment of prosthetic gait is still carried out by a heterogeneous variety of methodologies, and this limits the comparison of results from different studies, complicating the definition of shared and well-accepted guidelines among clinicians, therapists, physicians, and engineers. This perspective article starts from the results of a project funded by the Italian Worker's Compensation Authority (INAIL) that led to the generation of an extended dataset of measurements involving kinematic, kinetic, and electrophysiological recordings in subjects with different types of amputation and prosthetic components. By encompassing different studies published along the project activities, we discuss the specific information that can be extracted by different kinds of measurements, and we here provide a methodological perspective related to multimodal prosthetic gait assessment, highlighting how, for designing improved prostheses and more effective therapies for patients, it is of critical importance to analyze movement neural control and its mechanical actuation as a whole, without limiting the focus to one specific aspect

Multiscale Entropy Algorithms to Analyze Complexity and Variability of Trunk Accelerations Time Series in Subjects with Parkinson’s Disease

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of multiscale sample entropy (MSE), refined composite multiscale entropy (RCMSE), and complexity index (CI) to characterize gait complexity through trunk acceleration patterns in subjects with Parkinson's disease (swPD) and healthy subjects, regardless of age or gait speed. The trunk acceleration patterns of 51 swPD and 50 healthy subjects (HS) were acquired using a lumbar-mounted magneto-inertial measurement unit during their walking. MSE, RCMSE, and CI were calculated on 2000 data points, using scale factors (t) 1-6. Differences between swPD and HS were calculated at each t, and the area under the receiver operating characteristics, optimal cutoff points, post-test probabilities, and diagnostic odds ratios were calculated. MSE, RCMSE, and CIs showed to differentiate swPD from HS. MSE in the anteroposterior direction at t4 and t5, and MSE in the ML direction at t4 showed to characterize the gait disorders of swPD with the best trade-off between positive and negative posttest probabilities and correlated with the motor disability, pelvic kinematics, and stance phase. Using a time series of 2000 data points, a scale factor of 4 or 5 in the MSE procedure can yield the best trade-off in terms of post-test probabilities when compared to other scale factors for detecting gait variability and complexity in swPD

The Sensor-Based Biomechanical Risk Assessment at the Base of the Need for Revising of Standards for Human Ergonomics

Due to the epochal changes introduced by “Industry 4.0”, it is getting harder to apply the varying approaches for biomechanical risk assessment of manual handling tasks used to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMDs) considered within the International Standards for ergonomics. In fact, the innovative human–robot collaboration (HRC) systems are widening the number of work motor tasks that cannot be assessed. On the other hand, new sensor-based tools for biomechanical risk assessment could be used for both quantitative “direct instrumental evaluations” and “rating of standard methods”, allowing certain improvements over traditional methods. In this light, this Letter aims at detecting the need for revising the standards for human ergonomics and biomechanical risk assessment by analyzing the WMDs prevalence and incidence; additionally, the strengths and weaknesses of traditional methods listed within the International Standards for manual handling activities and the next challenges needed for their revision are considered. As a representative example, the discussion is referred to the lifting of heavy loads where the revision should include the use of sensor-based tools for biomechanical risk assessment during lifting performed with the use of exoskeletons, by more than one person (team lifting) and when the traditional methods cannot be applied. The wearability of sensing and feedback sensors in addition to human augmentation technologies allows for increasing workers’ awareness about possible risks and enhance the effectiveness and safety during the execution of in many manual handling activities

Wearable Monitoring Devices for Biomechanical Risk Assessment at Work: Current Status and Future Challenges—A Systematic Review

Background: In order to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) several methods have been developed, accepted by the international literature and used in the workplace. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe recent implementations of wearable sensors for quantitative instrumental-based biomechanical risk assessments in prevention of WMSDs. Methods: Articles written until 7 May 2018 were selected from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science using specific keywords. Results: Instrumental approaches based on inertial measurement units and sEMG sensors have been used for direct evaluations to classify lifting tasks into low and high risk categories. Wearable sensors have also been used for direct instrumental evaluations in handling of low loads at high frequency activities by using the local myoelectric manifestation of muscle fatigue estimation. In the field of the rating of standard methods, on-body wireless sensors network-based approaches for real-time ergonomic assessment in industrial manufacturing have been proposed. Conclusions: Few studies foresee the use of wearable technologies for biomechanical risk assessment although the requirement to obtain increasingly quantitative evaluations, the recent miniaturization process and the need to follow a constantly evolving manual handling scenario is prompting their use

Enhancement of rowing performance in athletes after focal muscle vibration therapy

Muscle vibration has been reported to induce long lasting effects on proprioception when applied on specific body segment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of focal muscle vibration applied on quadriceps and latissimus dorsi muscles in athletes evaluate during rowing test. Sixteen volunteered national level sculling stroke rowers has been randomized in a study group and in a control group (treated with sham vibration). The overall kinematic consistency, joints angular acceleration patterns and performance test has been used as evaluation. Results showed statistical significant values for angular accelerations at the knee and shoulder joints and significant effect of the time course of the trial. Vibration treatment seems to be an useful proprioceptive stimulation in sport activities to improve muscle control and performance

Erratum: Alberto, R. et al., Wearable Monitoring Devices for Biomechanical Risk Assessment at Work: Current Status and Future Challenges—A Systematic Review. <em>Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health</em> 2018, 15, 2001

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sEMG and Postural Analysis for Biomechanical Risk Assessment in a Banknotes Printing Process

The purpose of this paper is to assess the biomechanical overload risk of some tasks that are typical of the printing industry, by means of surface electromyography and postural analysis software. In the first task of manual loading, muscle activation percentage duration of the Bicepses and Tricepses were similar for similar duty cycles. The Erector Spinae muscles had higher %MVC sustained for a greater percentage of the duty cycle. In the second task of aeration and transfer, Bicepses were activated for most of the duty cycle with a low %MVC between 0 and 5%. Differently, Triceps and Erector Spinae muscles had muscle activations with higher %MVC and higher percentage duration. In the third task, the muscular activity achieved the highest values in the Bicepses, while the activity of the Erector Spinae and Triceps muscles was less significant. Finally, in the fourth task, the compressive force values at the L5/S1 level found by 3DSSPP software ranged from 1072 N to 1863 N. Still at the L5/S1 level, shear forces ranged from 263 N to 310 N. In the observed conditions, the used methods found no significant biomechanical overload risk in the studied tasks. The %MVC values within the cycle were all below the threshold proposed by ACGIH. The force values at level L5/S1 estimated with 3DSSPP software were also less than the 3400 N threshold limit value proposed by NIOSH for compressive forces and less than the 700 N limit proposed for shear forces by Gallagher in his review. One of the observed activities at a faster working pace could increase the biomechanical risk. This is the case of the manual loading of the offset printing machine. In fact, the sheet board with the sheets to be loaded was positioned frontally to the printing machine loading area, thus forcing the operator to a 180° rotation. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG