Upper limb joint angle measurement in occupational health. Issue 2 (25th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Álvarez, Diego; Alvarez, Juan C.; González, Rafael C.; López, Antonio M.
• Is Part Of: Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering. Volume 19:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 170
• Publication Date: 2016-01-25
• Subjects: inertial measurement system -- occupational health -- joint angle measurement -- wearable sensors; Biomechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Biomechanics -- Periodicals; Biomedical Engineering -- methods -- Periodicals; Computing Methodologies -- Periodicals; 612.7
• DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2014.997718
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1025-5842

Abstract

Abstract : Usual human motion capture systems are designed to work in controlled laboratory conditions. For occupational health, instruments that can measure during normal daily life are essential, as the evaluation of the workers' movements is a key factor to reduce employee injury- and illness-related costs. In this paper, we present a method for joint angle measurement, combining inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes) and magnetic sensors. This method estimates wrist flexion, wrist lateral deviation, elbow flexion, elbow pronation, shoulder flexion, shoulder abduction and shoulder internal rotation. The algorithms avoid numerical integration of the signals, which allows for long-time estimations without angle estimation drift. The system has been tested both under laboratory and field conditions. Controlled laboratory tests show mean estimation errors between 0.06° and of 1.05°, and standard deviation between 2.18° and 9.20°. Field tests seem to confirm these results when no ferromagnetic materials are close to the measurement system.