Validity of a small low-cost triaxial accelerometer with integrated logger for uncomplicated measurements of postures and movements of head, upper back and upper arms. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dahlqvist, Camilla; Hansson, Gert-Åke; Forsman, Mikael
• Is Part Of: Applied ergonomics. Volume 55(2016:Jul.)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 116
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders -- Quantitative exposure-response relationships -- Technical measurements; Human engineering -- Periodicals; 620.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2016.01.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-6870

Abstract

Abstract: Repetitive work and work in constrained postures are risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders. Low-cost, user-friendly technical methods to quantify these risks are needed. The aims were to validate inclination angles and velocities of one model of the new generation of accelerometers with integrated data loggers against a previously validated one, and to compare meaurements when using a plain reference posture with that of a standardized one. All mean (n = 12 subjects) angular RMS-differences in 4 work tasks and 4 body parts were <2.5° and all mean median angular velocity differences <5.0 °/s. The mean correlation between the inclination signal-pairs was 0.996. This model of the new generation of triaxial accelerometers proved to be comparable to the validated accelerometer using a data logger. This makes it well-suited, for both researchers and practitioners, to measure postures and movements during work. Further work is needed for validation of the plain reference posture for upper arms. Highlights: A new triaxial accelerometer was evaluated for measuring physical workload. The accelerometer is well suited for measuring postures and movements during work. The accelerometer is appropriate as objective method for ergonomic risk assessments.