Title: The assessment of injury risk in the healthcare sector via integrating motion tracking techniques with digital human modelling ergonomic tools

Authors: Xiaoxu Ji; Justo Hernandez; Emily Schweitzer; Wilson Wang; Davide Piovesan

Addresses: Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Gannon University, 109 University Square, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16541, USA ' Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Gannon University, 109 University Square, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16541, USA ' Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Gannon University, 109 University Square, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16541, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada ' Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Gannon University, 109 University Square, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16541, USA

Abstract: An advanced fusion technology has been investigated to evaluate the injury risk in the healthcare sector by integrating a motion tracking system with digital human modelling (DHM) ergonomic tools. The proposed approach greatly overcomes the time-consuming process to create a full-body dynamic simulation where the DHM postures are set manually. This study provides a new method to evaluate the lumbar forces and physical demands for individuals during healthcare operations. In this study, we analysed the effect of key anthropometric and biomechanics variables on the low back loadings, such as body weight, body height, trunk and hip angular displacements, as well as genders. The relationship of such variables to the lumbar spine forces may provide insights on the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders during patient handling tasks. The outcomes of this study can directly result in the design of better assistive device and workstation as well as the development of enhanced injury prevention programs.

Keywords: injury assessment; injury prevention; healthcare; patient handling task; ergonomics; physical demands; Xsens motion tracking; JACK Siemens; digital human modelling; DHM; lumbar spine; compressive force; shear force.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2023.130120

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2023 Vol.8 No.1, pp.1 - 20

Received: 01 Oct 2021
Received in revised form: 28 Apr 2022
Accepted: 16 May 2022
Published online: 05 Apr 2023 *

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