Models of the vertical apparent mass of the human body are mostly restricted to a sitting posture unsupported by a backrest and ignore the variations in apparent mass associated with changes in posture and changes in the magnitude of vibration. Using findings from experimental research, this study fitted a single degree-of-freedom lumped parameter model to the measured vertical apparent mass of...

This paper presents a networked proximity sensing and Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based mechanism that can be applied for stochastic identification of body postures using a wearable sensor network. The idea is to collect relative proximity information between wireless sensors that are strategically placed over a subject’s body to monitor the relative movements of the body segments, and then to pr...

LOW BACK PAIN AND SICKNESS ABSENCE AMONG SEDENTARY WORKERS: THE INFLUENCE OF LUMBAR SAGITTAL MOVEMENT CHARACTERISTICS AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS Introduction: Low back pain remains a burden for society, since it can lead to sickness absence and work disability. Physical occupational risk factors can contribute to the development of back pain, yet little is known about any risks in sedentary jobs ...

Thirty pregnant heifers (Jersey, Holstein Friesian and Hariana) were divided into three groups (10 animals/group) according to their stage of pregnancy viz. seven-month (181-210 days) pregnancy (SMP), eight-month (211-240 days) pregnancy (EMP) and nine-month (241-280 days) pregnancy (NMP) group. Time spent in various feeding activities (eating fodder, eating concentrate, standing rumination, si...

Increasing numbers of people spend the majority of their working lives seated in an office chair. Musculoskeletal disorders, in particular low back pain, resulting from prolonged static sitting are ubiquitous, but regularly changing sitting position throughout the day is thought to reduce back problems. Nearly all currently available office chairs offer the possibility to alter the backrest rec...

Cerebral palsy (CP) impairs an individual's ability to move and control one's posture. Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of CP may not be apparent before age two. Evaluating sitting posture is a potential way to assess the developing mechanisms that contribute to CP. The purpose of this project was to determine the reliability of linear and nonlinear measures, including inter- and intrastag...