Elsevier

Applied Ergonomics

Volume 25, Issue 1, February 1994, Pages 41-46
Applied Ergonomics

Evaluation of two instruments for recording sitting and standing postures and number of foot steps

https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(94)90030-2Get rights and content

Abstract

The study evaluates two simple instruments that may be used to describe aspects of physical workload in almost any occupation: a pedometer, which measures the number of steps taken by the subject wearing it, and a posimeter, which quantifies the time spent sitting and the number of changes between sitting and a The present data showed that the pedometer registers the correct number of steps at ‘ordinary’ walking speed independent of type of floor (plastic carpet and stone floor), shoes (wooden shoes and sneakers) and gender. At ‘slow’ walking (2.4 km/h) a reduced number of steps was recorded. In a field study the median difference between pedometer registration and observation was 6% (range 1–27) of the observed obtained for the five investigated pedometers was 0–15%. The posimeter was found to give a good estimate of the percentage time spent sitting (mean deviation 3%, range 0–15%). The number of changes between sitting and standing was overestimated by the posimeter (median deviation 63% of the observed). Some extreme working postures can be misread by the posimeter.

References (11)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (28)

  • Methods for measuring physical workload among commercial cleaners: A scoping review

    2022, International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
    Citation Excerpt :

    Wallius et al. (2018) employed them to examine the effect of mop handle design on wrists and upper arm posture and joint angular velocity, demonstrating that the wrist postures of the hand gripping the lower part of the mop handle differed significantly depending on mop handle height. A posimeter is a tilt sensor that can measure sitting time and record the frequency of changes between standing and sitting postures (Selin et al., 1994). Prolonged standing (Charles et al., 2009) and squatting (Goggins, 2007) can be potential causes of musculoskeletal disorders among cleaners.

  • Sit-stand desks in call centres: Associations of use and ergonomics awareness with sedentary behavior

    2013, Applied Ergonomics
    Citation Excerpt :

    All participants wore an inclinometer and a portable data logger (Posimeter 100, Biolin AB, Mölndal, Sweden) for their whole shift on the day of measurement. The inclinometer used in this mode has been shown to give a good estimate of the percentage time spent sitting (mean deviation 3%, range 0–15%), when compared with observation (Selin and Winkel, 1994). The inclinometer sensor was attached to the lateral side of the right thigh in the sagittal plane and registered a “seated” posture when the angle of the thigh was less than 45° from horizontal and a “standing/walking” posture when the angle was 45° or more.

  • Mechanical exposure implications of rationalization: A comparison of two flow strategies in a Swedish manufacturing plant

    2012, Applied Ergonomics
    Citation Excerpt :

    In the OLD system the step-count was, however, lower compared to the NEW system. This may be due to less distinct and short steps not sufficient to pass the threshold limit of the pedometer (Selin and Winkel, 1994). In the NEW system more walking was required to get materials along the line (IW, Fig. 6), thus facilitating the venous return to the heart, which reduces the orthostatic load and thereby contributes to a smaller increase in HR (Åstrand and Rodahl, 1986).

  • Indicators for choosing an optimal mix of major working postures

    2006, Applied Ergonomics
    Citation Excerpt :

    Every half hour, we counted the steps and sequences of steps of workers in the factory and laundry. A step was defined as the situation where one foot lost all contact with the floor and then was put down fully on the floor (after Selin et al., 1994). A sequence was defined as the steps taken from the initiation of the first step to the time when toe and heel of both feet were firmly on the floor (Messing and Kilbom, 2001).

View all citing articles on Scopus

Karolinska Hospital and Institute, S-104 01 Stockhoml, Sweden; Departments of Epidemiology/IMM, Occupational Medicine, Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine. National Institute of Occupational Health, S-171 84 Solna, Sweden; Divisions of Applied Work Physiology, Occupational Medicine, Psychophysiology, Work and Environmental Physiology. National Institute of Psychosocial Factors and Health, S-104 01 Stockholm, Sweden

View full text