July 26, 2012

Force? Repetition? Posture? Duration? Which Risk Factors are Most Important in MSDs?

Risk factors that contribute to or cause MSDs have long been debated by ergonomics professionals and researchers. Peter Budnick reviews the findings of recent research that hones in on the cause-and-effect relationships between certain physical ergonomics risk factors and work-related MSDs, offering opinions on the importance of this science, as well as the need for the ergonomics marketplace to strengthen its MSD assessment tools, and perhaps more important, grow its value proposition beyond MSDs.
July 26, 2012

Examples: Rehabilitation Ergonomics in Action

In this article, which originally in The Ergonomics Report, Don Bloswick, a professor in in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Utah, shares a variety of creative rehabilitation ergonomics applications he and his students have developed, including a tricycle designed to provide leg exercises for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP); an off-road walker allowing children with CP greater outdoor mobility; a wheelchair track device that allows wheelchair users to navigate on sand, snow and other rough terrain; foot and arm-lever propelled wheelchairs; and a paragliding system for people with disabilities. If you think ergonomics is only about preventing musculoskeletal injuries, this will open your eyes to new horizons.