K-score: A novel scoring system to quantify fatigue-related ergonomic risk based on joint angle measurements via wearable inertial measurement units

Karla Beltran Martinez; Milad Nazarahari; Hossein Rouhani

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103757

K-score: A novel scoring system to quantify fatigue-related ergonomic risk based on joint angle measurements via wearable inertial measurement units

Appl Ergon. 2022 Jul:102:103757. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103757. Epub 2022 Apr 1.

Authors

Karla Beltran Martinez¹, Milad Nazarahari², Hossein Rouhani³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1H9, Canada. Electronic address: beltranm@ualberta.ca.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1H9, Canada; Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada. Electronic address: milad.nazarahari@uwaterloo.ca.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1H9, Canada. Electronic address: hrouhani@ualberta.ca.

PMID: 35378482
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103757

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders have been recognized as a global problem that affects millions of people annually. Fatigue is one of the main contributors to musculoskeletal disorders. Thus, this study investigated fatigue detection based on the measured body motion by wearable inertial measurement units. We quantified the body motion during manual handling tasks using a novel kinematic score (i.e., K-score), and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). K-score and REBA were calculated using joint angles. Nevertheless, unlike REBA, K-score showed a significant correlation (Spearman's correlation coefficient of ρ(302) = 0.21, p < 0.05) with electromyography (EMG) signal amplitude, which was affected by muscle fatigue. Therefore, in-field measurement of K-score using inertial measurement units could detect the fatigue-induced change of body motion in long-duration manual handling tasks. Our proposed K-score can be used to assess fatigue-related ergonomic risk in long-term and real-world working conditions without the need for tedious EMG recording at workplaces.

Keywords: Electromyography; Ergonomic risk assessment; Wearable inertial measurement units.

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena
Electromyography
Ergonomics
Humans
Musculoskeletal Diseases* / diagnosis
Musculoskeletal Diseases* / etiology
Wearable Electronic Devices*