Affiliations: [a] Biomechanics-Ergonomics Research Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. | [b] Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. | [c] Eastman Kodak Ltd., Rochester, NY, USA.
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Angshuman Bagchee, Biomechanics-Ergonomics Research Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: The methodology described here presents quantitative measures of estimating the severity of postural instability based on the proximity and spread of body sway in relation to the basal area of support. A simplified functional basal area of support is determined based on the maximal forward reaching ability of the subject. Three non-dimensional indices for quantitating the potential of postural instability are introduced. Application of this method is illustrated through an experiment with ten healthy industrial workers performing four different tasks. The results indicate that these indices are reproducible, sensitive to task performance and can be utilized to estimate the postural stability associated with each task. Application of this method would include the identification of factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic, that contribute to the maintenance of postural balance during task performance. Interventions can then be evaluated using this method.
