Little information is available in the literature on postures adopted for forceful tasks, particularly in industrial jobs such as maintenance where operators may be working in awkward or confined spaces. The present study was undertaken to show the effects of work location and reach distance on posture, and to identify factors which determine the choice of posture. The results have shown that the posture of the arm and shoulder is critical in the transmission of high forces, and involves the use of various postural strategies to maintain the stability of the joints of the arm.
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