Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of age, gender, and target location upon arm reach capacity and posture. Background: The older adult population is growing in number. Their specific needs must be better understood to improve the design of work and life spaces. Method: Thirty-eight adults, divided into four groups according to their gender and age, participated in the experiment. They were asked to reach 84 targets located in a large space defined according to their anthropometry and reach capacities. Reach capacities and postures were analyzed. Results: On average, older participants showed shorter maximal reach distances (by 4.8% of upper limb length) as compared with younger participants. No gender difference was found for maximum reach distance. Age also had significant effects on reach posture, especially through its interactions with target azimuth. Older participants tended to use their trunk less whenever possible. Reduced neck and trunk/seat axial rotations were observed for the older participants when the target deviated from the sagittal plane. They compensated by a greater rotation of the pelvis with respect to the seat. Conclusion: Older people's reach capacities should be taken as references, rather than those of younger people, in order to accommodate a wider range of the population. Application: These results can be used to improve the arrangement of living spaces and work spaces for older people.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ausejo, S., Suescun, Á., Celigüeta, J., & Wang, X. (2006). Robust human motion reconstruction in the presence of missing markers and the absence of markers for some body segments. In SAE International Conference and Exposition of Digital Human Modeling for Design and Engineering (SAE Paper 2006-01-2321). Warrendale, PA: SAE International. Available from http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/ground_vehicle/HUMAN
2.
Barrett, J. (2005). Support and information needs of older and disabled older people in the UK. Applied Ergonomics, 36, 177-183.
3.
Cavanaugh, J.T., Shinberg, M., Ray, L., Shipp, K.M., Kuchibhatla, M., & Schenkman, M. (1999). Kinematic characterization of standing reach: Comparison of younger vs. older subjects. Clinical Biomechanics , 14, 271-279.
4.
Chaffin, D.B., Andersson, G.B.J., & Martin, B.J. (1999). Occupational biomechanics (3rd ed.). New York: John Wiley and Sons.
5.
Chaffin, D.B., Faraway, J.J., Zhang, X., & Wooley, C. (2000). Stature, age and gender effects on reach motion postures. Human Factors, 42, 408-420.
6.
Chevalot, N., & Wang, X. (2004). An experimental investigation of the discomfort of arm reaching movements in a seated position. In SAE International Conference on Digital Human Modeling (SAE Paper 2004-01-2141). Warrendale, PA: SAE International . Available from http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/ground_vehicle/HUMAN
7.
Doriot, N., & Wang, X. (2004). Maximum range of motion of the main joints of the upper limb. In Specification of discomfort assessment models, Deliverable 3.2 of the EU-funded REALMAN project (IST-2000-29357, pp. 110-135). Brussels, Belgium: European Union.
8.
Doriot, N., & Wang, X. (2006). Effects of age and gender on maximum voluntary range of motion of the upper body joints. Ergonomics, 49, 269-281.
9.
Gyi, D.E., Sims, R.E., Porter, J.M., Marshall, R., & Casse, K. (2004). Representing older and disabled people in virtual user trials: Data collection methods. Applied Ergonomics35, 443-451.
10.
Herzog, W. (2004). Determinants of muscle strength. In S. Kumar (Ed.), Muscular strength (pp. 45-82). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
11.
Kim, K.H., Martin, B.J., Dukic, T., & Hanson, L. (2006). The role of visual and manual demand in movement and posture organization. In SAE International Conference on Digital Human Modeling (SAE Paper 2006-01-2331). Warrendale, PA: SAE International. Available from http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/ground_vehicle/HUMAN
12.
Kim, K.H., Martin, B.J., & Gillespie, R.B. (2006). Posture and motion prediction: Perspectives for unconstrained head movements. In SAE International Conference on Digital Human Modeling (SAE Paper 2006-01-2330). Warrendale, PA: SAE International . Available from http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/ground_vehicle/HUMAN
13.
Kuhlman, K.A. (1993). Cervical range of motion in the elderly. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 74, 1071-1079.
14.
Laubach, L.L. (1978). Range of joint motion. In Staff of Anthropology Research Project, Webb Associates (Eds.), Anthropometric source book: Volume I. Anthropometry for designers (NASA-RP-1024; S-479-VOL-1; pp. VI-1-VI-20). Springfield, VA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Scientific and Technical Information Office. Retrieved December 3, 2007, from http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19790003563_1979003563.pdf
15.
Laux, L. (1995). Aging techniques. In J. Weimer (Ed.), Research techniques in human engineering (pp. 143-164). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
16.
Lim, S., Martin, B.J., & Chung, K.M. (2004). The effects of target location on temporal coordination of the upper body during 3D seated reaches considering the range of motion . International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 34, 395-405.
17.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2001). Ageing and transport: Mobility needs and safety issues. Paris: Author.
18.
Parkinson, M.B., Chaffin, D.B., & Reed, M.P. (2006). Centre of pressure excursion capability in performance of seated lateral-reaching tasks. Clinical Biomechanics, 21, 26-32.
19.
Pochet, P. (2003). Mobilité et accès à la voiture chez les personnes âgées: Evolutions actuelles et enjeux [Travel practices and access to the car among the elderly: Current developments and issues]. Recherche Transports Sécurité, 79, 93-106.
20.
Reed, M.P., Parkinson, M.B., & Chaffin, D.B. (2003). Anew approach to modeling driver reach (2003). In SAE World Congress (SAE Paper 2003-01-0587). Warrendale, PA: SAE International. Available from http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/ground_vehicle/HUMAN
21.
Reed, M.P., Parkinson, M.B., & Wagner, D.W. (2004). Torso kinematics in seated reaches. In SAE International Conference on Digital Human Modeling (SAE Paper 2004-01-2176). Warrendale, PA: SAE International. Available from http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/ground_vehicle/HUMAN
22.
Stoudt, H.W. (1981). The anthropometry of the elderly. Human Factors, 23, 29-37.
23.
Wang, X. (1996). Construction of arm kinematic linkage from external surface markers. Paper presented at the Fourth International Symposium on the 3D Analysis of Human Movement, Grenoble, France, June 30-July 3, 1996.
24.
Wang, X., Chevalot, N., Monnier, G., Ausejo, S., Suescun, Á., & Celigüeta, J. (2005). Validation of a model-based motion reconstruction method developed in the REALMAN project. In SAE 2005 Transactions Journal of Passenger Cars: Electronic and Electrical Systems (pp. 873-880). Warrendale, PA: SAE International.
25.
Zhang, X., & Chaffin, D.B. (2000). A three-dimensional dynamic posture prediction model for in-vehicle seated reaching movements: Development and validation . Ergonomics, 43, 1314-1330.
