Minimum Number of Thin-Film Force Sensors Needed to Represent Overall Hand Grip Force During Tool Use

Details

• Personal Author:
  Peterson, D. R. ; Tornifoglio SV
• Description:
  Accurate and robust measurement of hand grip force is an important parameter of interest in studies of human biomechanics, especially in the assessment of vibratory tool use and hand-arm vibration exposures, where exposure levels may change with changes in grip. Several studies exist that introduce various methods of determining grip force levels. Wimer et al. developed a straingauge instrumented cylindrical handle having six cantilever beams in order to obtain a high level of accuracy and repeatability beyond assessments of grip strength using a traditional dynamometer. Mentzel et al. investigated dynamic grip forces using the TUB-sensor glove (FSR 151, Conrad Electronics, Hirschau, Bavaria) equipped with ten pressure sensors, while Lemerle et al. investigated the precision of a pressure mapping glove used to measure the grip forces on an ordinary breaker and an anti-vibration breaker. Nikonovas et al. used 20 thin-film FlexiForce sensors (A101, Tekscan, Boston, MA) in an array on each hand to measure the forces generated on gripping a golf club while striking a golf ball and determined that the FlexiForce sensors allowed for versatility and adequate spatial resolution. Peterson et al. used six thin-film force sensors (400 FSR, Interlink Elec., Camarillo, CA) to measure grip forces during a manual hammering task and determined that thinfilm sensors are adequate and remain non-invasive but only if used in small numbers. In practical laboratory and field applications that seek to investigate overall hand grip patterns associated with tool or device use, not much is known about the minimum number of pointforce measurements that are needed on the hand to adequately characterize overall grip. In this paper, the optimal number of single-point thin-film force sensors needed to accurately model overall cylindrical grip force was determined using data collected simultaneously from the instrumented cylindrical handle (developed by Wimer et al.) and several thin-film force sensors placed at several locations on the hand. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety Vibration
• Keywords:
  Antivibration Biomechanics Gloves Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome HAVS Upper Extremities Vibration Exposure
• Publisher:
  University of Connecticut Health Center
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  50-51
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054601
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the 4th American Conference on Human Vibration: Fostering Collaborative Academic, Clinical, and Industrial Research in Vibration Exposure and Control, June 13-15, 2012, Hartford, Connecticut. Peterson DR, Asaki T, eds. Farmington, CT: University of Connecticut Health Center, 2012 Jun; :50-51
• Editor(s):
  Peterson DR; Asaki T
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction ; Manufacturing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the 4th American Conference on Human Vibration: Fostering Collaborative Academic, Clinical, and Industrial Research in Vibration Exposure and Control, June 13-15, 2012, Hartford, Connecticut
• End Date:
  20130831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3e329b5facfa4146ddc05d8a674cded0a67370d82dcc77dfc6914efeb5e6a5ecdb7243bc035135855fb0875b59e9289c9ee68a4357ac25ef731274cc8a303069
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217102/cdc_217102_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 932.13 KB ]