Journal of Ergonomics
Open Access

Abstract

Method of Movement Simulation in Lifting Operation Considering the Role of Antagonistic Muscles and Biarticular Muscle

Isamu Nishida, Masato Maeda, Tsuneo Kawano and Keiichi Shirase

The efficiency priority working environments without considering the physical property of workers make the workload of workers increased and make the efficiency of workers decreased unintentionally under an aging society with a declining birth-rate. Therefore, it is necessary for plant managers to design the safe and efficient working environment considering the physical characteristic. This study suggested the method to simulate various motion patterns in the lifting operation with the parameters obtained from the actual lifting operations. This study also evaluated the muscle force of each muscle during simulated motions using the musculo-skeletal model considering the role of antagonistic muscles and biarticular muscle. Therefore, this study evaluated the quality of various lifting operation patterns from the muscle force point of view. As a result, this study succeeded to simulate various motions considering the role of antagonistic muscles and biarticular muscle related to the physical characteristic. The results of this study will make it possible to allocate workers optimally and result in a productivity improvement of industry.