1. Anthropometry and Range of Motion

2. Anthropometry Introduction
Definition
The study of the dimensions and certain other physical characteristics of the human body
It is derived from the Greek words ‘anthropos’ (man) and ‘metron’ (measure).
Critical element in workplace design
Accommodate users
Large volumes of data available
Different sexes, ages, and geographical regions
Freivalds A., (2009) . Niebel’s Methods, Standards, and Work Design. McGraw-Hill

3. Anthropometry.
This is the branch of ergonomics that deals with body shape, size, weight, strength, proportions, and working capacity of the human body.
It is the technology of measuring human physical traits such as size, reach, mobility and strength.
It is the study of human body measurement for use in anthropological classification and comparison.

4. ANTHROPOMETRICS
Achieving good physical fit cannot accept one mean feature when one considers the range in human body sizes across the population.
The science of anthropometrics provides data on dimensions of the human body in various postures.
Biomechanics considers the operation of the muscles and limbs, and ensures that working postures are beneficial, and that excessive forces are avoided.

5. Anthropometric side of ergonomics is:
Matching the physical form and dimensions of the product or work space to those of it’s user; and
Matching the physical demands of the working task to the capacities of the work force.

6. TYPES OF ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA
Structural Anthropometric Data
Functional Anthropometric Data

7. 1.STRUCTURAL ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA
Structural anthropometric data are measurements of the bodily dimensions of subjects in fixed (static) positions.
EXAMPLES
To specify furniture dimensions.
To determine ranges of clothing sizes.

8. 2.FUNCTIONAL ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA
Functional anthropometric data are taken under conditions in which the body is engaged in some physical activities.
EXAMPLES
Design of crane cabs
Design of vehicle interiors

9. USES OF ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA
To fit the task to the person.
To avoid physical mismatches between dimensions of equipment and products and the corresponding user.
To design for variability in people and not for the average.
ADVANTAGES OF ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA
Increase accuracy
Reduce Fatigue
Better comfort
Reduce chance of injuries
Time management

10. ANTHROPOMETRY THERE ARE SOME STEPS TO CONSIDER:
Decide who you are designing for
Ex. Designing an office chair,
consider dimensions for adults of working age
not those for children or the elderly.
Designing a product for the home, such as a kettle,
user group would include everyone except young children

11. Decide which body measurements are relevant
Ex. designing a mobile phone,
consider the width and length of the hand,
the size of the fingers
grip diameter.
Ne need to be interested in the height or weight of the user (although the weight of the phone might be important!)
3. Decide whether you are designing for the 'average' , extremes or other? (Anthropometric design rules)

12. Anthropometry Introduction
Factors affecting body dimensions
Human Variation
Age
Gender
Ethic Origin
Long-term population Shifts
Clothing and Personal Equipment
Kroemer, K.H.E.., Grandjean, E. (1997) Fitting the Task to the Human. Taylor & Francis

13. Anthropometry Introduction
Body dimensions is based on no clothes. Clothing will add to physical dimensions
Footwear and gloves can affect anthropometric dimensions
Allowances should be made to compensate
Pheasant, S., Haslegrave, C., (2006). Bodyspace: Anthropometry, Ergonomics, and the Design of Work. Taylor and Francis Group.

14. 1.BODY DIMENSIONS Minimum dimensions
A door handle must not be lower than the highest standing knuckle height in a population so that all users can open the door without stooping.

15. MINIMUM DIMENSIONS CONT…..
The width of a chair must be no narrower than the hip breadth of a large woman.

16. MINIMUM DIMENSIONS CONT…..
The height of a doorway must be no lower than the stature of a tall man (plus an allowance for clothing and shoes).

17. MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS
A door lock must be no higher than the maximum vertical reach of a small person.

18. MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS CONT…
Seat heights and depths must not exceed the maximum height and buttock–knee lengths of small users.

19. Anthropometric design rules
1. Design for the individual
Best design BUT very expensive
Design dimensions to fit a specific individual
Example: Design of a space suit
2. Design for an adjustable range
From 5th percentile (small female) to 95th percentile (large male)
Adjust to fit a wider range of people
Best BUT expensive
Example: Design of industrial chairs
3. Design for extremes
For the small female (5th percentile) OR the large male (95th percentile)
Examples: Design of the door post - for the large male Design of a shelf - for the small female
4. Design for the average
Not recommended
Design for 50th percentile
Only when used for a short duration
Example: Design counter at the supermarket or a public place
Freivalds A., (2009) . Niebel’s Methods, Standards, and Work Design. McGraw-Hill

20. EXAMPLES Easy reach Vehicle dashboards, Shelving
What is it that you are aiming for with your design?
Design examples:
Examples of measurements to consider:
Users that your design should accommodate: 
Easy reach
Vehicle dashboards, Shelving
Arm length, Shoulder height
Smallest user: 5th percentile
Adequate clearance to avoid unwanted contact or trapping
Manholes, Cinema seats
Shoulder or hip width, Thigh length
Largest user: 95th percentile
A good match between the user and the product
Seats, Cycle helmets, Pushchairs
Knee-floor height, Head circumference, Weight
Maximum range: 5th to 95th percentile
A comfortable and safe posture
Lawnmowers, Monitor positions, Worksurface heights
Elbow height, Sitting eye height, Elbow height (sitting or standing?)
Easy operation
Screw bottle tops, Door handles, Light switches
Grip strength, Hand width, Height
Smallest or weakest user: 5th percentile

21. Range of Variability of Voluntary and Passive Movements of Body Members (in degrees)
Voluntary
Passive
Body Member and Movement
Lower Limit
Upper Limit
Mean SD
Lower Limit
Upper Limit
Mean SD
Head
Rotation (right) 51 95 77
16.1 72
114 97
14.1
Arm at Shoulder
Flexion (forward)
164
191
179
7.2
171
185
185
6.4
Extension 40 71 55
10.1 51 68 68
11.9
Abduction(side)
113
154
129
11.7
116
137
137
12.4
Forearm at elbow
Flexion (bend)
126
150
138
8.5
129 22 22
7.6
Pronation (turn in) 59
139 91
25.8 76
105
105
22.1
Supination (turn out) 82
114 99 11 93
114
114
15.2
Hand at wrist
Flexion 73
110 95
10.6 80
106
106 13
Extension 32 80 54
15.2 67 92 92 13
Abduction 15 49 27 7 26 40 40
6.1
Adduction 52 79 66
8.1 64 74 74
7.4

22. Range of Variability of Voluntary and Passive Movements of Body Members (in degrees)
Voluntary
Passive
Body Member and Movement
Lower Limit
Upper Limit
Mean SD
Lower Limit
Upper Limit
Mean SD
Thigh at hip joint
Flexion (forward) 63
119 98 17 99
112
112
9.2
Extension 26 70 48
12.9 41 56 56
10.4
Abduction (side) 39 98 70 17 65 79 79
10.4
Internal Rotation 39 80 61
15.2 45 73 73
16.6
External Rotation 24 48 37
6.6 39 46 46
6.7
Leg at knee joint
Flexion (bending)
118
136
127
6.7
129
140
140
Foot at ankle
Planter Flexion (bend up) 18 43 28
7.4 22 36 36
9.9
Dorsal Flexion 25 46 37
6.6 35 44 44
4.7

23. Guidelines for Conversion of Standard Measuring Postures to Functional Stances and Motions
To consider
Do this
Slumped standing or sitting
Deduct 5 – 10% from appropriate height measurements
Relaxed trunk
Add 5 – 10 % to trunk circumference
Wearing shoes
Add approximately 25 mm to standing and sitting heights; more for high heels
Wearing light clothing
Add about 5% to appropriate dimensions
Wearing heavy clothing
Add 15% or more to appropriate dimensions (Note: Mobility may be strongly reduced be heavy clothing)
Extended reaches
Add 10% or more for strong motions of the trunk
Use of hand tools
Center of handle is at about 40% of hand length, measured
Comfortable seat height
Add or subtract up to 10% to or from standard seat height
Kroemer, K.H.E.., (2008) Fitting the Task to the Human, 6th Ed. Taylor & Francis.

24. Anthropometry Statistical Basis for Anthropometry
Statistical procedure for anthropometric data
Yield a wealth of information
Assist in calculating percentiles and ranges of homogenous or composite groups
Anthropometric dimensions are normally distributed
May be described by the mean and standard deviation
Accommodate users
Large volumes of data available
Different sexes, ages, and geographical regions
Freivalds A., (2009) . Niebel’s Methods, Standards, and Work Design. McGraw-Hill

25. Anthropometry Statistical Basis for Anthropometry
Kth percentile
Definition
A value such that k percent of the data values are at or below this value and 100 – k percent of the data values are at or above this value
Percentiles provide a basis for estimating the proportion of a population accommodated by a design
Normal transformation
z = standard normal value corresponding to population cumulative density
X = value of measured dimension
μ = average, or mean of dimension for population
SD = standard deviation of population
Freivalds A., (2009) . Niebel’s Methods, Standards, and Work Design. McGraw-Hill

26. Anthropometry
Standard standing posture – subject stands erect looking straight ahead, arms to their side
Standard standing posture – erect on a horizontal flat surface and looking straight ahead
Kroemer, K.H.E.., Grandjean, E. (1997) Fitting the Task to the Human. Taylor & Francis

27. Anthropometry Selected Anthropometric Measurements for US Adults
(All dimensions in mm, except body weight given in kg)
Source: Bodyspace by Stephan Pheasant. by Taylor and Francis

28. If we plotted a graph of the heights (or most other dimensions) of our group of people, it would look similar to this:
NUMBER OF PEOPLE
HEIGHT

29. The graph is symmetrical – so that 50% of people are of average height or taller, and 50% are of average height or smaller.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE
HEIGHT

30. The graph tails off to either end, because fewer people are extremely tall or very short.

31. To the left of the average, there is a point known as the 5th percentile, because 5% of the people (or 1 person in 20) is shorter than this particular height.

32. The same distance to the right is a point known as the 95th percentile, where only 1 person in 20 is taller than this height.

33. REFERENCE Bridger R.S(2008).Introduction To Ergonomics, 3rd Edition.
opometry/Chapter1/Ch1-7.htm
IME3420 Lecture Notes by Tycho Fredericks, PhD and Anil Kumar, PhD.