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Title: Predicting 3-D Lower Back Joint Load in Lifting: A Deep Pose Estimation Approach
Goal: Lifting is a common manual material handling task performed in the workplaces. It is considered as one of the main risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. An important criterion to identify the unsafe lifting task is the values of the net force and moment at L5/S1 joint. These values are mainly calculated in a laboratory environment, which utilizes marker-based sensors to collect three-dimensional (3-D) information and force plates to measure the external forces and moments. However, this method is usually expensive to set up, time-consuming in process, and sensitive to the surrounding environment. In this study, we propose a deep neural network (DNN)-based framework for 3-D pose estimation, which addresses the aforementioned limitations, and we employ the results for L5/S1 moment and force calculation. Methods: At the first step of the proposed framework, full body 3-D pose is captured using a DNN, then at the second step, estimated 3-D body pose along with the subject's anthropometric information is utilized to calculate L5/S1 join's kinetic by a top-down inverse dynamic algorithm. Results: To fully evaluate our approach, we conducted experiments using a lifting dataset consisting of 12 subjects performing various types of lifting tasks. The results are validated against a marker-based motion capture system as a reference. The grand mean ± SD of the total moment/force absolute errors across all the dataset was 9.06 ± 7.60 N·m/4.85 ± 4.85 N. Conclusion: The proposed method provides a reliable tool for assessment of the lower back kinetics during lifting and can be an alternative when the use of marker-based motion capture systems is not possible.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1703883 1555408 1451292
NSF-PAR ID:
10085120
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems
Volume:
49
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2168-2291
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1 to 10
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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