Bike (Motorcycle) Ergonomics

Bike and back pain cannot be separated when we discuss the ergonomics, it may be because of poor ergonomic idea and also poor road and the way we follow traffic rules. Bike ergonomics is not popular since the Bike considered as dangerous vehicle in western country and in contrast, bike is an essential mode of transport in Indian context.

Indian road bikes

      ·         Indian road bikes available from 50 cc to 550 cc capacity.

      ·         Type of bikes With gear/ Without gear / Automatic gear

      ·         Four different kinds of break system available in Indian bike  

o   Front and back break in hand,

o   Front in hand and back break in leg

o   Both front and back break in hand, back break reinforced with front

o   Front hydraulic break in hand and back drum break in leg   

Motor cycle Ergonomics –

      A.      Bike selection and adjustment

            1.       Selection of handle bar

a.       Handle bar must be big enough to relax your shoulder joint and shoulder blade in neutral positions.

b.      Too small handle bar usually stretch shoulder blade (Scapulae) and leads to upper trapezius, intra scapular muscles, and shoulder pain.

            2.       Clutch adjustment

a.       Clutch must kept downward position which enables wrist to be in neutral positions.

b.      If the wrist is in more extension position, leads to lot of wrist pain and nerve irritation in upper limb  

          3.       Shock absorbers

a.       Shock absorber usually available with three levels of adjustments and additional adjustments also available in some bikes, Shock absorber tension can be toned up periodically if needed.  

b.      Always best shock absorber need to enable to prevent back pain. 

        4.       Rear view mirror

a.       Both side mirrors are enable the comfort rear view while ride and help to prevent accidents.

b.      Too small handle bar also restricts the rear view mirror view to the person who rides that can also leads to accidents.   

        B.      Riding accessories  

        5.       Saree guard

a.       Most often, Indian women drape the Saree and sometime travel with chudidhar with big shawl,   Saree guard can prevent the unwanted avoidable accidents.

        6.        Luggage carrier

a.       Luggage carrier can be used if needed.

b.      Luggage box can be fixed if needed to protect the things

c.       Usually luggages are not advised in two wheelers. (Debrief the Scooty... and Splender. Fxz)

         7.       Rider glass

a.       Rider can choose the best quality of riding glass. Appropriate riding glass can prevent ultra violet radiation and reflection from other vehicle

         8.       Helmet & Helmet lock

a.       Best quality of helmet can save the life and avoid serious head injury during the severe accidents.

b.      Helmet is advised for pillion rider and kids also, not only for rider.

c.       Helmet lock can be used to protect the helmet        

          C.      Riding tips to prevent accidents

           9.       Seating position

a.       Bike seat can be broader to support full buttock and mid thigh while driving

b.      If there is no proper support for hip, more pressure will be exposed to Ischial bursa and coccyx leads to ischial bursitis and coxydynia.

         10.   Rider’s riding  position

a.       Maintain the spinal curvatures in neutral positions during the drive.

b.      If bending needed, use the hip joint rather lumbar spine

         11.   Pillion rider position

a.       Side sitting of pillion rider usually leads to balance loose and more stress on right side shoulder and arm for riders.

b.      Pillion rider usually advised to be seated in neutral sitting with keeping legs in both side.

c.       Pillion rider must keep spine straight to prevent back pain. 

For more information

PARTHIPAN  RAMASAMY 

MPT(Community Physio and Community Based Rehabilitation)

PHYSIOTHERAPIST & ERGONOMIST 

SPECTRUM PHYSIO CENTRE 

www.spectrumphysio.info 

Car Driving Ergonomics

Car Driving Ergonomics

Back pain and driving can’t be separated.  Sitting in the wrong position for long hours, gripping the steering wheel and being exposed to vibration from the roads can contribute to the back pain and shoulder pain. Humps and pot holes in road make sudden unexpected breaking and the same give more vibration in lower back and shoulder.

In recent years, majority of car provide wide range of adjustments. However, it is our duty to set our car parameters according to our own anthropometric measurements. Small adjustments can reduce the risk of back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain. 

Car adjustment:

1. Start the ergonomic modification by getting the seat into the ‘initial set up position’, where adjustable:
2. Steering wheel fully up and fully forward
3. Seat height at its lowest
4. Cushion tilted so that front edge in lowest position
5. Backrest approximately 30 degrees reclined from vertical
6. Lumbar support adjustment backed off
7. Seat fully rearwards
8. The car adjustment according to the ergonomic measure must be done according to the individual driver specific anthropometric measures.

Loughborough University guidelines & Chartered society of physiotherapy guidelines for car adjustment based on driving ergonomics

1. Step One – Seat height for better vision

    o Raise the seat as high as is comfortable to improve your vision of the road.

    o   Check you have adequate clearance from the roof.

    o   Ensure you have maximum vision of the road.

2. Step Two – Seat place for pedal comfort 

       o   Move the seat forwards until you can easily fully depress the clutch pedal and accelerator pedal. 

       o   Adjust seat height as necessary to give good pedal control.

3. Step Three – Avoid stress in leg

   o   Adjust cushion tilt angle so that the thighs are supported along the length of the cushion.

   o   Avoid pressure behind the knees.

4. Step four – Backrest is the best way to prevent back pain

       o  Adjust back rest so it provides continuous support along the length of the back and is in contact up            to  shoulder height.

o   Avoid reclining the seat too far as this can cause excessive forward bending of the head and neck and you may feel yourself sliding forwards on the cushion.

5. Step five – Lumbar support should be in lumbar curve

o   Adjust the lumbar support to give even pressure along the length of the back rest.

o   Ensure lumbar support ‘fits’ your back, is comfortable with no pressure points or gaps.

6. Step six – Steering wheel adjustment and avoid obstructions 

       o   Adjust steering wheel rearwards and downwards for each reach.

o   Check for clearance for things / knees when using pedals.

o   Ensure panel display is in full view and not obstructed.

7. Step seven - Head restraint adjustment to prevent head and neck injury 

       o   Adjust the head restraint to ensure the risk of injury is reduced in the event of a car accident

Repeat stages 1-7 and fine tune as necessary

Tips to prevent work related musculoskeletal injury for car drivers 

1.  Never use your mobile phone while you are driving, use hand free to avoid neck pain  
2.  Use seat belt irrespective of distance and speed, it can save a life during accidents
3.   Adjust the rear view mirror and side mirror to avoid excessive and frequent  neck turning
4.  Do adequate warm up before any sudden intense physical activity (such as lifting)
5.  Keep the satellite navigation route system device away from your vision area
6.  Keep spine straight and fully supported on seat while driving
7.  Take a small break from driving every two hours
8.  Do the simple stretch in every four hours
9.  Avoid air condition if u has myo- facial pain, trigger points...
10.  Use right hand in 2 o’clock and left hand in 10 o’clock position and avoid crossover of hand in steering wheel.

      

PARTHIPAN  RAMASAMY 

MPT(Community Physio and Community Based Rehabilitation)

PHYSIOTHERAPIST & ERGONOMIST 

SPECTRUM PHYSIO CENTRE 

www.spectrumphysio.info 

Ergonomics in Indian Context

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is application of scientific information concerning objects, system and environment for human use. (International ergonomics association 2000)

Ergonomics is a multidisciplinary science whose primary focus is the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of musculoskeletal disorders and their risk factors in the workplace. (American Industrial Hygiene Association)

The goals of ergonomics are to,

·         decrease risk of musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses

·         decrease worker discomfort and to improve the quality of work life

·         improve worker performance and productivity

The goal of the science of ergonomics is to find a best fit between worker and job conditions and to make sure workers are uninjured, safe, and comfortable, as well as productive.

Steps of Ergonomics

1.       Individual’s improvement

A.      Correction of musculo skeletal strength, flexibility and posture

Work related postural imbalance produce the flexibility and strength imbalance and produce the postural abnormality. Correction of postural imbalance, strength and flexibility can help to avoid work related musculoskeletal disorders.

B.      Educating about working posture 

Repeated stress or wrong techniques like lifting, bending, kneeling, squatting and twisting are the common activities leads to work related musculoskeletal disorders. Education about the working posture can prevent the pain and discomfort.

2.       Engineering improvement

C.      Adjusting the working environment

Work space are usually equipped well and poorly adjusted according to the individuals’ physical appearance like height. Example; most often, the lumbar support is kept lower than lumbar curve in-spite of supporting in lumbar curve. Adjusting the working environment according to the individuals discomfort can help them to prevent pain and discomfort.

D.      Modification of working tool

Some time, worker need to add or change the working tool to prevent the work related to musculoskeletal injuries. Example; Any one use laptop use laptop for more than 3 hours may need to use laptop doc system with additional key board to avoid neck and shoulder pain.  Electrician who has elbow pain may need to change the angulations in hammer.   

3.       Administrative improvement  

E.       Change of job according to excising musculoskeletal problem  

Some time, some of musculoskeletal problem may need to modify the work schedule or inter-change the job nature to work related to musculoskeletal injuries. Example; the person who has diabetic and work with shoulder pain working in vibration based tool may need to shift to non vibration tool work like lifting.  The lady who had back pain and disc problem may need to interchange the job to non lifting jobs like vibration based tool working environment.  Participatory ergonomics can be helpful for the same activities. 

“Spectrum Ergo-Physio Concept ®”

Spectrum physio centre promote the   “SPECTRUM ERGO-PHYSIO CONCEPT” in Indian ergonomic scenario. Spectrum ergo physio concept is a holistic programme include ergonomic awareness programme, skilled physiotherapy assessment, desk exercise, work – rest regimen, workstation analysis and modification, participatory ergonomic intervention according to the individual need.  The effective ergonomic implementation leads to decrease the discomfort, pain and increase the productivity and overall satisfaction. However, Excising musculo-skeletal problem cannot be always corrected by ergonomics alone. Ergonomic advice with physiotherapy leads to maximal benefit of ergonomic implementation.

Be proactive

You don’t have to wait till you get pain, anyone can seek for musculoskeletal risk assessment and onsite ergonomic evaluation to promote your health and increase your productivity.  Early intervention can help to enhance your performance and prevent work related musculoskeletal disorders. 

PARTHIPAN  RAMASAMY 

MPT(Community Physio and Community Based Rehabilitation)

PHYSIOTHERAPIST & ERGONOMIST 

SPECTRUM PHYSIO CENTRE 

www.spectrumphysio.info