Presentation
Task-dependent associations between motor variability and perceived discomfort in field-studies of watchmaking and automotive assembly
SessionThursday Poster Session
DescriptionThis study examined how movement variability relates to discomfort during repetitive industrial work in real-world settings. Experienced watchmakers and automotive assembly workers were monitored with wearable motion sensors while performing their regular tasks, and their movement patterns were compared with self-reported discomfort after task completion. Back discomfort was the most commonly reported issue in both groups. The results showed that movement patterns involving the neck, trunk, and right shoulder were strongly associated with back discomfort, but the nature of these relationships differed by task context. In some cases, greater movement variability was linked to higher discomfort, while in others it appeared to reflect more adaptive movement strategies associated with lower discomfort. Measures capturing coordination between body segments were especially informative, suggesting that how workers move across joints may matter more than simple movement amount alone. These findings indicate that movement variability is not uniformly beneficial or harmful; rather, its role depends on the demands of the task. Understanding these task-specific patterns may support more effective ergonomic assessment and intervention strategies for reducing discomfort in repetitive work.
Event Type
Poster
TimeThursday, October 22nd5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Location