Anthropometrics

Sally Jane Uy, OTR/L, MBAH

TSOT 2 lecture
Objectives of the Session:
Define Anthropometry
Recognize the value and application of
anthropometry in the field of
occupational therapy
Understand anthropometric
measurements among adults, children
and the wheelchair-bound
What is Anthropometry?
The science of measurement of the human body

Why?
Develop concrete and scientific information that can
be used to design spaces that fit the largest number of
people
Provides the parameters of human size and shape that
allow designers to fulfill the needs of both comfort
and function
Provides understanding of why a workspace fits a
worker and the understanding of how a workspace fits
a worker and the understanding of how a workspace
may fail the people who work in it
Universal factors the influence
human size and shape
Gender
Men are larger than women, both overall
and in limb length
Men tends to accumulate fat at the
abdomen vs. women who accumulates at
hips, thighs and buttocks
Ethnic Differences
Ethnic groups in tropical climates have
lower body weight than those in colder
temperatures
 Aging
Beyond 30 y.o., stature decreases and body
weight increases
After 50 and 60 y.o., body weight decreases
further
 Uses of Anthropometric Data
Reach
Defined as a sphere around the
worker that can be touched by
the worker at all points without
moving the body from the
starting point
Vertical reach : example : getting
objects overhead
Seated: 48.6 in men; 44.6 in women
Standing: 71.2-75.4 in woman; 89-
94.2 in men
Horizontal reach : example :
tabletop
Normal: 13 in women, 17 in men
Extended: 21 in women, 25 in men
 Visual reach: to see what
they are doing, visual
contact with controls and
alarms
Most relaxed line of sight: 10-
15 degrees below the
horizontal
Eye can rotate comfortably
rotate about 15 degrees
above and below the
imaginary angle
Reading distance is 15.8 to
27.6 inches from the eye
Clearance
Space needed to allow free passage of a
person or a body segment.
Height: 77 inches
Width: 1 person: 25.5 inches
2 person: 53.1 inches
 Hand clearance
Smallest: 5.1 inches square
To prevent access: opening should be less
than 2 inches square or no thicker the 1.5
inches and no wider than 3.3 inches
Leg Room
At least 27.2 inches wide and 27.6
inches high
24 inches at knee level and 32
inches floor level
Best posture
Standing: head upright over
the torso, the torso upright
with the center of gravity
over the hips, the knees
slightly bent , arms in relaxed
position at side
Sitting: 90 degree hip flexion,
90 degree knee flexion and 90
degree elbow flexion???
(debatable)
General rules
Position should be changed frequently
Positions that cause forward inclination of the head
should be avoided
Upper arms should be kept next to the body and
raising arms overhead should be avoided
Body parts should be kept aligned; twisting asymmetry
should be avoided
Neutral postures should be maintained and extremes
of range avoided
Back support should be provided, preferably one that
can be inclined to greater than 90 degrees
Body parts should be placed in the positions of
greatest strength
Precision and strength
Precision: should see clearly the work
Enhanced by workers ability to hold the work close
to the body and to support his or her arms or hands
while working
2-4 inches above elbow height
Strength: influenced by posture (when body
part is positioned at optimal muscle-tension
length, greater strength is achieved.)
6-16 inches lower than elbow
Applications
Computer design
Backpack use of children
Leisure (sports activity)
Ergonomically designed tools for
kitchen/garden
Ergonomics for occ and phys therapists
Wheelchair Users
Lower eye-level - eye-level is 15 -16" below
that of most standing people and the seated
posture also influences reach, controls, and
access.

Possession of a cumbersome, awkward, space-

consuming, distinctive and inelegant vehicle.
While a standing person occupies 25" by 15" of
floor space, requires 16" to 26" aisle width and
can turn on the spot, a wheelchair user
occupies up to 57" by 25" of floor space,
requires minimum aisle clearance of 31.5" and
needs a turning circle of between 59" and 67".
 1 person on wheelchair: 36 inches
person on wheelchair to rotate is 60 inches
 Child Anthropometrics

Infants, Children & Youths to 18

(US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1977)

CHILData: Handbook child measurements

(Wilson & Norris, U. Nottingham Dept. Trade & Industry, 2001)

#
 Growth charts (weight and height)
Childrens bone growth
By 7, girls bone size = 80% peak
Bone Mineral Content (BMC) = 40%
(Bass et al, J Clin. Invest, 1999)
Child strength
Boys & girls 2-15 years did not differ sig.
(150 subjects - Peebles & Norris, IEA 2000)
Boys stronger than girls by the age of 10
(530 Swedish children - Hger-Ross & Rsblad,
Acta Paediatr 2002)
By the 16th year, males much stronger
Max. strength does not increase after 16.
Grip strength in boys & girls, 5 - 17 years
Hager-Ross et al (2002) Acta Paediatr
 Child Postures

Patterns begin at around 7

Wide range postures & movements

Conscious control of posture

over-correction, over-control & tension.

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 Adaptable furniture & equipment.
Child-sized stations & equipment.
Back support.
Ability to move/change position.
Knee clearance and foot support.
Sit/stand.
 A 60 lbs. child can carry a maximum
backpack weight of 5 lbs.
60-75 lbs. can carry 10 lbs.
100 lbs. can carry 15 lbs.
125 lbs. can carry 18 lbs.
150 lbs. can carry 20 lbs.
200 lbs. can carry 25 lbs.
No one should carry more than
25 lbs. in a backpack. (10-15% of body weight)
Computer use
Monitor at least 2-3 feet from child eyes.
Large fonts (14 - 16 point, bold)
Monitor directly in front.
Top of screen no higher than eye level
Touch typing.
Replace mousing with keying.
Keyboard & mouse below elbows. (if child
can touch-type and keyboard tilts back).
Smaller keyboards.
Light touch keyboards.
Child sized pointing devices.
Pointer close to midline.
Evaluate alternative input devices (e.g.
trackballs)
Limit exposure.
Limit usage; 1 hour limits.
5-10 min. breaks per 20-30 min.
 Avoid laptops.
Hard to position screen & keyboard
Avoid carrying laptops in backpacks
Limit backpack weight
Wheeled carts
Chair should fit & support.
Turn off vibration.
Hold controller loosely.
Avoid high screens.
Avoid glare & reflections.
 Handwriting
Hand dexterity:
skill & grace
quickness, sureness, neatness
light touch.
Hand patterns from childhood continue
through adulthood.
 Handwriting is affected by
Motor planning.
Postural mechanism.
Muscle strength & flexibility.
Coordination.
Visual system.
 Hand Skill Development
Supination.
Stabilize forearm & wrist.
Isolate thumb from fingers.
Separate sides of hand.
Stabilize thumb & index web space.
Individualize digits.
Palmar arching.
Precise fingertip rotation.
 Pencil grip requires tri-pod grip.
Tri-pod grip develops in kindergarten.
Pre-mature start poor writing
patterns.
Poor patterns damage thumb joint
(metacarpal).
 Child cant write effectively on flat
surfaces until they reach 7.
Tabletop activities promote flexed
postures & immature motor patterns.
Inclined & vertical surfaces upright
sitting
 Dont encourage writing
until child develops tri-pod
grip.
Pencil grips promote proper
physiological position for
writing.
Relaxation techniques for
handwriting.
2 minute breaks per 20 - 30
min.
 References
Ergonomics for therapists by Karen Jacobs
Occupational therapy and ergonomics by Frank
Stein