ABSTRACT
Positioning analysis refers to the evaluation of the body’s posture that occurs during a work task. The analysis of work postures is a fundamental concept in the study of industrial and office ergonomics. Working in “awkward” postures is considered one of the classical risk factors associated with upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders (Putz-Anderson 1988; Sommerich et al. 1993). Although it must be remembered that posture is a time-dependent quantity and changes with movement. At some point as movements become faster it makes little sense to talk in terms of limb or body part’s (segment) posture or a joint’s position and instead focus on the dynamic characteristics of the motions involved as these potentially relate more to the risks inherent in the activity. With slower or even static work activities the posture to a large degree impacts the mechanical loads experienced by the muscles and joints within the body.
