Quantifying sitting posture: A pilot feasibility study of computer vision and wearable sensors (Posture Lab) using a manikin model

Posture-related musculoskeletal issues among office workers are a significant health concern, mainly due to long periods spent in static positions. This research presents a Posture Lab which is a workplace-based solution through an easy-to-use posture monitoring system, allowing employees to assess...

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Main Authors: Supachai Vorapojpisut, Suphawit Sansuk, Phoomtai Yindee, Darawadee Panich, Vinitha Puengtanom, Sairag Saadprai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Wearable Technologies
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100054/type/journal_article
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author Supachai Vorapojpisut
Suphawit Sansuk
Phoomtai Yindee
Darawadee Panich
Vinitha Puengtanom
Sairag Saadprai
author_facet Supachai Vorapojpisut
Suphawit Sansuk
Phoomtai Yindee
Darawadee Panich
Vinitha Puengtanom
Sairag Saadprai
author_sort Supachai Vorapojpisut
collection DOAJ
description Posture-related musculoskeletal issues among office workers are a significant health concern, mainly due to long periods spent in static positions. This research presents a Posture Lab which is a workplace-based solution through an easy-to-use posture monitoring system, allowing employees to assess their posture. The Posture Lab focuses on two key aspects: Normal Head Posture (NHP) versus Forward Head Posture (FHP) measurement and thoracic spine kyphosis. Craniovertebral (CA) and Shoulder Angles (SA) quantify NHP and FHP. The Kyphosis Angle (KA) is for measuring normal thoracic spine and kyphosis. To measure these angles, the system uses computer vision technology with ArUco markers detection via a webcam to analyze head positions. Additionally, wearable accelerometer sensors measure kyphosis by checking the angles of inclination. The framework includes a web-based user interface for registration and specialized desktop applications for different measurement protocols. A RESTful API enables system communication and centralized data storage for reporting. The Posture Lab serves as an effective tool for organizations to evaluate employee postures and supports early intervention strategies, allowing timely referrals to healthcare providers if any potential musculoskeletal issues are identified. The Posture Lab has also shown medium to very high correlations with standard 2D motion analysis methods – Kinovea – for CA, SA, and KA in FHP with kyphosis measurements (r = 0.607, 0.704, and 0.992) and shown high to very high correlations in NHP with normal thoracic spine measurements (r = 0.809, 0.748, and 0.778), with significance at p < .01, utilizing the Pearson correlation coefficient.
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issn 2631-7176
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Cambridge University Press
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series Wearable Technologies
spelling doaj-art-848303700f8e454f99fbd14bf09bc89b2025-08-20T02:06:40ZengCambridge University PressWearable Technologies2631-71762025-01-01610.1017/wtc.2025.10005Quantifying sitting posture: A pilot feasibility study of computer vision and wearable sensors (Posture Lab) using a manikin modelSupachai Vorapojpisut0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6320-9130Suphawit Sansuk1Phoomtai Yindee2Darawadee Panich3Vinitha Puengtanom4Sairag Saadprai5Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat School of Engineering, https://ror.org/002yp7f20 Thammasat University , Pathumthani, ThailandFaculty of Engineering, Thammasat School of Engineering, https://ror.org/002yp7f20 Thammasat University , Pathumthani, ThailandFaculty of Engineering, Thammasat School of Engineering, https://ror.org/002yp7f20 Thammasat University , Pathumthani, ThailandFaculty of Engineering, Thammasat School of Engineering, https://ror.org/002yp7f20 Thammasat University , Pathumthani, ThailandFaculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, ThailandFaculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, ThailandPosture-related musculoskeletal issues among office workers are a significant health concern, mainly due to long periods spent in static positions. This research presents a Posture Lab which is a workplace-based solution through an easy-to-use posture monitoring system, allowing employees to assess their posture. The Posture Lab focuses on two key aspects: Normal Head Posture (NHP) versus Forward Head Posture (FHP) measurement and thoracic spine kyphosis. Craniovertebral (CA) and Shoulder Angles (SA) quantify NHP and FHP. The Kyphosis Angle (KA) is for measuring normal thoracic spine and kyphosis. To measure these angles, the system uses computer vision technology with ArUco markers detection via a webcam to analyze head positions. Additionally, wearable accelerometer sensors measure kyphosis by checking the angles of inclination. The framework includes a web-based user interface for registration and specialized desktop applications for different measurement protocols. A RESTful API enables system communication and centralized data storage for reporting. The Posture Lab serves as an effective tool for organizations to evaluate employee postures and supports early intervention strategies, allowing timely referrals to healthcare providers if any potential musculoskeletal issues are identified. The Posture Lab has also shown medium to very high correlations with standard 2D motion analysis methods – Kinovea – for CA, SA, and KA in FHP with kyphosis measurements (r = 0.607, 0.704, and 0.992) and shown high to very high correlations in NHP with normal thoracic spine measurements (r = 0.809, 0.748, and 0.778), with significance at p < .01, utilizing the Pearson correlation coefficient.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100054/type/journal_articlemusculoskeletal disordersprimary health carecomputer visionArUco markerswearable sensors
spellingShingle Supachai Vorapojpisut
Suphawit Sansuk
Phoomtai Yindee
Darawadee Panich
Vinitha Puengtanom
Sairag Saadprai
Quantifying sitting posture: A pilot feasibility study of computer vision and wearable sensors (Posture Lab) using a manikin model
Wearable Technologies
musculoskeletal disorders
primary health care
computer vision
ArUco markers
wearable sensors
title Quantifying sitting posture: A pilot feasibility study of computer vision and wearable sensors (Posture Lab) using a manikin model
title_full Quantifying sitting posture: A pilot feasibility study of computer vision and wearable sensors (Posture Lab) using a manikin model
title_fullStr Quantifying sitting posture: A pilot feasibility study of computer vision and wearable sensors (Posture Lab) using a manikin model
title_full_unstemmed Quantifying sitting posture: A pilot feasibility study of computer vision and wearable sensors (Posture Lab) using a manikin model
title_short Quantifying sitting posture: A pilot feasibility study of computer vision and wearable sensors (Posture Lab) using a manikin model
title_sort quantifying sitting posture a pilot feasibility study of computer vision and wearable sensors posture lab using a manikin model
topic musculoskeletal disorders
primary health care
computer vision
ArUco markers
wearable sensors
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100054/type/journal_article
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