Modular data logger system for physical workload measurements

Direct technical measurements of physical workload have advantages in studies of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. A data logger has been developed, based on 20 and 40 Mbyte PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) flash memory cards, for electromyography (EMG), inclinometry and goniometry. They are provided with an input for marking of events that can be used for synchronization with other loggers and with video recordings. To make the data easier to access by the preceeding analysis software, application software has also been developed that reorganizes the data. The loggers are easy to operate and enable whole-day ambulatory field recordings without any need for reduction or compression of the data.