The effects and measurement of working postures

Postures are a necessary result of undertaking working activities but the constraints the impose on these activities are not overtly recognised. The forms which these constraints can take are discussed, as well as the likely outcomes for a worker arising from long held or frequently adopted postures. Methods for the recording and evaluation of postures and their effects are described. Research into the relationships between the extent of and holding times for postures and the effects of various recovery times are discussed. Where a maximal postural effort has a recovery period of twelve times the length of the time the posture was held, only about 80% of the initial performance can be expected. Full recovery requires rest periods in excess of 1200% of working time.