Adjustments to the segment center of mass proportions of Clauser et al. (1969)

One of the most commonly-referenced studies on body segment masses and centers of mass is by Clauser et al. (AMRL Technical Report 69-70, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, 1969). The Clauser et al. data, however, are difficult to use, because the investigators used certain bony landmarks rather than joint centers as reference points for the center of mass proportions. The purpose of this study was to make adjustments to those proportions so that they could be applied directly to segments having joint centers as endpoints. The segments affected by these adjustments were the trunk, upper arm, forearm, thigh, and calf. These new proportions are markedly different than those originally reported by Clauser et al., especially for the trunk segment. Readers are cautioned against using the original proportions when using joint centers as segment endpoints.