A biomechanical manikin for the evaluation of loads on the body

A simple tool to evaluate loads at body joints is described. Its function is to analyse static tasks performed in the sagittal plane. It consists of an articulated plastic manikin placed in the required posture on a magnetic board. The manikin has a set of scales which indicate moments of forces around the elbow, shoulder, lumbosacral or knee joints generated by any force exertion. The readings take into account several percentiles of stature and body weight and any value and direction of force applied in the task. A graph also provides an estimate of the intervertebral compression forces.