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Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

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The TACOs (time-based assessment computerized strategy) approach to evaluating occupational working postures.

Daniela Colombini¹, Enrico Occhipinti¹, Marco Tasso²

¹Scientific Association EPMIES Ergonomics of Posture and Movement International Ergonomics School, Milan, Italy.

|May 22, 2024

Summary

This study introduces TACOs, a new method for assessing spinal and lower limb biomechanical risk in jobs. TACOs incorporates organizational factors and task duration for more precise risk evaluation, even in complex work scenarios.

Keywords:

Awkward postures exposure score multitask analysis organisational studies time assessment

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Area of Science:

Occupational biomechanics
Ergonomics
Workplace safety analysis

Background:

Existing biomechanical overload assessments often focus on upper limbs and manual handling.
Current methods inadequately consider organizational factors in posture assessment.
There's a need for comprehensive evaluation of spinal and lower limb postures in specific job roles.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate the TACOs (Task-based Analysis of CO-exposure) method for assessing spinal and lower limb postures.
To integrate organizational factors and task duration into biomechanical risk assessment.
To provide a tool for evaluating exposure levels in complex, multi-task work environments.

Main Methods:

TACOs involves task identification, posture assessment, and duration analysis.
Organizational factors are used to adjust risk indexes.
Free downloadable tools are available to aid in the evaluation process.
Reliability studies assessed intra-observer and inter-observer agreement.

Main Results:

TACOs defines tasks as the primary unit of measurement for easier posture assessment.
The method allows for precise risk evaluation by considering task duration.
Reliability studies showed excellent intra-observer agreement and moderate inter-observer agreement.
The method successfully classifies exposure levels in complex scenarios.

Conclusions:

TACOs offers an improved approach to assessing spinal and lower limb biomechanical risk by incorporating organizational factors and task duration.
The method facilitates easier and more precise risk evaluation, particularly for complex work cycles.
While not demonstrating predictive validity for diseases, TACOs is effective for classifying exposure levels in occupational settings.