Biomechanics, Physical Ergonomics, & Safety

human skeletal illustration focusing on lower back spine

Research in biodynamics and physical ergonomics is concerned with understanding musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) causal pathways in order to enhance and control occupational ergonomics and cumulative trauma risk, as well as personalized medicine for the prevention and treatment of spine disorders. Research focuses on discovering and characterizing risk factors for injury and designing and evaluating interventions to reduce injury risk and enhance the safety and productivity of the humans in systems as diverse as healthcare, manufacturing, warehousing, emergency services, and education.

The Department of Integrated Systems Engineering offers undergraduate and graduate students coursework and research opportunities in biomechanics, physical ergonomics, and occupational safety. Faculty, research staff, and students affiliated with the Spine Research Institute, Biodynamics Laboratory, John and Mary Lib White Laboratory, Center for Occupational Health in Automotive Manufacturing, Orthopaedic Ergonomics Laboratory, and the Engineering Laboratory for Human Factors/Ergonomics/Safety conduct research focused on the intersection of both the physical and cognitive aspects of people, technology, and work, with the objective of improving the design and performance of work systems that preserve and promote worker health enhance MSD resolution, and allow people to work more effectively.

Focus

A person is being fitted with research apparatus

We provide an integrative systems perspective linking technology, epidemiology, statistical methods, and industrial engineering work analysis techniques, with knowledge about humans from anthropometry, physiology, cognition, biochemistry, biomechanics, psychology, cognition, biochemistry, anatomy, kinesiology, rehabilitation sciences, and medicine to:

  • improve the understanding of causal pathways of musculoskeletal disorders and recovery
  • quantify the human body's biomechanical response to risk factors imposed by occupational tasks
  • assess effectiveness of interventions to reduce injury risk posed by hazardous work tasks and environments
  • develop models that provide insight into the development of spine, neck, and other musculoskeletal disorders and strategies for prevention and recovery

Approach

To accomplish this, we take a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, engaging with research partners from medicine, design, psychology, other engineering disciplines, and health and rehabilitation sciences. We also work collaboratively with subject matter experts (workers) to understand the ways in which they are challenged by work processes and environments and work with them to ideate and evaluate potential solutions to reduce those challenges and facilitate their work performance.

Application Areas

These are as diverse as the work that humans can undertake, including health care, clinical treatment, distribution and fulfillment, fire and EMS services, manufacturing, office work, education, grocery and retail checkout, aircraft maintenance, & more.

Concentration Faculty