Abstract—Appropriate motion posture based on biomechanics is important to prevent lower back pain in nurses and nursing aides. We applied our human pose estimation system to evaluate nursing students’ motion posture fairly and effectively. This study examined 31 nursing students who had already learned about using biomechanics. These participants showed part of a fundamental nursing skill of “bedmaking.” Then researchers recorded the motion. Videos were analyzed using the human pose estimation system developed by Fujitsu Advanced Engineering Ltd. The center of gravity (COG) height was calculated for motion posture evaluation. To compare COGs of participants evaluated as passing (Good group) by teachers with those of failing participants (Bad group), t-tests and ANOVA were used. We analyzed 16 participants excluding 15 participants because of their video’s defect. Heights of all participants were 159.3±6.3 cm. The COG was 94.0±6.7 cm. Good group (n = 7) nurses showed significantly lower COG during motion than the Bad group (n = 9) did (Good group, 66.5±7.0 cm; Bad group, 74.8±6.4 cm, p < 0.001). Some participants with inadequate COG lowering were included in the Good group. The COG during motion was calculated accurately using the human pose estimation system. Results demonstrated a definite difference of COG between Good and Bad groups, and demonstrated teacher evaluation as ambiguous. The system might support teachers, enabling higher accuracy evaluation of students’ motion posture.

 

Index Terms—Human pose estimation system, motion posture, nursing student

Cite: Makoto Nishimura, Makiko Itoi, Masaki Saito, Kensuke Tsurumaki, Miki Kurushima, and Kiyoko Tokunaga, "Nursing Students’ Motion Posture Evaluation Using Human Pose Estimation," International Journal of Learning and Teaching, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 43-46, March 2020. doi: 10.18178/ijlt.6.1.43-46

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