Table 1 Depiction of the recorded body/joint angles based on the OWAS method, applied evaluation parameters and assessment criteria according to ergonomic standards

Head/neck

Head

sagittal inclination

Head tilted to the front (HT_f) [32, 42]

Neutral: 0 to 25°

Moderate: 25 to 85°

Awkward: < 0° & > 85°

lateral inclination

Head tilted to the right (HT_r) 42]

Neutral: -10 to 10°

Awkward: < -10° & >10°

Cervical spine (CS)

flexion/extension

Neck curvature to the front (NC_f) [Difference between head and TS] [32, 42]

Neutral: 0 to 25°

Awkward: < 0° & > 25°

lateral flexion

Neck curvature to the right (NC_r) [Difference between head and TS] [32, 42]

Neutral: -10 to 10°

Awkward: < -10° & >10°

Back

Thoracic spine (TS)

flexion/extension

TS inclination to the front (TSI_f) [32, 42]

Neutral: 0 to 20°

Moderate: 20 to 60°

Awkward: < 0° & > 60°

lateral flexion

TS inclination to the right (TSI_ r) [32, 42]

Neutral: -10 to 10°

Moderate: -10 to -20°

Moderate: 10 to 20°

Awkward: < -20° & > 20

Lumbar spine (LS)

flexion/extension

LS inclination to the front (LSI_f)

No ergonomic layout available

lateral flexion

LS inclination to the right (LSI_r)

Torso

flexion/extension

Back curvature to the front (BC_f)

[Difference between TS and LS] [32, 42]

Neutral: 0 to 20°

Moderate: 20 to 40°

Awkward: < 0° & > 40°

Inclination of the torso to the front (TI_f)

[Median flexion of TS and LS] [32, 42]

Neutral: 0 to 20°

Moderate: 20 to 60°

Awkward: < 0°& > 60°

lateral flexion

Back curvature to the right (BC_r)

[Difference between between TS and LS] [32, 42]

Neutral: -10 to 10°

Moderate: -10 to -20°

Moderate: 10 to 20°

Awkward: < -20° & > 20°

Inclination of the torso to the right (TI_r)

[median lateral flexion of TS and LS] [32, 42]

torsion

Back torsion to the right (BT_r)

[Difference between TS and LS] [42]