range of motion for each joint is important for performing the activity by humans. it is also important to understand the flexibility and limitations of the human body for designing anything. be it space or furniture. Thus its knowledge is very important for a designer.

1. Range of motion
Understanding
its importance
To design
Ar. Surashmie Kaalmegh
Associate Professor
BID ,LAD College , Nagpur

5. The Human skeletal system:
motor /movement

6. Muscle group location:

7. The skeleton / structure of the body :

10. The transverse plane
The coronal plane
The sagittal plane

11. What is range of motion?
Euler angles & DOF (degrees of freedom )

12. Range of motion
 The range, measured in
degrees of a circle, through
which a joint can be extended
and flexed
 An array of muscles, tendons
and ligaments give the joint
static and dynamic stability
and permit it to execute
powerful and precise
movements

13. The study of body
movements
Where in :
Physical conditions
& special needs,
Age related ,
Gender related,
Racial related,
Environmental
conditions and
Spatial differences
All are vital for
designing

14. A joint is the
point where two
or more bones
meet. There are
three main types
of joints;
Fibrous
(immoveable),
Cartilagenous
(partially
moveable)
and
Synovial (freely
moveable

15.  Ball & socket
joints - These
are the
strongest,
most movable
joints, they
allow for radial
movement in
almost any
direction.
 Example : the
shoulder and
hip.

16.  Pivot joints -
These joints
rotate around an
axis by twisting.
The radius and
ulna are able to
rotate around
each other in the
forearm.

17.  Hinge joints -
These joints
allow for the
extension and
retraction of an
extremity.
 Examples are
the knee and
elbow.

18.  Saddle joints -
These joints
allow for back
and forth or up
and down
movement but no
rotation. The
thumb is the only
example.

19.  Gliding
joints - These
joints allow
bones slide
past each
other.
 Examples
are the meta
carpals and
meta tarsals.

20.  Ellipsoid
joints -
These
joints are
similar to
ball &
socket, but
movement
is less.
 The wrist is
an ellipsoid
joint.

22. Elbow joint

23. Activity needs
motion & motion
needs mobility ,
flexibility………

24. A Goniometer to
measure an elbow range
The Elbow joint :

25. Wrist bones :
Grips & pulls

26. The Grip:

27. Fingers & wrist movement :

30. The Hand & Fingers : grip

31. The grip:

34. The grip

37. Knee &
wrist :

38. The Knee movement: needs to be considered for design of footrests ,
Under chair or table
Clearance
Seat height & stretches

40. Vision &
the Neck

44. Shoulder joint
LIFT, HOIST
MOVE / SHIFT

46. Wheelchair
bound people use
shoulder joints the
maximum
 An extraordinarily
complex interplay
of joints, tendons,
muscles and
ligaments gives
the shoulder joint
the greatest range
of motion of all
the joints in the
human body .

51. Vertical Reaches :

53. Types of body postures studied & applied :
Static
 Anthropometric
 Adequate but rarely
effective to user
Dynamic
 Usernomic
 Much more realistic &
hence useful

54. Dynamic postures :

55. Horizontal Reaches:
Arms & reaches
: in order to
perform better

64. ROM & DOF ----
restrictions
 Type of
Clothes
 Age
 Gender
 Disabilities /
injury
 Climatic
conditions
 Preoccupancy
with something
else …

65. Some movements where other body parts are
used to operate an equipment ………..?????

66. Hence
design
should
depend on
mostly …….
The Use ,
User &
Usability .

67. Photo and text credit to all the talented unnamed photographers and authors whose works have been used in this presentation