A study was carried out in collaboration with the University of Muenster to examine the muscle activities of car drivers while driving. This activity (active, passive and tensing phases) was recorded by electromyography (EMG). An analysis was made of four to six muscle groups as representative indicators of the seating comfort. These muscle groups were selected by statistical evaluation after detailed driving trials with a suitable test instrument giving objective readings. It is shown that the EMG measuring method can be used without difficulty in a moving vehicle. The correlation between muscle fatigue in the lower extremities and higher parts of the body is clearly evident. The paper also shows the effect of improvements in a standard seat which can be integrated in new seat design.
Abstract