Determination of Range of Motion for Upper Limbs in a Sample of Mexican University Students

Abstract

Introduction: This research was carried out at the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez, División Multidisciplinaria Ciudad Universitaria, with a sample of students of the Industrial and Systems Engineering Program. With the objective of creating a database containing information about the ranges of motion (ROMS) of the upper limb. Materials and Methods: Upper limb ROMS estimation was developed using a bubble inclinometer Baseline® and the Rosscraft® anthropometric kit. The design of the research was descriptive, quantitative and transversal. A sample of 50 students was taken; the determination of the ROMS consisted in measuring each of the participants and, subsequently, the data were captured and analyzed through Minitab17® software, in order to obtain measures of central tendency and the existence of a significant difference between the ROMS of men and women. Results: The Range of motion limit for the elbow, shoulder, wrist and forearm joints was determined, finding that there is no evidence of significant difference between ROMS of men and women in the study, with the exception of abduction in the right shoulder. Discussion: The data collected in this research can be used to design workspaces that fit the needs of the user, with the aim to avoid the presence of musculoskeletal injuries and reduce physical fatigue among workers.