Body segment parameters of young Chinese men determined with magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: This study determines Chinese body segment parameters based on a magnetic resonance imaging method.

Methods: Fifty young Chinese men (21.5 ± 1.52 yr) participated in this study. Magnetic resonance images were obtained using a GE magnetic resonance imaging 1.5-T scanner with 10-mm thickness. The magnetic resonance digital images were analyzed using medical imaging software. This study separated the human body into 14 segments, including the head and neck, trunk, upper arm, forearm, hand, thigh, shank, and foot to calculate the percentage of mass of total body mass (%M), center of mass location (%CM), and moments of inertia (I) for each segment.

Results: The study results showed %M and %CM of the head and neck (8.21 and 52.69), trunk (42.28 and 41.96), upper arm (3.25 and 47.16), forearm (1.36 and 40.98), hand (0.54 and 32.60), thigh (13.50 and 48.56), shanks (4.63 and 41.68), and foot (1.47 and 47.51). Compared with other cadaver-based and in vivo studies, our findings indicate a lower %M and %CM at the hand, forearm, and trunk but higher %M and %CM at the head. The differences may be due to the race, lifestyle, age, and level of participants. The discrepancies in segment boundaries and coordinate system may also contribute to these differences. Most previous studies have either used cadavers from older Caucasian men or drawn conclusions from a limited sample size.

Conclusions: This study establishes a new model to provide thorough information of Chinese body segment parameters for enhanced ergonomic design and more accurate human movement studies.