Motion Learning System for Low Back Pain Prevention for Nurses: Exploring Posture Detection with Kinect

Abstract

Nurses frequently experience significant strain on their lower backs while lifting and moving patients, making it essential to learn proper posture that considers biomechanics for low back pain prevention. However, traditional methods make it difficult for nurses to objectively assess their posture and confirm mastery. To address this issue, a motion learning system using Virtual Reality (VR) was developed. This system displays two avatars: one that replicates the learner's posture and another that demonstrates the correct posture of an expert, allowing learners to visually recognize posture differences. In this study, we replaced the previously used motion sensor with Kinect to improve posture measurement accuracy. To evaluate the effectiveness of this system, learners are instructed to imitate the posture presented by the expert avatar, and the time required for imitation is recorded. The results are then compared between sessions with and without the system. The expected outcome of this experiment is that the VR system will support posture imitation and contribute to a reduction in learning time.