Anatomical locations for capturing magnitude differences in foot-transmitted vibration exposure, determined using multiple correspondence analysis

Abstract To facilitate research and safety studies, it is desirable to identify the minimum number of measurement points needed to characterize the biodynamic response of the foot to vibration exposure. In previous experiments, transmissibility measurements were taken at 24 anatomical locations on the foot when 21 participants were standing with their centre of pressure (COP) in a natural, forward and backward location. Multiple correspondence analysis was performed using the peak transmissibility magnitudes from these data in order to identify clusters of behaviour that might be used to reduce the total number of measurement locations. Peak transmissibility was analysed based on two magnitude thresholds: at 2.0 (100% amplification of the input signal), and at 2.5 (150% amplification). Results indicate that transmissibility measurements at the nail bed of the first phalange (T1P1), the head of first metatarsal (T1P3), the head of second metatarsal (M1), and the lateral malleolus (L4) may be sufficient to effectively measure foot-transmitted vibration across the range of COP locations analysed (natural, forward and backward). A reduced measurement set for capturing the biodynamic response to foot-transmitted vibration exposure will allow for more practical laboratory and field measurements, reducing equipment set-up and exposure times for participants/workers.