Gender dependence of the geometric and mass-inertial characteristics via a 3D biomechanical model of the human body

G. S. Nikolova, D. M. Dantchev

Abstract: Understanding the geometric and mass-inertial characteristics (MIC) of the human body is of key importance for the analysis of human motion. Based on large-scale anthropometric measurements of 5290 individuals of the Bulgarian population [1], we present some results for mass, volume, location of the mass centre and moments of inertia for body segments of the average Bulgarian male and female obtained via a 20-segmental 3D biomechanical model of the human body. The anthropometric and mass parameters of the average male differs from those of the average female: the average male is characterized by height 1.71 m and mass 77.7 kg, while the average female by height 1.58 m and mass 65.3 kg, respectively. These differences proliferate in the inertial characteristics of the segments of the male and female bodies, as well as for the whole body in its different positions. The latter demonstrates the gender dependence of the geometric and mass-inertial characteristics of the average male and female pertinent to the Bulgarian population, which we visualize and discuss in the current study.
Our results could be useful for orthotics and prosthetics design, for the design of systems and devices aimed to enhance rehabilitation, to help disabled persons, in areas like ergonomics, sports and criminology.

Series on Biomechanics, Vol.36 No.1 (2022), 113-119
DOI: 10.7546/SB.15.2022

Keywords: 3D biomechanical model; males and females body segment parameters; Mass-inertial parameters

Date published: 2022-04-12