Objective: The Objective of this study was to determine the intrarater reliability of chest expansion at three different anatomical landmarks using a cloth tape measure among healthy peoples. Materials and Methods: 120 healthy male and female volunteers were evaluated on two occasions in different days. The measures   consisted of chest expansion measurement at axilla, fourth intercostals and xiphoid levels. The measurements   were taken in the standing position with the arms hanging sideways at all the three different anatomical landmarks. The test-retest reliability of the measurements was determined by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurements (SEMs). Results: An acceptable reliability was determined  by ICC values greater than than 0.85 and SEMs less than 5%. The mean age of the subjects was 21.93 years. ICC of all measures ranged between 0.95 to 0.97 and SEMs were 1.9%, 1.8%, 1.5% at the axillary, fourth intercostals and xiphoid level respectively. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggested that, the cloth   tape measurement was reliable at all the three different anatomical landmarks of the chest wall. Therefore, this measurement technique could be used as an outcome measure for chest expansion in the management   of cardiorespiratory conditions. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v11i4.12602 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 11 No. 04 Oct’12

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While riding motorcycle have become a popular mode of transportation in most parts of the world, increase in motorcycle road accidents are very alarming. Many factors have been found to cause such motorcycle accidents and among others is motorcyclist fatigue. The aim of this study is to identify muscle groups that are related to motorcycling activity that may lead to motorcyclist muscle fatigue especially during prolonged riding. The groups of muscle recommended by this study were extracted from current literatures and studies, questionnaires and direct observation, and also a pilot surface electromyography (sEMG) experiment. Direct observation was made on motorcyclists’ hand and foot positioning during riding including their riding posture. Upon confirming the recommended muscle groups, a sEMG experiment was conducted using an established adjustable motorcycle test rig, the Postura MotergoTM. Several torso muscle groups were identified and recommended for analyzing motorcyclist muscle fatigue. However, lower extremity body muscle groups were not listed. This is due to no considerations were made by neither researchers nor being testified by participants answering the questionnaire.

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Abstract. Motorcycling postures are generically speculated to be physical and physiologically demanding -which in-turn may lead to motorcycling fatigue, and then becoming a possible factor to road accident. The objective of this study was to measure the muscular activities of various motorcycling postures. High muscular activity reading will signifies that motorcycling is indeed physically and physiologically demanding to the motorcyclist. For this particular study, the following postures were tested: i) forward lean, ii) upright sitting, and iii) neutral sitting (as control). Surface electromyography (sEMG) measurement was conducted on the following muscles: i) extensor carpi radialis, ii) upper trapezius iii) latissimus dorsi, and iv) erector spinae. The results showed that for all test subjects, the muscular activities readings for the forward lean posture was actually close to neutral sitting's. Whilst, the upright sitting had showed much higher muscular activities measurement instead. Conclusively, this study had proven that any types of discomforts associated with the forward lean posture is not originated from muscular activities. Whereas, confirming that any discomforts in regards to the upright sitting is indeed related to muscular activities. Further studies are warranted to discover the actual risk factors that causes physical and physiological discomforts for the forward lean motorcycling posture.