Ketut Tirtayasa

Designing a Low Cost Endoskeletal below Knee Prostheses with the Implementation of Appropriate Technology

The endoskeletal below knee prostheses was commercially available in Indonesia. More advanced products also available in the market but they come with expensive price and high maintenance cost. This paper presents a design concept of an affordable endoskeletal below knee prostheses for daily living with functional ankle joint. The design was developed through the application of appropriate technology approach from the total ergonomics framework which consists of 7 characteristics; technically feasible, ergonomic, energy saving, economical, socioculturally acceptable, environmental friendly, and trendy. The result is an endoskeletal below knee prostheses with multiaxis joint system and energy store-return components installed on its modular ankle joint.

Improvement in walking efficiency of transtibial amputee using prosthetic leg with multi-axis joint and energy store return ankle

Walking gait deviation in majority of people with amputation who use prosthesis is a result of asymmetrical movement, which is occurred between intact leg and prosthetic leg. The importance of this issue is how a prosthetic with multi-axis joint and energy store-return ankle can improve the walking gait. The purpose of this study is to show the improvement of walking efficiency in transtibial amputee. This study uses 14 male transtibial amputees as subjects. The subjects were requested to walk on the flat surface along 10 meters (4 times back and forth) walking track for about 6 minutes (6 minutes walking test) and with normal walking speed for about 1.2 m/s. We set 3 minutes rest when the subject achieving 40m. We also treat nutrient intake as 273 calories for all the subjects. From the test, we collect their walking balance and gait efficiency data as two main parameters for walking efficiency. A crossover design was used for the experiments, which separate the subject into 2 treatment groups and 2 testing periods. The result of comparative test between period (for all subjects and each group), period test and carry over effect test showed no significant differences which means all of the participant are equal and treated equally. For comparative test between treatments within each group, there are significant differences, which means multi-axis joint and energy store-return ankle has an effect to all treatment groups. We conclude that the intervention can encourage amputee to walk into more symmetrical movement with 59.54% in walking balance and 21.29% in gait efficiency, which indicate significant improvement in walking efficiency.

THE ERGONOMIC INTERVENTION ON PREPARING THE OFFERINGS FOR PRANAWA CREMATION CEREMONY IMPROVES THE WORKER’S EFFICIENCY AT DENPASAR CITY

Pitra yadnya is the the ceremonies as a holy sacrifice performed by Hindu followers as a manifestation of devotion to parents who have died. So everyone who believe on Hinduism, especially, in Bali will perform cremation ceremonies which called ngaben. In this ceremony required some form of offerings and it is quite a lot. During process of making the offerings involved many people. In the process of making cremation offerings involving physical and mental activity, in an integrated manner can cause fatigue. that fatigue usually occurs at the end of working hours caused by various factors, such as monotony, static muscle work, tools and working facilities that do not fit the worker’s anthropometry, work station that is not ergonomically sound, forced attitude and work-break timing is not right , and muscle complaints; therefore, it is needed ergonomic intervention.There are four issues: 1) Is ergonomic intervention while preparing the offerings for ngaben pranawa improves the efficiency of the worker seen from the decrease of fatigue? 2 ) Is ergonomic intervention while preparing the offerings for ngaben pranawa improves the efficiency of worker seen from the decrease in musculoskeletal complaints? 3) Is ergonomic intervention while preparing the offerings for ngaben pranawa improves efficiency of worker seen from the decrease in the workload? 4) Is ergonomic intervention while preparing the offerings for ngaben pranawa improves efficiency of worker seen from productivity? A study with the same subject design was carried out on 18 person adult female Balinese. In the first period of study the subject preparing the offerings with the existing working condition, while in the second period an ergonomic intervention was introduced, using tables and working chairs, and guidance book in preparing the same offerings. Based on the results of research and discussion, the following conclusions can be drawn. 1) Ergonomics intervention in the process of making offerings for ngaben pranawa improved work efficiency seen from the decreased in fatigue, that is equal to 36.24% (p <0.005). 2) Decrease musculoskeletal complaints, amounting to 37.98% (p <0.005). 3) Decreased the workload. that is equal to 13.22% (p <0.005), and 4) Increased work efficiency viewed from the offering makers productivity, namely by 78% (p <0.005). Ergonomic interventions proven to reduce fatigue, musculoskeletal complaints decreased workload, and can increased work productivity. Therefore, it is advisable to apply the ergonomic intervention at the cremation offerings and another religious ceremonies. Benefit of ergonomics intervention in this study was the participation and collaboration, a commitment from all parties, and the interaction between the participant of making offerings, and ergonomics intervention can improve efficiency in the process of making offerings for cremate ceremony in Denpasar city.