A personalized method for estimating centre of mass location of the whole body based on differentiation of tissues of a multi-divided trunk.

There are several methods for obtaining location of the centre of mass of the whole body. They are based on cadaver data, using volume and density of body parts, using radiation and image techniques. Some researchers treated the trunk as a one part only, while others divided the trunk into few parts. In addition some researchers divided the trunk with planes perpendicular to the longitudinal trunk's axis, although the best approach is to obtain trunk parts as anatomical and functional elements. This procedure was used by Dempster and Erdmann. The latter elaborated personalized estimating of inertial quantities of the trunk, while Clauser et al. gave similar approach for extremities. The aim of the investigation was to merge both indirect methods in order to obtain accurate location of the centre of mass of the whole body. As a reference location a direct method based on reaction board procedure, i.e. with a body lying on a board supported on a scale was used. The location of the centre of mass using Clauser's and Erdmann's method appeared almost identical with the location obtained with a direct method. This approach can be used for several situations, especially for people of different morphology, for the bent trunk, and for asymmetrical movements.