Postural load: Discomfort

The Postural discomfort panel is part of the Postural load dialog and displays the percentage of postural discomfort associated with different body segments for the assessed posture or activity.

It provides detailed information about postural demand by body segment and movement type. Unlike methods such as REBA or LUBA, which produce global or semi-global scores or risk categories, Discomfort helps identify in greater detail which segments have the greatest postural demand.

For an overview of the complete dialog, see Postural load.

No.	Area or control	Function
1	Postural-discomfort percentages	Displays the percentage of postural discomfort by body segment and movement type, together with a color code that supports interpretation.
2	Discomfort calculation options	Opens the postural-discomfort calculation options.
3	Duration and repetitiveness	Opens Action duration and repetitiveness in Single posture mode or Activity repetitions in Multiple postures mode.
4	Display discomfort on the model	Colors model segments according to their maximum postural-discomfort percentage.

What postural discomfort is

Postural discomfort measures the postural demand or discomfort associated with the positions adopted by different body segments. In Ergoniza Intelligent it is expressed as a percentage of maximum recommended discomfort.

This makes it possible to quickly determine whether a segment’s posture is:

clearly below the maximum recommended level;
close to the recommended limit;
above that limit.

This representation helps identify body segments that may require correction or redesign and compare postural alternatives.

For the methodological basis, see these sections in the Technical foundations:

Postural-discomfort percentages

Area 1 displays the postural-discomfort percentage by body segment and movement type.

The table contains one row for each body segment and several columns for different movements. For simplicity, generic column labels are used:

Flex/Ext
Abd/Lat
Rot.

Interpret these labels as simplified operational terms. They do not always match the most precise anatomical terminology for each segment. For the foot, for example, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion may be more precise, but the generic term flexion/extension simplifies the display.

Similarly:

Abd/Lat can represent abduction, adduction, or lateral flexion, depending on the segment;
Rot. represents the corresponding rotation.

Keep this simplification in mind when interpreting results.

Discomfort color code

In addition to numerical values, the panel uses a color code to support rapid interpretation.

Green

Green indicates that postural discomfort for the movement is below 85% of the maximum recommended value.

In this range, the posture is relatively far from the maximum recommended limit for that movement and body segment.

Orange

Orange indicates that postural discomfort is between 85% and 100% of the maximum recommended value.

The posture is close to the recommended limit and should be reviewed carefully, particularly if it is sustained for a long time or occurs repeatedly.

Red shades

Red indicates that postural discomfort exceeds 100% of the maximum recommended value.

For that body segment and movement, the posture is above the recommended level. A more intense red indicates a greater exceedance.

This visual code helps locate the most demanding body segments quickly.

Discomfort calculation options

Button 2 opens the discomfort calculation options.

This dialog adjusts parameters used to calculate and represent postural discomfort, such as posture duration and the effect of upper-limb orientation relative to gravity.

For detailed instructions, see Discomfort: calculation options.

Any change to these options can alter how postural-discomfort results are calculated or displayed. When comparing postures or design alternatives, keep the same configuration for all of them.

Relationship with duration and repetitiveness

Button 3 opens a different dialog depending on the operating mode:

in Single posture mode, it opens Action duration and repetitiveness;
in Multiple postures mode, it opens Activity repetitions.

Postural discomfort depends not only on instantaneous posture geometry but also on its temporal context. The same posture has a different interpretation when it:

occurs only momentarily;
is sustained for a period;
recurs cyclically within an activity.

When interpreting the discomfort panel, also check the applicable temporal configuration.

Display discomfort on the model

Button 4 displays postural discomfort directly on the model.

When enabled, each model segment is colored according to its maximum postural discomfort among the following components:

flexion-extension;
abduction-lateral flexion;
rotation.

If a segment has several discomfort percentages, its displayed color corresponds to the highest of these values.

This provides a rapid overall view of the body regions with the greatest postural demand. It is particularly useful for visually comparing postures or locating the most affected segments at a glance.

For more detail, see:

Display of discomfort on the model

Differences from REBA and LUBA

Do not confuse Discomfort with REBA or LUBA.

Discomfort provides a detailed measurement by body segment and movement.
REBA assesses postural risk using a structured whole-body method.
LUBA assesses postural load using a specific method focused particularly on the upper body.

The Discomfort panel is especially useful for identifying which body segment and which movement type contribute most to postural demand, while REBA and LUBA provide results oriented toward method-specific risk or postural-load assessment.

For more information, see:

Interpretation recommendations

When interpreting the Discomfort panel:

First identify the body segments with the highest values.
Use the color code to quickly locate the most demanding movements.
Do not interpret movement columns too literally in anatomical terms; remember that their names are generic.
Also review temporal context under Action duration and repetitiveness or Activity repetitions.
If useful, display discomfort on the model to locate the most demanding regions spatially.

Relationship with the Technical foundations

For a more complete methodological explanation, see:

These sections provide further information about the calculation basis, assessment of absolute discomfort, determination of discomfort percentages, and their visual representation in the system.