Comparison of anthropometric dimensions of farmers\' hands in four different Iranian ethnicities

Abstract

: Hand anthropometric data can help us properly design hand tools for better efficiency and less fatigue in the individuals. The aim of this study is to measure and analyze hand anthropometric data of Iranian farmers in order to determine the characteristics of farmers' hands separately for each ethnicity so that they can be used to design hand tools and working stations. In order to design the appropriate hand tools, 8 dimensions were measured in Iranian farmers. This study was conducted by measuring the hand dimensions of 600 farmers in four ethnicities of Lor, Kurd, Arab, and Fars in Iran and comparing them with each other, as well as other countries which have measured their employees' hand dimensions to design hand tools appropriate for their countries.Results showed that the mean length of hand (19.82±1.53), hand metacarpal width (9.47±1.59), hand width to thumb tip (11.81±1.33), and hand metacarpal thickness (2.78±0.29) in Kurds ethnicity; palm length (10.82±0.84) in Arab ethnicity; and index finger diameter (2.40±0.39) and hand circumference (28.71±1.51) in Fars ethnicity were the greatest values. The results of comparison made between hand dimensions and those of other countries showed that the Iranian metacarpal hand width is larger than countries such as India, northern Nigeria, and Jordan. In addition, the hand thickness of Nigerian people is greater compared to Iranians'. These findings can help interior designers be able to design appropriate hand tools that cause a reduction in ergonomic problems in domestic farmers.

Keywords

• anthropometric dimensions
• hand tools
• farmers