{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T13:03:18Z","timestamp":1788267798897,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":75,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]],"date-time":"2025-12-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764892800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100010044","name":"University of Central Lancashire","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["THRIVE Research Centre"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["THRIVE Research Centre"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100010044","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Understanding the effects of birthing positions on labour is crucial for optimising maternal and foetal outcomes. Upright positions are encouraged but their biomechanics are not fully understood. Biomechanical changes during labour can make certain positions more or less favourable depending on individual physical characteristics. Understanding these factors is essential for tailoring strategies that enhance maternal comfort and facilitate labour. This study aimed to quantify the biomechanics of seven common upright birthing positions, comparing their biomechanical characteristics and evaluating the sensitivity and accuracy of marker-based and markerless motion capture systems. Fifteen healthy, non-pregnant women performed seven upright birthing positions. Hip, pelvis, and trunk kinematics were assessed using a 9-camera marker-based system and an 8-camera markerless system. Significant biomechanical differences were found between birthing positions. The \u201csquat\u201d position showed the most hip flexion and abduction, \u201cB-Ball\u201d had the greatest anterior pelvic tilt, and \u201call-fours\u201d exhibited the most posterior tilt. For the trunk, \u201cupright\u201d led to the most extension, and \u201celbows bent knees\u201d showed the most flexion. Agreement between systems varied by joint and plane: it was moderate to strong for hip angles in the coronal plane and for pelvic angles in the transverse plane, but limited in the sagittal plane and inconsistent for trunk measures. This study highlights the biomechanical differences in upright birthing positions and emphasises the need for personalised birthing strategies. Understanding labour biomechanics is crucial for improving maternal and foetal well-being and reducing complications. By providing comprehensive and evidence-based information, women can make informed decisions about their birthing positions, enhancing outcomes and lowering the risk of maternal and neonatal complications globally.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0322970","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]],"date-time":"2025-12-05T18:30:06Z","timestamp":1764959406000},"page":"e0322970","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Biomechanical assessment of upright birthing positions using marker-based and markerless motion capture systems"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1718-6564","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Lauren","family":"Haworth","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Inderjeet","family":"Kaur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maimoona","family":"Ahmed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0280-6801","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Anastasia","family":"Topalidou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]},"reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0322970.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2011.05.001","article-title":"What are the facilitators, inhibitors, and implications of birth positioning? 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