Biomechanical evaluation of heavy tool-handling in two age groups of firemen

The biomechanical load of a rescue-clearing task (lifting a power saw from the floor up to the ceiling level) was evaluated with six older (47 ± 5 years) and seven younger firemen (32 ± 2 years). The mean dynamic compressive force at the L5/SI disc was 5998?N for the older subjects and 6392?N for the younger subjects. The peak torques for the back and knee extensions were about equal for the two groups of the subjects. The younger subjects had a significantly higher movement speed in the knee extension than the older subjects (89.1 ± 25.7 vs. 35.3±11.5°/, p<0.001). The results showed that lifting a power saw produced a high load on the musculoskeletal system, and that the load was not influenced by age.     

Shrinkage and psychophysical load ratings in self-paced and force-paced lifting work and during recovery.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the load on the human spine during force-paced and self-paced lifting and subsequent rest. Five women and five men worked under self-paced and force-paced (4 lifts/min) conditions on two days lifting a box for 30 min. The weight of the box was determined by the rating of acceptable load (RAL) method. During the work the lift rate was observed, and subjects made rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in 5 min intervals. The stature was measured with a staturemeter before and after the work period and during the following 30 min rest lying. In self-paced work women had a higher lift rate than men (p less than 0.05). In general, RPEs increased towards the end of the lifting period but RPEs did not differ between women and men or between self-paced and force-paced work. The mean shrinkage during the 30 min work was in self-paced work 5.1 +/- 2.0 mm for women and 5.8 +/- 1.2 mm for men, and in force-paced work 5.8 +/- 2.3 mm and 6.8 +/- 2.2 mm, respectively. There were no significant differences in shrinkage at work between women and men nor between the two different pacing methods. During the 30 min rest recumbent the subjects regained almost the same amount of height as they had lost during lifting. The rapid shrinkage and recovery when loading and unloading suggest that a few minutes rest lying after heavy activities would be beneficial for the spine.     

Manual lifting load limit equation for adult Indian women workers based on physiological criteria

A comprehensive equation for the evaluation of a maximum load limit for manual load lifting has been developed for the first time for Indian adult female workers, based on a physiological criterion due to the limitation of applicability of the NIOSH (1991) equation. Ten adult female workers, who had been engaged in building construction activities for at least 7 years participated in this study. The cut-off value was selected as the working heart rate corresponding to the 33% level of maximum aerobic power (i.e. V'O2 max.) of this population, which was equivalent to a heart rate of 101.6 beats x min(-1). An equation was developed based on the effects of the following three lifting parameters on working heart rate: vertical height (knee, waist, shoulder and maximum reach height), lifting frequency (1, 4, 7 and 14 lifts x min(-1)), and load weight (5, 10 and 15 kg). The variations of the specific lifting parameter values were selected from field observations. From this equation, the maximum load limit was calculated as 15.4 kg and the workers give this a psychophysical rating as in the moderate to heavy category.     

Effects of age and its interaction with task parameters on lifting biomechanics

This study investigated the age-related differences in lifting biomechanics. Eleven younger and 12 older participants were instructed to perform symmetric lifting tasks defined by different combinations of destination heights and load magnitudes. Lifting biomechanics was assessed. It was found that the trunk flexion in the starting posture was 32% lower and the peak trunk extension velocity was 46% lower in older participants compared with those in younger ones, indicating that older adults tended to use safer lifting strategies than did younger adults. Based on these findings, we recommend that physical exercise programmes may be a more effective ergonomic intervention for reducing the risks of low back pain (LBP) in lifting among older workers, compared with instructions of safe lifting strategies. As for younger workers, instructions of safe lifting strategies would be effective in LBP risk reduction.     

The effects of release height on center of pressure and trunk muscle response following sudden release of stoop lifting tasks

Background and objectives: Sudden release of load during lifting threatens postural stability and is countered by trunk muscle response, which can generate high loads on the spine, and may be a cause of tissue injury. The postural threat following sudden release and the consequent muscular response are likely to depend on the posture at the time of release. This study investigates the effects of sudden release of load at two release heights of one- and three-quarters of the knee to shoulder distance during stoop lifting.

Methods: Ten normal southern Chinese male volunteers were subject to sudden release of 20, 40, 60 and 80 N loads during stoop lifting trials. The release was randomly selected to be on the third, fourth or fifth cycle of a trial and was triggered at heights of one- and three-quarters of the total knee to shoulder lifting distance. The subjects stood on a force platform to allow the postural disturbance to be recorded by monitoring the center of pressure (COP), and electromyographic (EMG) data were collected from the rectus abdominus, internal oblique, external oblique, erector spinae and latissimus dorsi muscle groups.

Results: The COP excursion moved closer to the posterior limit of stability with increasing release load, and this effect was significantly more marked for release from the lower of the two heights. The minimum posterior COP separation from the posterior limit of stability was significantly less for the lower release height at all loads (p<0.001 in all cases). EMG data showed that the agonist–antagonist co-contraction durations were higher for the lower release height, and unlike sudden release from the higher level, showed a significant increase with increasing load.

Conclusions: Sudden release at lower release height during stoop lifting results in significantly greater postural disturbance and spinal loading. The mean load predicted to result in fall or stumble at the lower release height (133 N) is significantly less than that predicted at the higher of the two release heights (245 N). A more marked effect of release load is also seen in the postural disturbance and trunk muscle co-contraction time for the lower release height, and particular care should therefore be taken when handling potentially unstable loads under these conditions. If the security of the load cannot be guaranteed, storage at a higher level may reduce the risk of injury due to sudden release of the load.     

Foot positioning instruction, initial vertical load position and lifting technique: effects on low back loading

This study investigated the effects of initial load height and foot placement instruction in four lifting techniques: free, stoop (bending the back), squat (bending the knees) and a modified squat technique (bending the knees and rotating them outward). A 2D dynamic linked segment model was combined with an EMG assisted trunk muscle model to quantify kinematics and low back loading in 10 subjects performing 19 different lifting movements, using 10.5 kg boxes without handles. When lifting from a 0.05 m height with the feet behind the box, squat lifting resulted in 19.9% (SD 8.7%) higher net moments (p < 0.001) and 17.0% (SD 13.2%) higher compression forces (p < 0.01) than stoop lifting. This effect was reduced to 12.8% (SD 10.7%) for moments and a non-significant 7.4% (SD 16.0%) for compression forces when lifting with the feet beside the box and it disappeared when lifting from 0.5 m height. Differences between squat and stoop lifts, as well as the interaction with lifting height, could to a large extent be explained by changes in the horizontal L5/S1 intervertebral joint position relative to the load, the upper body acceleration, and lumbar flexion. Rotating the knees outward during squat lifts resulted in moments and compression forces that were smaller than in squat lifting but larger than in stoop lifting. Shear forces were small ( < 300 N) at the L4/L5 joint and substantial (1100 - 1400 N) but unaffected by lifting technique at the L5/S1 joint. The present results show that the effects of lifting technique on low back loading depend on the task context.     

Workload assessment in building construction related activities in India

A field study was conducted to highlight the occupational risk factors related to building construction activities in India among female workers. These workers were engaged in eight different types of activities and related work parameters were studied in detail. From field environmental parameters, the calculated WBGT was obtained as 30.26+/-1.52 degrees C, indicated that these workers worked under a positive heat load condition. Whole day work study was conducted on 11 adult female workers performing concreting operation. They were having age of 28-32 years with 5-7 years of work experience. These workers were mainly performing two types of operations in the field: (A) asymmetric lifting during concreting a boundary wall formwork of a lift unit and (B) carrying the concrete mixture. During asymmetric lifting, the average field working heart rate (HR) was calculated as 124.1+/-12.5 beats min(-1), equivalent to 45.03+/-6.93% of VO(2) max level. These working heart rates (HRs) were significantly (p相似文献   

Simulation of lifting motions using a novel multi-objective optimization approach

In this study, a novel lifting motion simulation model was developed based on a multi-objective optimization (MOO) approach. Two performance criteria, minimum physical effort and maximum load motion smoothness, were selected to define the multi-objective function in the optimization procedure using a weighted-sum MOO approach. Symmetric lifting motions performed by younger and older adults under varied task conditions were simulated. The results showed that the proposed MOO approach led to up to 18.9% reductions in the prediction errors compared to the single-objective optimization approach. This finding suggests that both minimum physical effort and maximum load motion smoothness play an important role in lifting motion planning. Age-related differences in the mechanisms for planning lifting motions were also investigated. In particular, younger workers tend to rely more on the criterion of minimizing physical effort during lifting motion planning, while maximizing load motion smoothness seems to be the dominant objective for older workers.Relevance to industryLifting tasks are closely associated with occupational low back pain (LBP). In this study, a novel lifting motion simulation model was developed to facilitate the analysis of lifting biomechanics and LBP prevention. Age-related differences in lifting motion planning were discussed for better understanding LBP injury mechanisms during lifting.     

Effects of posture on dynamic back loading during a cable lifting task

This study evaluated spinal loads associated with lifting and hanging heavy mining cable in a variety of postures. This electrical cable can weigh up to 10 kg per metre and is often lifted in restricted spaces in underground coal mines. Seven male subjects performed eight cable lifting and hanging tasks, while trunk kinematic data and trunk muscle electromyograms (EMGs) were obtained. The eight tasks were combinations of four postures (standing, stooping, kneeling on one knee, or kneeling on both knees) and two levels of cable load (0 N or 100 N load added to the existing cable weight). An EMG-assisted model was used to calculate forces and moments acting on the lumbar spine. A two-way split-plot ANOVA showed that increased load (p < 0.05) and changes in lifting posture (p < 0.05) independently affected trunk muscle recruitment and spinal loading. The increase in cable load resulted in higher EMG activity of all trunk muscles and increased axial and lateral bending moments on the spine (p < 0.05). Changes in posture caused more selective adjustments in muscle recruitment and affected the sagittal plane moment (p < 0.05). Despite the more selective nature of trunk EMG changes due to posture, the magnitude of changes in spinal loading was often quite dramatic. However, average compression values exceeded 3400 N for all cable lifting tasks.     

Gender differences in the circadian variations in muscle strength assessed with and without superimposed electrical twitches

The circadian rhythm in muscle strength was analysed in 12 males (28 +/- 4 years, 79.6 +/- 12.3 kg, 1.80 +/- 0.05 m) and eight females (28 +/- 4 years, 60.3 +/- 5.5 kg, 1.61 +/- 0.08 m). After two familiarization sessions, participants were tested at six different times of the day (02:00, 06:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00 and 22:00 hours), the order of which was randomly assigned over 3-4 days. Rectal temperature (T(rec)) was measured over 30 min before each test. Peak isokinetic torques (PT) of knee extensors and flexors were then measured at 1.05 rad s(-1) and 3.14 rad s(-1) through a 90 degrees range of motion. Maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) of knee extensors and flexors was measured at 60 degrees of knee flexion and the MVC of knee extensors was also assessed with superimposed electrical twitches (50 Hz, 250 V, 200 mus pulse width) in order to control for motivational effects. Three trials were performed in each condition, separated by 3 min recovery, and the highest values were retained for subsequent analyses. A significant circadian rhythm was observed for T(rec) in both males and females (acrophase, Phi, 17:29 and 16:40 hours; mesor, Me, 37.0 and 36.8 degrees C; amplitude, A, 0.28 and 0.33 degrees C for males and females, respectively). The mesor of T(rec) was higher in males than in females (p < 0.05). Significant circadian rhythms were observed for knee extensor PT at 3.14 rad s(-1) in males (Phi, 17:06 hours; Me, 178.2 N m; A, 4.7 N m) and for knee extensor PT at 1.05 rad s(-1) in females (Phi, 15:35 hours; Me, 128.7 N m; A, 3.7 N m). In males, the MVC of knee extensors demonstrated a significant circadian rhythm, but only when electrical twitches were superimposed (Phi, 16:17 h; Me, 302.1 N m; A, 13.6 N m). Acrophases of all indices of muscle strength were not statistically different between the two groups and were located in the afternoon (12:47 < Phi < 17:16 hours). The amplitude (percentage of mesor) of extensors MVC (electrically stimulated) was higher in males (6.4%) than in females (4.2%; p < 0.05). Significant circadian rhythms were not consistently observed for all indices of muscle strength whatever the gender. Our group of female subjects tended to show lower circadian amplitudes than the males. In males, maximal voluntary contraction of electrically stimulated muscles followed a circadian curve, which was not significant without the superimposed twitches. These results suggest that motivation could have a masking effect on the circadian rhythm in muscle performance and strengthen the view that peripheral factors are implicated in this rhythm.     

Foot positioning instruction,initial vertical load position and lifting technique: effects on low back loading

This study investigated the effects of initial load height and foot placement instruction in four lifting techniques: free, stoop (bending the back), squat (bending the knees) and a modified squat technique (bending the knees and rotating them outward). A 2D dynamic linked segment model was combined with an EMG assisted trunk muscle model to quantify kinematics and low back loading in 10 subjects performing 19 different lifting movements, using 10.5 kg boxes without handles. When lifting from a 0.05 m height with the feet behind the box, squat lifting resulted in 19.9% (SD 8.7%) higher net moments (p < 0.001) and 17.0% (SD 13.2%) higher compression forces (p < 0.01) than stoop lifting. This effect was reduced to 12.8% (SD 10.7%) for moments and a non-significant 7.4% (SD 16.0%) for compression forces when lifting with the feet beside the box and it disappeared when lifting from 0.5 m height. Differences between squat and stoop lifts, as well as the interaction with lifting height, could to a large extent be explained by changes in the horizontal L5/S1 intervertebral joint position relative to the load, the upper body acceleration, and lumbar flexion. Rotating the knees outward during squat lifts resulted in moments and compression forces that were smaller than in squat lifting but larger than in stoop lifting. Shear forces were small ( < 300 N) at the L4/L5 joint and substantial (1100 – 1400 N) but unaffected by lifting technique at the L5/S1 joint. The present results show that the effects of lifting technique on low back loading depend on the task context.     

Effects of posture on dynamic back loading during a cable lifting task

This study evaluated spinal loads associated with lifting and hanging heavy mining cable in a variety of postures. This electrical cable can weigh up to 10 kg per metre and is often lifted in restricted spaces in underground coal mines. Seven male subjects performed eight cable lifting and hanging tasks, while trunk kinematic data and trunk muscle electromyograms (EMGs) were obtained. The eight tasks were combinations of four postures (standing, stooping, kneeling on one knee, or kneeling on both knees) and two levels of cable load (0 N or 100 N load added to the existing cable weight). An EMG-assisted model was used to calculate forces and moments acting on the lumbar spine. A two-way split-plot ANOVA showed that increased load (p<0.05) and changes in lifting posture (p<0.05) independently affected trunk muscle recruitment and spinal loading. The increase in cable load resulted in higher EMG activity of all trunk muscles and increased axial and lateral bending moments on the spine (p<0.05). Changes in posture caused more selective adjustments in muscle recruitment and affected the sagittal plane moment (p<0.05). Despite the more selective nature of trunk EMG changes due to posture, the magnitude of changes in spinal loading was often quite dramatic. However, average compression values exceeded 3400 N for all cable lifting tasks.     

Manual lifting load limit equation for adult Indian women workers based on physiological criteria

A comprehensive equation for the evaluation of a maximum load limit for manual load lifting has been developed for the first time for Indian adult female workers, based on a physiological criterion due to the limitation of applicability of the NIOSH (1991) equation. Ten adult female workers, who had been engaged in building construction activities for at least 7 years participated in this study. The cut-off value was selected as the working heart rate corresponding to the 33% level of maximum aerobic power (i.e. V′O₂ max.) of this population, which was equivalent to a heart rate of 101.6 beats.min^???1. An equation was developed based on the effects of the following three lifting parameters on working heart rate: vertical height (knee, waist, shoulder and maximum reach height), lifting frequency (1, 4, 7 and 14 lifts.min^???1), and load weight (5, 10 and 15?kg). The variations of the specific lifting parameter values were selected from field observations. From this equation, the maximum load limit was calculated as 15.4?kg and the workers give this a psychophysical rating as in the moderate to heavy category.     

An ergonomic evaluation of handle height and load in maximal and submaximal cart pushing

Awareness of the hazards of repetitive lifting has brought about significant changes in the design of industrial jobs. Pushing and pulling tasks have become increasingly common as the result of the introduction of a variety of carts and other materials-handling assistance devices. In order to predict the peak performance of workers in these tasks, and the biomechanical stresses that can result from them, the exertions involved in cart pushing were studied. Four subjects of various strengths pushed carts with loads from 45 to 450 kg at several heights. Peak push forces reached 500 N for male subjects and 200 N for female subjects. Strong subjects moved a 45 kg cart at velocities of 1.1 m s(-1) and a 450 kg cart at velocities of 0.8 m s(-1). Weaker subjects moved the carts at velocities of 0.5 and 0.4 m s(-1) respectively. Calculated static compression forces at the L5/S1 spinal disc were consistently above the NIOSH Action Limit of 3400 N for strong subjects when the cart load reached 225 kg.     

Influence of body segment dynamics on loads at the lumbar spine during lifting.

Flexion-extension moments acting at the L5/S1 level and hip joints were calculated using three different techniques; a pure static analysis, a static analysis including the inertial force of the load, and a dynamic analysis. Ten subjects participated in the study and were asked to lift a box weighing either 50 N or 150 N, using a freestyle technique. The lifts were performed at normal and fast speed. The intra-subject lifting techniques were consistent when lifting the same loads. The moments predicted by the dynamic analysis and the static analysis were the same when holding weights in static postures. When performing the lifts, differences in the peak moments occurred between static and dynamic analyses. These differences were influenced by external load and by lifting speed. Taking the effect of the inertia of load into account in the static analysis resulted in an increase in the moment magnitude, but the predicted moment was still much less than in the dynamic analysis which yielded the largest moment magnitudes. The difference between dynamic and static analysis was greatest when lifting 50 N at fast speed; an 87% increase in L5/S1 moment and a 95% increase in hip moment was observed when replacing the pure static with a dynamic analysis.     

A biomechanical evaluation of five lifting techniques

Five lifting methods which cover the range of techniques recommended by various back schools have been biomechanically analysed with a static sagittal-plane computer model. The analysis was performed with two load-types (compact and bulky) and three weights in the hands (44 N, 222 N and 400 N). The methods were compared in terms of predicted L5/S1 disc compression, low-back ligament strain and strength requirements at the shoulders, L5/S1, hip and knee joints. In general the method entailing a squat posture, straddle foot stance and flat back (oriented as when standing erect) yielded lower compressions, ligament strains and overall strength requirements than the other methods.     

Effect of foot movement and an elastic lumbar back support on spinal loading during free-dynamic symmetric and asymmetric lifting exertions

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an elastic lumbar back support on spinal loading and trunk, hip and knee kinematics while allowing subjects to move their feet during lifting exertions. Predicted spinal forces and moments about the L5/S1 intervertebral disc from a three-dimensional EMG-assisted biomechanical model, trunk position, velocities and accelerations, and hip and knee angles were evaluated as a function of wearing an elastic lumbar back support, while lifting two different box weights (13.6 and 22.7 kg) from two different heights (knee and 10 cm above knee height), and from two different asymmetries at the start of the lift (sagittally symmetric and 60 degrees asymmetry). Subjects were allowed to lift using any lifting style they preferred, and were allowed to move their feet during the lifting exertion. Wearing a lumbar back support resulted in no significant differences for any measure of spinal loading as compared with the no-back support condition. However, wearing a lumbar back support resulted in a modest but significant decrease in the maximum sagittal flexion angle (36.5 to 32.7 degrees), as well as reduction in the sagittal trunk extension velocity (47.2 to 40.2 degrees s(-1)). Thus, the use of the elastic lumbar back support provided no protective effect regarding spinal loading when individuals were allowed to move their feet during a lifting exertion.     

Changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins following 10-days of prolonged walking: influence of age and relationship to physical activity level

The aim of the present study was to examine (1) the influence of 10 days of prolonged walking on plasma total-cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations, (2) the effect of age on any changes in plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein concentration, and (3) whether any changes in cholesterol and lipoprotein concentrations are correlated to the participants' physical activity level (PAL). Seventeen male participants were divided into two groups according to their age. The nine participants in group 1 constituted the younger group (age 24 +/- 3 (SD) years), whereas eight older participants were in group 2 (age 56 +/- 3 years). Both groups completed 10 consecutive days of high-intensity hill walking. Mean (range) daily distances and ascent were 21 km (10-35 km) and 1,160 m (800-2,540 m), respectively. Identical distances and ascents were covered by each group. For each participant, PAL was calculated from energy expenditure, assessed by the doubly-labeled water technique, divided by the individual's basal metabolic rate. Venous blood was sampled immediately prior to, and following, the 10 consecutive days of walking. Following these 10 days, the older group showed a greater decrease in both TC (-25 +/- 11% vs. -10 +/- 11%; P < 0.05) and LDL-C (-26 +/- 12% vs. -4 +/- 13%; P < 0.05) when compared with the young. Likewise, the older group showed a greater increase in HDL-C (38 +/- 15%; P < 0.05), after the 10 days, whereas no significant change was evident in the younger group. In the older participants, there were strong positive relationships between PAL and the decreases in TC (r = 0.79, P < 0.05) and LDL-C (r = 0.74, P < 0.05). Conversely, in the younger group there were strong negative relationships between PAL and the decreases in TC (r = -0.74, P < 0.05) and LDL-C (r = -0.86, P < 0.01). These correlations persisted when changes in lipid concentrations were corrected for changes in plasma volume. These data suggest an 'age-dependant' threshold for PAL, rather than a specific exercise intensity or duration, may be critical for inducing favourable changes in HDL-C, LDL-C and TC.     

Effect of foot movement and an elastic lumbar back support on spinal loading during free-dynamic symmetric and asymmetric lifting exertions

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an elastic lumbar back support on spinal loading and trunk, hip and knee kinematics while allowing subjects to move their feet during lifting exertions. Predicted spinal forces and moments about the L5/S1 intervertebral disc from a three-dimensional EMG-assisted biomechanical model, trunk position, velocities and accelerations, and hip and knee angles were evaluated as a function of wearing an elastic lumbar back support, while lifting two different box weights (13.6 and 22.7 kg) from two different heights (knee and 10 cm above knee height), and from two different asymmetries at the start of the lift (sagittally symmetric and 60°asymmetry). Subjects were allowed to lift using any lifting style they preferred, and were allowed to move their feet during the lifting exertion. Wearing a lumbar back support resulted in no significant differences for any measure of spinal loading as compared with the no-back support condition. However, wearing a lumbar back support resulted in a modest but significant decrease in the maximum sagittal flexion angle (36.5 to 32.7°), as well as reduction in the sagittal trunk extension velocity (47.2 to 40.2°s^-1). Thus, the use of the elastic lumbar back support provided no protective effect regarding spinal loading when individuals were allowed to move their feet during a lifting exertion.     

Ratings of acceptable load and maximal isometric lifting strengths: the effects of repetition

The effects of repetition on psychophysically acceptable loads and maximal isometric lifting strengths were studied in two groups of subjects. In both groups, subjects selected acceptable loads for dynamic lifting between table and floor and were tested for maximal and acceptable lifting strength isometrically at knee and waist levels.

In series I, 33 subjects (15 males, 18 females) were tested 4 times with a minimal interval of 5 days between tests. In series II, 12 subjects (8 males, 4 females) were tested daily from Monday to Friday on 2 consecutive weeks.

Differences in acceptable isometric lifting strength between the two groups appeared to arise from minor differences in the instructions given; but in neither series was there a significant change in acceptable lifting strength, either dynamic or isometric. In series I, no change was noted in maximal isometric lifting strength. But in series II there was a gain in maximal lifting strength at knee level of 25%. Also in series II, the acceptable isometric lifting strength at waist level was consistently found to be 60% of the acceptable dynamic lifting strength.