Lifting in stooped and kneeling postures: Effects on lifting capacity,metabolic costs,and electromyography of eight trunk muscles

Twelve healthy, experienced underground coal miners performed lifting capacity tests in stooped and kneeling postures using a modified psychophysical, procedure. Subjects adjusted weight in a lifting box to the maximum they could handle without undue fatigue in an asymmetric lifting task. Lifting periods were 20 min in duration and the frequency was 10 lifts/min. Tests were performed under a 48-in. roof that restricted the subject's posture. Psychophysical, physiological, and biomechanical dependent measures included the maximum acceptable weight of lift (MAWL), heart rate (HR), rate of oxygen consumption (V̇O₂), ventilation volume rate (V̇_E), respiratory exchange ratio (R), and integrated electromyography (EMG) of eight trunk muscles. Results indicated that the MAWL was significantly lower when kneeling than when stooped (p < 0.05). Furthermore, metabolic demands were greater in terms of HR (p < 0.005) and VO₂ (p < 0.05) when kneeling. Left and right erectores spinae muscles exhibited increased EMG activity in the kneeling posture (p < 0.001). It was concluded that psychophysical lifting capacity is decreased, while the metabolic stress and internal load on the spine are increased, in the kneeling posture. Results of this Bureau of Mines study indicate that it may be advisable to reduce the weight of materials that are handled repetitively in the kneeling posture.