Can Twisting and Lateral Bending Motions be Controlled through Adjustments to Transfer Distance When Boxes are Lifted from Varying Heights?

Abstract

Work-related injury to the low back due to twisting and lateral bending motions has been well-documented for manual material handling tasks. Laboratory studies in the past have shown reduction in these motions of the spine by changing the workplace layout. This study investigated differences in spine motions as a function of transfer distance and origin lifting heights. Sixteen subjects were asked to move three boxes from different lift origin heights to a fixed destination for six transfer distances. The results showed that twisting motions decreases with transfer distance and initial lifting height. At lower lifting heights, lateral bending motions were significantly higher.