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.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AnderssonG.B.J. (1991). The Epidemiology of Spinal Disorders. In FrymoyerJ.W.DuckerT.B.HadlerN.M.KostuikJ.P.WeinsteinJ.N.WhitecloudT.S. (eds.) The Adult Spine. Raven: New York City, 107-146
2.
ChaffinD. B. (1987). Manual materials handling and the biomechanical basis for prevention of low-back pain in industry--an overview. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal. 48: 989-996
3.
4.
DaltroyL. H.IversenM. D.LarsonM. G.LewR.WrightE.RyanJ.ZwerlingC.FosselA. H.LiangM. H. (1997) A controlled trial of an educational program to prevent low back injuries. N Engl J Med, 337: 322-328.
5.
JorgensenMichael J.HandaAmitVeluswamyPrabaharanBhattManish (2005) The effect of pallet distance on torso kinematics and low back disorder risk, Ergonomics, 48: 8, 949 — 963
6.
KroemerE. (1992). Personnel training for safer material handling. Ergonomics. 35: 1119-1134.
7.
LavenderSteven A.JohnsonMonica (2009). Is there a lateral transfer distance that minimizes twisting and lateral bending motions of the spine?. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 53rd Annual Meeting. p. 882.
8.
LavenderS.A.LorenzE.PAnderssonG.B.J. (2007) Can a new behaviorally oriented training process to improve lifting technique prevent occupationally-related back injures due to lifting?Spine, 32, 487-494.
9.
MarrasWSLavenderSALeurgansSERajuluSLAllreadWGFathallahFAFergusonSA (1993). The role of dynamic three dimensional trunk motion in occupationally related low back disorders: The effects of workplace factors, trunk position and trunk motion characteristics on risk of injury. Spine, 18, 617-628.
10.
MartimoK.P.VerbeekJ.KarppinenJ.FurlanA.D.TakalaE.P.KuijerP.P.F.M.JauhiainenM.Viikari-JunturaE. (2008). Effect of training and lifting equipment for preventing back pain in lifting and handling: systematic review. BMJ. 23: 429-431
11.
van PoppelM. N.KoesB. W.van der PloegT.SmidT.BouterL. M. (1998). Lumbar supports and education for the prevention of low back pain in industry: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 279: 1789-94.
