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Abstract

Winegrape vine pruning require repetitive gripping and awkward body postures. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of cutting height and forearm posture on trunk and wrist posture, force production, and muscle activities during simulated vine pruning. Ten healthy subjects (3 female and 7 male) participated in the study. Subjects cut dowels simulating shoots with pruning shears at 5 cutting heights tailored to subject anthropometry at three forearm postures. Trunk and wrist kinematics, force exertion, and forearm EMG were monitored. The results showed significant change in force exertion; and trunk and wrist kinematics in stature and knee cutting heights. The information from this study could assist in ergonomic trellis design, injury prevention, and manual labor work guidelines.

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Interaction between Trunk and Wrist Kinetics and Kinematics during a Simulated Pruning Task

Abstract

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