Do Stabilizing Forearm Braces Affect Elbow and Spine Posture during Wheelbarrow Pushing Tasks?

Abstract

The majority of the current research associated with pushing and pulling has involved evaluation of manual carts and multi-wheeled containers, but one manual material handling technique that has received limited attention is wheelbarrows. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of stabilizer braces on the quantifiable measures of postures of the spine and elbow during wheelbarrow pushing tasks, and to assess users' perceptions regarding the usefulness and effectiveness of the braces. Nine male subjects participated in the study. Subjects pushed the wheelbarrow on a concrete sidewalk of varying inclination (level, uphill, downhill). Trials were performed with and without the use of a customized set of stabilizing forearm braces. The use of stabilizing forearm braces had significant effects on average elbow flexion during uphill pushing trials and average sagittal trunk flexion during downhill pushing trials. The findings indicate that the braces improve the ergonomics of wheelbarrow pushing in some situations and further research is indicated to investigate other biomechanical measures.

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