Manual material handling (MMH) task is the most common cause of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Operators carrying unstable loads were recently shown to be at greater risk of back injury compared to workers carrying stable loads.
OBJECTIVE:
This study focused on developing a device to minimize trunk muscle activity and cardiovascular demand while handling a 19-liter bottle.
METHOD:
After evaluating several designs, one was selected to be developed, manufactured and tested through an experimental study. Healthy participants (n = 42) manually carried a 19-liter bottle. The carrying technique (i.e., carrying a lateral load while holding the load using the dominant hand, pulling the load using the developed device, carrying the load on the back using the developing device) was the independent variable. The muscular activities (e.g., neck extensor, upper trapezius, pectoralis major, deltoid medial, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae muscles of the dominant side), cardiac costs, plantar pressures, walking speeds, and subjective measures were the dependent variables.
RESULTS:
Results show that carrying the developed device like a backpack significantly reduced trunk muscle activity, cardiovascular demand, and plantar pressure compared to the usual practice. The present results suggest that carrying a 19-liter water bottle using the developed device is likely to contribute to lower MSDs.
CONCLUSION:
Implementation of the develop device recommended to lessen the risk of injury when handling unstable loads such as liquids.
McGlothlinJ. Ergonomic Intervention for the Soft Drink Beverage Delivery Industry. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). No. 96-109. 1996.
PunchihewaHK, GyiDE. Reducing work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) through design: Views of ergonomics and design practitioners. Work2016;53(1):127–42.
4.
KimM, YooW. Effect of a worktable position on head and shoulder posture and shoulder muscles in manual material handling. Work2015;51(2):289–92.
5.
ChenY, ChiouW. Comparison of static lifting capacity between experienced and novice Taiwanese female workers. Work2015;52(3):549–58.
6.
BernardB, FineL. Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors. U.S. Department of health and Human Services. Cincinnati, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 1997. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ergoscil.html Accessed November 7, 2003.
7.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses; 2014. Available at http://www.bls.gov/iif/ Accessed March 22, 2015.
8.
DagenaisS, CaroJ, HaldemanS. A systematic review of low back pain cost of illness studies in the United States and internationally. Spine2008;8:8–20.
9.
JuniperM, LeT, MladsiD. The epidemiology, economic burden, and pharmacological treatment of chronic low back pain in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK: A literature-based review. Expert Opin Pharmacotherapy2009;10:2581–92.
10.
MehtaJ. Understanding Behavioral and Physiological Changes associated with Repetitive Lifting and Vibration Exposure. Ph.D. dissertation, Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, the Ohio State University. 2013.
11.
KatzJ. Lumbar disc disorders and low back pain: Socioeconomic factors and consequences. J Bone Joint Surg2006;88(Suppl. 2):21–4.
12.
Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety. Liberty Mutual workplace safety index. Hopkinton, MA; 2009.
YooI, YooW. Effects of different lifting and lowering heights on upper arm, shoulder and back muscle activity during a manual material handling task. Work2016;53(1):175–9.
17.
MuslimK, NussbaumMA. Musculoskeletal symptoms associated with posterior load carriage: An assessment of manual material handling workers in Indonesia. Work2015;51(2):205–13.
18.
SinghD, ParkW, HwangD, LevyM. Severe obesity effect on low back biomechanical stress of manual load lifting. Work2015;51(2):337–48.
19.
AzevedoR, MourãoP, AbadeE, CarvalhoA. Is it important to know the load mass in lifting tasks to prevent falls?Work2015;51(3):439–44.
20.
GenaidyAM, AsfourSS, KhalilTM. Preliminary Physiological and Psychophysical Guidelines for Continuous Lifting Tasks. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 32nd Annual Meeting, 690–4.
21.
AsfourSS, GenaidyAM, MitalA. Physiological Guidelines for the Design of Manual Lifting and Lowering Tasks: The State of the Art. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J49(4):150–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15298668891379549.
DempseyP, FiliaggiA. Cross-sectional investigation of task demands and musculoskeletal discomfort among restaurant wait staff. Ergon2006;49:93–106.
24.
LeeY, LeeT. Human muscular and postural responses in unstable load lifting. Spine2002;27:1881–6.
25.
ChaoE, HenshawJ. Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorder. Guidelines for Retail Grocery Stores. US Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). No.3192-05N. 2004.
26.
MatthewsJ, MacKinnonS, AlbertW, HolmesM, PattersonA. Effects of moving environments on the physical demands of heavy materials handling. Int J Ind Ergon2007;37:43–50.
27.
PintoV. The Effect of Unstable Loads, Lifting Pace, and External Weight on Trunk Muscle Activity during Asymmetric Lifting in the Transverse Direction Environmental Health Sciences, New York University. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. 2011. No 911232643.
28.
NIOSH. Work Practices Guide for Manual Lifting, N.DHHS, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, publication no. 81-122; 1993.
29.
WatersT, Putz-AndersonV, GargA, FineL. Revised NIOSH equation for the design and evaluation of manual lifting tasks. Ergon1993;36:749–76.
30.
CostiganPA, MorinEL, ReidSA. Shouldering the load: A review of Joan Stevenson’s work on occupational lifting and design evaluation of load carriage equipment. Work2014;47:5–13.
31.
BertheletteD, LeducN, BilodeauH, DurandM, FayeC. Evaluation of the implementation fidelity of an ergonomic training program designed to prevent back pain. Appl Ergon2012;43:239–45.
32.
HaroldsL, HurstH. Preventing Workplace Injuries Among Perinatal Nurses. Nurs. Women Health2016;20(1):99–108.
33.
PelissierC, FontanaL, FortE, AgardJ, CouprieF, DelaygueB, GlerantV, PerrierC, SellierB, VohitoM, CharbotelB. Occupational risk factors for upper-limb and neck musculoskeletal disorder among health-care staff in nursing homes for the elderly in France. Ind Health2014;52:334–46.
34.
WuS, LoiuY, ChienT. Effects of box handle position and carrying range on bi-manual carrying capacity for females. Ind Health2015;53:410–6.
35.
DavisK, MarrasW, WatersT. Reduction of spinal loading through the use of handles. Ergon1998;41:1155–68.
36.
MelinoNL, JamesC, SnodgrassSJ. The effect of load in a floor-to-bench lift during the WorkHab Functional Capacity Evaluation. Work2014;49:585–96.
37.
ShapiroS, WilkM. An analysis of variance test for normality. Biometrika1965;52:591–611.
38.
NettoK, BurnettA. Reliability of normalization methods for EMG analysis of neck muscles. Work: J Prev Ass Rehab2006;26:123–30.
39.
BoettcherC, GinnK, Cathers. Standard maximum isometric voluntary contraction tests for normalizing shoulder muscle EMG. J Orthop Res20081–7.
40.
BurdenA, TrewM, BaltzopoulosV. Normalization of gait EMGs: A re-examination. J Electromyogr Kinesiol2003;13:519–32.
41.
Vera-GarcíaF, MoresideJ, McGillS. MVC techniques to normalize trunk muscle EMG in healthy women. J Electromyogr Kines2010;20:10–6.
42.
JakobsenM, SundstrupE, AndersenC, AagaardP, AndersenL. Muscle activity during leg strengthening exercise using free weights and elastic resistance: Effects of ballistic vs. controlled contractions. Hum Movement Sci2013;32:65–78.
43.
YangJ, WinterD. Electromyography reliability in maximal and submaximal isometric contractions. Arch Phys Med Rehabil1983;64:417–20.
44.
VollestadN, SejerstedO, BahrR, WoodsJ, Bigland-RitchieB. Motor drive and metabolic responses during repeated sub-maximal contractions in man. J Appl Physiol1988;64:1421–7.
45.
ShieldA, ZhouS. Assessing voluntary muscle contraction with the twitch interpolation technique. Sports Med New Zeeland2004;34:253–67.
46.
BorgG. Borg’s perceived exertion and pain scales, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL; 1998.
47.
ProakisJ, ManolakisD. Digital Signal Processing Principles, Algorithms and Applications, 3rd Edition. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ; 1996.
48.
ChungM, LeeI, KeeD. Quantitative postural load assessment for whole body manual tasks based on perceived discomfort. Ergon2005;48:492–505.
49.
ChenB, BatesB. Comparing of F-Scan in-sole and AMTI force plate system in measuring vertical ground reaction force during gait. Physiotherapy Theor Pract2000;16:43–53.
50.
HsiaoH, GuanJ, WeatherlyM. Accuracy and precision of two in-shoe pressure measurement systems. Ergon2002;45:537–55.
51.
AhroniJ, BoykoE, ForsbergR. Reliability of F-scan in-shoe measurements of plantar Pressure. Foot Ankle Int1998;19:668–73.
52.
RamadanM, Al-ShayeaA, (2013) A modified backpack design for male school children. Int J Ind Ergon2013;43:462–71.
53.
PierretB, DesbrossesaK, PaysantbJ, MeyerJ. Cardio-respiratory and subjective strains sustained by paraplegic subjects, when travelling on a cross slope in a manual wheelchair (MWC). Appl Ergon2014;45:1056–62.
54.
GargA, OwenB, BellerD, BanaagJ. A biomechanical and ergonomic evaluation of patient transferring tasks: Bed to wheelchair and wheelchair to bed. Ergon1991;34:289–312.
55.
DattaS, RamanathanN. Ergonomic comparison of seven modes of carrying loads on the horizontal plane. Ergon1971;14:269–78.
56.
StuempfleK, DruryD, WilsonA. Effect of load position on physiological and perceptual responses during load carriage with an internal frame backpack. Ergon2004;47:784–9.
57.
LeggS. Comparison of different methods of load carriage. Ergon1985;28:197–212.
58.
MathieuP, FortinM. EMG and kinematics of normal subjects performing trunk flexion/extensions freely in space. J Electromyogr Kinesiol2000;10:197–209.
59.
OlsonM, SolomonowM, LiL. Flexion-relaxation response to gravity. J Biomech2006;39:2545–54.
60.
ArjmandN, GagnonD, PlamondonA, Shirazi-AdlA, LarivièreC. A Comparative Study of Two Trunk Biomechanical Models under Symmetric and Asymmetric Loadings. J Biomech2010;43:485–91.
61.
AndoS, OnoY, ShimaokaM, HirutaS, HattoriY, HoriF, ImaedaT, TakeuchiY. Strength and Perceived Exertion in Isometric and Dynamic Lifting with Three Different Hand Locations. J Occup Health2000;42:315–20.
62.
MehraM, HillK, NichollD, SchadrackJ. The burden of chronic low back pain with and without a neuropathic component: A healthcare resource use and cost analysis. J Med Econ2012;15:245–52.
63.
PauM, CoronaF, LebanB, PauM. Effects of backpack carriage on foot–ground relationship in children during upright stance. Gait & Posture2011;11:195–9.
64.
WatanabeK, AsakaT, WangY. Effects of Backpack Load and Gait Speed on Plantar Force during Treadmill Walking. The 4th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Technology, 105–110, IACSIT Press: Singapore; 2012.
65.
DasR, DhumeR, IyerS. Effect of Carrying Symmetric and Asymmetric Weights on Gait Parameters and Lateral Spinal Flexion. Int J Eng Sci Technol2012;4:4571–6.
66.
HongY, CheungC. Gait and posture response to backpack load during level walking in children. Gait & Posture2003;17:28–33.
67.
DemuraT, DemuraS. Relationship among gait parameters while walking with varying loads. J Physiol Anthropol2010;29:29–34.
68.
CharterisJ. Comparison of the effects of backpack and of walking speed on foot-floor contact patterns. Ergon1998;41:1792–809.
