ILO Home
Go to the home page
Site map | Contact us Français | Español

CISDOC database

Document ID (ISN)112168
CIS number 11-0882
ISSN - Serial title 0003-6870 - Applied Ergonomics
Year 2011
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Jin S., Mirka G.A.
Title The effect of a lower extremity kinematic constraint on lifting biomechanics
Bibliographic information Nov. 2011, Vol.42, No.6, p.867-872. Illus. 17 ref.
Abstract Leaning against a stationary barrier during manual materials handling tasks is observed in many industrial environments, but the effects of this kinematic constraint on low back mechanics are unknown. Thirteen participants performed two-handed lifting tasks using both a leaning posture and no leaning posture while trunk kinematics, muscle activity and ground reaction force were monitored. Results revealed that lifting with the leaning posture required significantly less activity in erector spinae (26% vs. 36% MVC) and latissimus dorsi (8% vs. 14% MVC), and less passive tissue moment compared with the no leaning posture. Peak sagittal accelerations were lower when leaning, but the leaning posture also had significantly higher slip potential as measured by required coefficient of friction. The results suggest that the leaning lifting strategy provides reduced low back stress, but does so at the cost of increased slip potential.
Descriptors (primary) lower extremities; manual lifting; work posture; body mechanics; measurement of load on muscles
Descriptors (secondary) slippery floors; posture recording; ergonomics; comparative study
Document type D - Periodical articles
Subject(s) Ergonomics and work organization
Materials handling and storage
Broad subject area(s) Physiology, ergonomics
Browse category(ies) Ergonomics