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Objective: To investigate the effect of a participatory ergonomics intervention program on the willingness to return to work in patients with back injuries. Method: A total of 64 patients with lumbar&back injury were randomly divided into control group (n=33) and experimental group (n=31). The experimental group was given the participatory ergonomics intervention, and both group were given the conventional vocational rehabilitation training. Patients in the two groups were evaluated by spinal function sort (SFS), Lam assessment of stages of employment readiness (LASER), fear-avoidance belief questionnaire (FABQ) before and after intervention. Result: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in FABQ score, SFS score and LASER score before invention (P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in SFS scores and LASER scores in both groups before and after treatment (P<0.05), and the evaluation index of the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group (P<0.05). In the experimental group, FABQ scores decreased significantly (P<0.05), no significant decrease in control group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Participatory ergonomics intervention combined with vocational rehabilitation training can improve the self-perception of spinal function, and improve the willingness to work of patients with low back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Law enforcement officers (LEOs) wear duty belts to hold the specialised equipment required to complete their daily occupational tasks. The aim of this review was to identify, collect, and synthesize research investigating the impacts of duty belts and load placement on LEOs. Methods: A systematic review, registered with the Open Science Framework, was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidelines. Five databases were searched (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) with identified studies considered against eligibility criteria. Included studies were critically appraised by two reviewers independently using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist or the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Results: Ten studies (mean appraisal score = 79.8%; Kappa agreement = 0.73) informed the review revealing two main emerging themes; occupational impacts (task performance, vehicle duties, and weapon draw time), and movement impacts (balance, gait, and jumpbased movements). Nine studies found duty belts and equipment loads, regardless of placement, negatively impacted LEO occupational tasks and movements in general. There were some differences in the nature of the impacts (e.g., areas of pressure with different systems). One study found no differences in performance between hip versus thigh holsters. Conclusions: The evidence suggests that LEO duty belts, their attachments, and the loads imparted by their equipment have a negative impact on performance of occupational tasks as well as officer movement, increasing injury potential. There were some differences in impacts based on load placement warranting consideration and further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders is a serious problem affecting the construction workforce. Pipe workers are subjected to forward bending tasks that cause back injuries. Recent advancements in wearable robotic technologies have led to a growing interest in the use of back-support exoskeletons as a potential solution to reduce the occurrences of back injuries. However, without the willingness of workers to use exoskeletons, the intervention will not be successful in the industry. This study conducted a user assessment of a commercially available passive back-support exoskeleton for pipework in terms of usability, level of perceived discomfort, and subjective perception of the benefits, barriers to adoption, and design modifications. Fourteen pipe workers performed their regular work tasks using a passive back-support exoskeleton and provided feedback on their experience with the device. The results indicate that the exoskeleton is easy to use (4.13±0.34) and did not affect workers' productivity (2.07±1.22). Participants reported willingness to use the exoskeleton but raised concerns about the compatibility of the exoskeleton with the safety harness. Reduced perceived discomfort was observed in the lower back. However, there was an increase in discomfort at the chest (20%), thigh (73%), and shoulder (250%). There was a strong correlation (p<0.05) between discomfort at the chest, thigh, shoulder, and upper arm and workers' perception of usability of the exoskeleton. Health benefits such as reduction in stress in the back muscle were reported. Discomfort was experienced while using the exoskeleton in confined spaces. Design modifications, such as the integration of the safety harness and the tool strap with the exoskeleton, were identified. The findings are expected to inspire studies in the area of human-wearable robot interaction and task-specific applications of exoskeletons for construction work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent in the rowing population. The body of existing research variously investigates risk factors, prevention, and treatment methods. Purpose The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the breadth and depth of the LBP literature in rowing and to identify areas for future research. Study Design Scoping review Methods PubMed, Ebsco and ScienceDirect were searched from inception to November 1, 2020. Only published, peer-reviewed, primary, and secondary data pertaining to LBP in rowing were included for this study. Arksey and O'Malley's framework for guided data synthesis was used. Reporting quality of a subsection of the data was assessed using the STROBE tool. Results Following the removal of duplicates and abstract screening, a set of 78 studies were included and divided into the following categories: epidemiology, biomechanics, biopsychosocial, and miscellaneous. The incidence and prevalence of LBP in rowers were well mapped. The biomechanical literature covered a wide range of investigations with limited cohesion. Significant risk factors for LBP in rowers included back pain history and prolonged ergometer use. Conclusion A lack of consistent definitions within the studies caused fragmentation of the literature. There was good evidence for prolonged ergometer use and history of LBP to constitute risk factors and this may assist future LBP preventative action. Methodological issues such as small sample size and barriers to injury reporting increased heterogeneity and decreased data quality. Further exploration is required to determine the mechanism of LBP in rowers through research with larger samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-part simulation process was developed to investigate the facilitation of vertical patient lifts with functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). First, external lifting forces representing caregiver assistance were applied to a 3D musculoskeletal model representing the patient and optimized to enforce a specific lifting trajectory during a forward dynamic simulation. The process was repeated with and without the activation of the knee, hip, and trunk extensor muscles of the patient model to represent contractions of the paralyzed muscles generated via FNS. Secondly, the spinal compression experienced by a caregiver at the L5/S1 joint while generating these external lifting forces was estimated using a second musculoskeletal model representing the caregiver. Simulation without muscle activation predicted spinal compression in the caregiver model approximately 1.3 × the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended "Action Limit." Comparatively, simulations with two unique patterns of muscle activation both predicted caregiver spinal compressions below NIOSH recommendations. These simulation results support the hypothesis that FNS activation of a patient's otherwise paralyzed muscles would lower the force output required of a caregiver during a dependent transfer, thus lowering the spinal compression and risk of injury experienced by a caregiver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a high incidence rates (∼41%) of back injury from undertaking weightlifting exercises as a result of improper lifting posture, where the spine should remain straight during a lifting movement which is often not adopted correctly by adolescent or beginner athletes. In this work we report a wearable device prototype consisting of independent sensor nodes using inertial measurement units to provide the user with real-time postural feedback on a companion application. From the data collected from four subjects, for several weight-lifting attempts, a strong correlation was found in the relative pitch angle between the upper cervical sensor and lower-lumbar sensor, which proved that the straightness of the user’s back could be inferred using only two sensor nodes.

Context: Epidemiological studies highlight a prevalence of lumbar vertebrae injuries in cricket fast bowlers, with governing bodies implementing rules to reduce exposure. Analysis typically requires complex and laboratory-based biomechanical analyses, lacking ecological validity. Developments in GPS microtechnologies facilitate on-field measures of mechanical intensity, facilitating screening toward prevention and rehabilitation. Objective: To examine the efficacy of using GPS-mounted triaxial accelerometers to quantify accumulated body load and to investigate the effect of GPS-unit placement in relation to epidemiological observations. Design: Repeated measures, field-based. Setting: Regulation cricket pitch. Participants: 10 male injury-free participants recruited from a cricket academy (18.1 ± 0.6 y). Intervention: Each participant was fitted with 2 GPS units placed at the cervicothoracic and lumbar spines to measure triaxial acceleration (100 Hz). Participants were instructed to deliver a 7-over spell of fast bowling, as dictated by governing-body guidelines. Main Outcome Measures: Triaxial total accumulated body and the relative uniaxial contributions were calculated for each over. Results: There was no significant main effect for overs bowled, in either total load or the triaxial contributions to total load. This finding suggests no cumulative fatigue effect across the 10-over spell. However, there was a significant main effect for GPS-unit location, with the lumbar unit exposed to significantly greater load than the cervicothoracic unit in each of the triaxial planes. Conclusions: There was no evidence to suggest that accumulated load significantly increased as a result of spell duration. In this respect the governing-body guidelines for this age group can be considered safe, or potentially even conservative. However, the observation of higher body load at the lumbar spine than at the cervicothoracic spine supports epidemiological observations of injury incidence. GPS microtechnologies might therefore be considered in screening and monitoring of players toward injury prevention and/or during rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among healthcare workers. Because frequent patient transfer has been associated with increased risk of MSDs, we aim to quantify the physical load associated with commonly-used assistive devices and to investigate associations between accumulated physical exposure and risk of MSDs. Methods By applying an exposure matrix based on objective measurements of electromyography and trunk flexion on a large (n = 1285) prospective cohort, intensity of low-back pain (LBP) and odds of back injury at 1-year follow-up were modelled using linear models and logistic regressions, respectively. The cohort was divided into groups according to physical exposure; i.e. low (1st quartile), moderate (2nd and 3rd quartiles) and high (4th quartile) exposure. Results Exposure profiles are provided for 9 groups of assistive devices, with ceiling lifts and intelligent beds eliciting the lowest physical exposure. In the fully-adjusted model, we report differences in LBP intensity at follow-up between the low and moderate exposure groups (p = 0.0085). No difference was found between the moderate and high exposure groups (p = 0.2967). Likewise, we find no associations between physical exposure and odds of back injury at 1-year follow-up, with a prevalence of 11, 13 and 11% for the three groups, respectively. Conclusions Low physical exposure during patient transfer was prospectively associated with lower intensity of LBP. Consistent use of assistive devices associated with low physical exposure, namely ceiling-lifts and intelligent beds, may play a role in reducing the incidence of MSDs among healthcare workers.

This study evaluates the between-day reliability of a newly developed trunk perturbation test and compares mechanical response during known and unknown conditions. Mechanical trunk responses were measured in 17 female subjects during unloading and loading perturbations of the abdomen (A: preloaded abdomen condition) and low back (B: preloaded back condition). The loading perturbation increased the preload from 5.5 kg to a 10.9 kg pull on the trunk whereas the unloading perturbation decreased the pull from 5.5 kg to 0.1 kg. A sequence of loading (known), unloading (known), and randomized loading/unloading (unknown) perturbations were performed for A and B. Between-day reliability of stopping time, trunk displacement, and velocity was quantified using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). ICCs were good to excellent for all loading and unloading measures during the known (0.70-0.98) and unknown (0.64-0.94) perturbations of A and B. In general, larger trunk displacements were seen after the unknown perturbations compared with the known perturbation. The method may be used as a diagnostic tool for screening workers who are in risk of future work-related low back injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate fatigue-related changes in spinal kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity of back muscles during a 2000 m all-out ergometer rowing performance. We analyzed ten male subjects with experience in both rowing and CrossFit exercises. We applied a novel kinematic method to describe spine curvature, determined bending moments at the spine using inverse dynamics and collected EMG data. We identified significant increases in spine curvature of the thoracic spine (i.e. vertebrae Th6 to Th11). Significant increases in peak moments were found only at the upper spine (i.e. Th2). We found no significant changes in EMG amplitudes, while the frequency analysis showed significant decreases in the mean frequencies (MNF) for the M. latissimus dorsi, the M. trapezius descendens and the M. deltoideus posterior. No significant changes on MNF were found for the Mm. erector spinae. We hypothesize that the significant increase in curvature for the thoracic spine is connected to the fatigued back muscles, especially the Mm. trapezius descendens, and might lead to an unbalanced loading of intervertebral discs and other structures. These findings are particularly important for athletes and coaches in CrossFit as strenuous rowing intervals are combined with technical exercises with high loads on the back and spine (e.g. power and Olympic lifting) leading to impaired muscular stabilization and potentially to an increased injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive physical activity is one of the main risk factors in the formation of dege - nerative changes of the intervertebral discs. Recreational and elite sport also represents a repeated increased physical load, and based on the type of sport, a more intense and sometimes less intense action of direct forces on the intervertebral discs. On the other hand, sport and training is in general regarded as beneficial for our health. Many doctors also regards sport as a form of prevention against back injuries. The authors analyze numerous sporting activities with different types of direct forces acting on the spine, with the goal to inform on realistic scientific facts regarding the impact of these activities on the degeneration of the intervertebral disc. They inform about the available facts, which confirm the positive effects of a certain type of sport load on the degeneration of the intervertebral disc, and its correlation with the clinically manifested back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand-harvest work in wine grape vineyards is physically demanding and exposes workers to a variety of ergonomics risk factors. Analysis of these exposures together with data on reported work-related injuries points to the risk of back injury as a prevention priority, in particular the lifting and carrying of tubs of cut grapes (weighing up to 80 pounds) during harvest. Our study evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention — the use of a smaller picking tub — on the incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms among workers during two harvest seasons. Reducing the weight of the picking tub by 19% (to below 50 pounds) resulted in a five-fold reduction in workers’ post-season musculoskeletal symptom scores, without significant reductions in productivity.

Home care providers experience high occupational injury rates. Improving safety is becoming increasingly urgent as this sector expands to support the aging population. Caregivers identify assisting with toileting as a particularly frequent and difficult activity. This mixed-methods observational study identified and analyzed the toileting subactivities that place care providers at the greatest risk of musculoskeletal injury. Eight personal support workers (home care aides) assisted a frail older adult (actor) in a simulated home bathroom. Overall technique and body postures were analyzed. Exposure to musculoskeletal injury risk factors (low back loads and time in extreme trunk postures) was greatest when removing/replacing clothing and providing posterior perineal care; high loads were also possible during transfers. Exposures can be reduced by lowering the pants only to knee level or squatting to raise them. A bidet seat or attachment can perform perineal cleaning, which accounted for 32% of time in severe trunk flexion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lee, S-P, Gillis, CB, Ibarra, JJ, Oldroyd, DF, and Zane, RS. Heel-raised foot posture does not affect trunk and lower extremity biomechanics during a barbell back squat in recreational weight lifters. J Strength Cond Res 33(3): 606-614, 2019--It is claimed that weightlifting shoes with a raised heel may lead to a more upright trunk posture, and thus reduce the risk of back injuries during a barbell back squat. These proclaimed biomechanical effects have not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to compare trunk and lower extremity biomechanics during barbell back squats in three foot postures. Fourteen recreational weight lifters (7 men and 7 women) between the ages of 18 and 50 years performed barbell back squats in three conditions (barefoot on a flat surface, barefoot on a heel-raised platform, and wearing heel-raised weightlifting shoes) at 80% of their 1 repetition maximum. Surface electromyography was used to assess the activation of the knee extensors and paraspinal muscles at L3 and T12 spinal levels. A 3D motion capture system and an electrogoniometer recorded the kinematics of the thoracic spine, lumbar spine, and knee during the back squat to a depth where the hip was at least at the same level to the knee. Results indicated that none of the heel-raised foot postures significantly affected trunk and lower extremity muscle activation (thoracolumbar paraspinal [p = 0.52], lumbar paraspinal [p = 0.1 79], knee extensor [p = 0.507]) or the trunk angles (thoracolumbar spine [p = 0.348], lumbar spine [p = 0.283]) during the squat. Our results demonstrated that during barbell back squats, heel-raised foot postures do not significantly affect spinal and knee extensor muscle activations, and trunk and knee kinematics. Heel-raised weightlifting shoes are unlikely to provide significant protection against back injuries for recreational weight lifters during the barbell back squat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of back pain in young basketball and floorball players under 21 years of age. The secondary aim was to examine risk factors especially for low back pain (LBP). Nine basketball and nine floorball teams (n = 396) participated in this prospective follow‐up study (2011‐2014). Young athletes (mean age 15.8 ± 1.9) performed physical tests and completed a questionnaire at baseline. The follow‐up lasted 1‐3 years per player. During the follow‐up, back pain reported by the players was registered on a weekly basis and verified by a study physician. The exposure time (AE) on team practices and games was recorded by the coach. Altogether back pain was reported 61 times by 51 players. The incidence of back pain was 87 per 1000 athlete‐years and 0.4 per 1000 hours of AE. Hamstrings, quadriceps and iliopsoas extensibility and general joint hypermobility were not associated with LBP. Furthermore, no association between LBP and leg extension strength or isometric hip abduction strength asymmetry was found in these young basketball and floorball players. In conclusion, back pain can lead to a considerable time‐loss from training and competition among young basketball and floorball players and the pain tends to reoccur. Lower extremity muscle extensibility, general joint hypermobility or investigated lower extremity strength measures were not associated with the risk of LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Drywall installation has an injury rate four times that of the construction industry average. Workers are exposed to hazards related to slips, falls, and falling objects, in addition to the large and awkward loads they must carry. Drywall sheets can weigh more than 100 lb. and contribute to disabling musculoskeletal injuries of the shoulders and back. OBJECTIVE: In this study, an unpowered lift assist device was developed to manage the load of a drywall sheet during the installation process. METHODS: In order to measure the effect of the lift assist device, a laboratory study with 10 healthy male participants performing two lifts, lifting from ground to erect and lifting from erect to ceiling, with and without the help of the device, was performed. These lifts were chosen to simulate a drywall installer's frequent lifting motions. Participants were fitted with electromyography (EMG) on the erector spinae, latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominus, and external oblique muscles to measure activation. Mean, peak, and effort data for the lifting exercises were extracted and compared to the unassisted lift. RESULTS: The lift assist device resulted in a reduction in mean EMG signal of 69% average over both lifts and muscle groups. Peak EMG and effort (i.e., area under the curve) were reduced by 78% and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the effectiveness of the device in reducing compressive back loads during drywall installation, which warrants future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]