Loads on the body during static tasks: software incorporating the posture targetting method.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Ergonomics
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Manual handling tasks pose risks for musculoskeletal injuries.
• Biomechanical evaluation is crucial for assessing these risks.
• Existing methods for analyzing manual handling loads can be complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a computer program for biomechanical analysis of static manual handling tasks.
• To quantify joint moments and spinal loads during manual handling.
• To compare calculated efforts with population strength data.

Main Methods:

• A computer program was developed to calculate joint moments (flexion/extension, rotation, adduction/abduction).
• The system evaluates spinal and low-back muscle loads.
• Posture and external forces are input using either a CODA scanner or a computer-adapted pen-and-paper method ('posture targeting').

Main Results:

• The program successfully determines joint moments and spinal loads.
• It differentiates between various joint loading requirements (flexion/extension, rotation, adduction/abduction).
• Identified major efforts can be compared with population strength data.

Conclusions:

• The developed computer program provides a valuable tool for assessing biomechanical loads in manual handling.
• It aids in identifying high-effort tasks and evaluating risks to the spine and low-back muscles.
• The system offers flexibility in posture data acquisition for ergonomic assessments.