Effects of age and its interaction with task parameters on lifting biomechanics

This study investigated the age-related differences in lifting biomechanics. Eleven younger and 12 older participants were instructed to perform symmetric lifting tasks defined by different combinations of destination heights and load magnitudes. Lifting biomechanics was assessed. It was found that the trunk flexion in the starting posture was 32% lower and the peak trunk extension velocity was 46% lower in older participants compared with those in younger ones, indicating that older adults tended to use safer lifting strategies than did younger adults. Based on these findings, we recommend that physical exercise programmes may be a more effective ergonomic intervention for reducing the risks of low back pain (LBP) in lifting among older workers, compared with instructions of safe lifting strategies. As for younger workers, instructions of safe lifting strategies would be effective in LBP risk reduction.