Inter-individual postural variability in seated drivers exposed to whole-body vibration

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Long-term occupational exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV) is a known risk factor for low back pain in seated drivers.
• Poor and prolonged seated postures are recognized as contributing factors to this risk, influenced by vehicle ergonomics and task demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To simultaneously measure posture and WBV in drivers during controlled tasks.
• To evaluate inter-individual postural variability and its relationship with WBV exposure.
• To identify how individual driving strategies affect body posture.

Main Methods:

• An experiment involving 12 drivers in 3 different vehicles (loader, dumper, excavator) was conducted.
• Posture and body movements were measured using the CUELA system (computer-assisted recording and long-term analysis of musculoskeletal loads).
• Whole-body vibration (WBV) levels were simultaneously recorded.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in WBV, body positions, and movements were found across the three vehicle types.
• Substantial postural variations were observed among drivers performing identical tasks.
• Individual driving strategies led to significant deviations in body segments from neutral postures.

Conclusions:

• Both WBV exposure and individual postural strategies are critical factors in the risk of low back pain for seated drivers.
• Vehicle design and task execution interact with individual behaviors to influence musculoskeletal load.
• Understanding inter-individual variability in posture is essential for developing effective prevention strategies against work-related back pain.