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Real-time feedback to reduce low-back load in lifting and lowering
Michiel Punt1, Mehdi Nematimoez2, Jaap H van Dieën3
1Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Research Group Lifestyle and Health, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Journal of Biomechanics
|November 26, 2019
Summary
Real-time feedback on lifting reduced low-back load. Moment and trunk inclination feedback significantly lowered lumbar moments compared to controls, indicating a promising tool for preventing work-related back pain.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Biomechanics
- Musculoskeletal Health
- Ergonomics
Background:
- Low-back pain (LBP) is a prevalent health issue, often linked to occupational lifting.
- Existing literature suggests a dose-response relationship between work-related lifting and LBP incidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of three real-time feedback types on lumbar load during lifting.
- To quantify the effects of feedback on lumbar moments, a key indicator of low-back load.
Main Methods:
- 97 healthy participants without prior biomechanical lifting knowledge were recruited.
- Participants were assigned to moment feedback, trunk inclination angle feedback, lumbar flexion feedback, or a control group.
- Audio feedback was provided when a predefined threshold was exceeded, prompting participants to adjust their lifting strategy.
Main Results:
- Lumbar moments significantly decreased over trials in the moment and trunk inclination feedback groups.
- The lumbar flexion feedback group showed no significant change, while the control group experienced increased lumbar moments.
- Moment and inclination feedback groups demonstrated significantly lower low-back load compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- Real-time feedback, particularly on moments or trunk inclination, is effective in reducing low-back load during lifting.
- This feedback mechanism shows potential as an intervention to mitigate work-related LBP.
- Trunk inclination feedback proved more effective than lumbar flexion feedback in reducing low-back load.
