Biomechanics Analysis of the Firefighters' Thorax Movement on Personal Protective Equipment during Lifting Task Using...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Biomechanics
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Firefighters (FFs) frequently experience back injuries due to demanding work and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Heavy lifting tasks inherent to firefighting significantly elevate the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, particularly in the lower back.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the biomechanical effects of wearing PPE on firefighters during lifting tasks.
• To identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among FFs and correlate it with biomechanical movement patterns.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire assessed musculoskeletal pain prevalence in FFs.
• Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) motion capture quantified thorax angle deviation and angular acceleration during lifting.
• Descriptive analysis examined the influence of age and Body Mass Index (BMI) on movement with and without PPE.

Main Results:

• 63% of FFs reported lower back pain.
• Wearing PPE significantly restricted firefighter movement and mobility, as evidenced by biomechanical analysis.
• FFs' age correlated with thorax angle deviation when wearing PPE.
• FFs' BMI influenced angular acceleration when not wearing PPE during lifting.

Conclusions:

• Firefighter PPE demonstrably limits mobility, potentially contributing to back injuries.
• Age and BMI are significant human factors affecting firefighter biomechanics during physically demanding tasks.