Quantifying how functional and structural personal factors influence biomechanical exposures in paramedic lifting...

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Biomechanics
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Paramedic work involves physically demanding tasks, including lifting patients.
• Little is known about how personal factors influence lifting biomechanics and low back forces in paramedics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between structural (sex, stature, body mass) and functional (strength, flexibility) personal factors and peak low back forces during paramedic lifting tasks.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-two participants performed backboard and stretcher lifts.
• Peak low back forces (normalized to body mass) and kinematic coordination patterns were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Being female, stronger, shorter, having higher body mass, and greater lower body range of motion (ROM) were linked to lower normalized low back forces.
• Females and stronger individuals minimized compressive forces; those with greater hip ROM minimized shear forces.

Conclusions:

• Personal factors like sex, strength, and hip ROM significantly influence low back forces in paramedic lifting.
• Training interventions focused on improving strength and hip ROM could be a proactive ergonomic strategy to mitigate low back injuries.