A lower-back focused motion capture and electromyography dataset of Australian sheep shearers at work

Lower back pain, the predominant cause of years lived with disability, is widespread among various occupations characterised by prolonged and repetitive movements, including healthcare, agriculture, and construction. Despite this prevalence, evidence on the time-dependent changes in muscular function and corresponding motor control systems that contribute to pain remains limited, largely due to the lack of experimental data collected in real-world environments over extended periods. This paper addresses this gap by introducing an open dataset from an intensely physical and repetitive activity-sheep shearing-collected from eleven shearers in Australia. Data on participants' movement, muscle activity, and self-reported fatigue were recorded in their natural work environment throughout an entire day, divided into four 2-hour sessions. The dataset encompasses a wide range of experiences, including shearers with prior back injuries and those using back support harnesses. This unique dataset enables the exploration of time-dependent factors in pain-inducing repetitive movements, providing insights applicable to similar occupational activities where task demands can lead to chronic pain and injuries.