Characterizing the biomechanics of common personal support workers' work tasks as simulated in a lab

Personal support workers (PSWs) experience high rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) likely due to physical task demand exposures. However, limited data exists describing the biomechanical demands of common PSW tasks. Therefore, we aimed to characterize biomechanical exposure metrics associated with common and demanding PSW work tasks. Twenty PSWs completed twelve lab-simulated tasks, where full body kinematics and kinetics were collected for all trials. A whole-body top-down rigid link modelling approach was used to calculate relevant biomechanical exposure metrics. Patient handling tasks resulted in the highest peak extensor moments, but lowest cumulative moments. Patient care tasks resulted in the highest cumulative extensor moments, but lower peak moments. Additionally, patient care tasks took longer to complete and required participants to frequently adopt more flexed low back postures. Study findings help us to better understand how task types influence biomechanical exposure metrics, an important precursor to the design of efficacious interventions.