Citation

Beach TAC, Frost DM, Zehr JD, Howarth SJ, McGill SM, Callaghan JP. Ergonomics 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-32.

Affiliation

Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , ON , Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00140139.2019.1657183

PMID

31424329

Abstract

Spine loading data are needed to design low-back health-preserving ergonomic interventions for firefighters. Study objectives were to quantify spine loads during simulated fireground operations using simple (polynomial) and advanced (EMG-assisted musculoskeletal model) methods, and to describe the variation in spine loads between performers (N = 20). Spine compression forces differed by as much as 5.5 times bodyweight between individuals performing identical tasks. Anteroposterior and mediolateral shear forces varied by as much 3.2 and 2.1 times bodyweight between individuals performing the same tasks, respectively. Large variations in spine load magnitudes were documented regardless of whether simple or advanced quantification methods were used.

RESULTS suggest that low-back loading demands on the fireground would vary widely depending on the physical characteristics of individual firefighters, movement strategies employed, and tasks performed. Thus, personalized ergonomic interventions are warranted to regulate spine loading and load tolerance in firefighters. Practitioner Summary: Even when performing the same work, the associated spine loading demands will vary widely across people due to differences in their body sizes, shapes, and movement strategies. Therefore, personalized interventions are needed to regulate spine loading and load tolerance in workers (e.g., obesity prevention, physical capacity-building exercise, and movement [re]training).

Language: en

Keywords

biomechanics; firefighters; injury prevention; low-back disorders; motor behaviour