Graduate Biomechanics

Biomechanics of Lifting

Biomechanics of Lifting Topics

Lifting and Back Injury Biomechanics of Joint Torque and Shear Standards for Evaluating Lifting Tasks Biomechanical Factors Determining Joint Stress NIOSH and Evaluation of Lifting Risk

Lifting
Varied Forms and Purposes

Component of ADLs Occupational Task Training for Strength Enhancement Competitive Sport

Lifting - Forms of
Lifting Up Lifting Down Pushing Pulling Supporting Rising to Stand Sitting Bending

Lifting
Why so much interest in lifting ??

Injury

Lifting
Workplace Injury Incidence of Lifting-related Injury
2% of workers yearly 21% of all workplace injuries 33% of workplace health care cost

Lifting-Related Injury
Economic Impact

*** Billions ***

Common Sites for Lifting Related Injury

Incidence Rates: (i.e. frequency of injury) #1 Low Back #2 Wrist and Hand #3 Upper Back #4 Shoulder #5 Knee #6 Elbow

Low Back Pain

Lifting-related Injury is the Leading Cause of Low Back Second ! Painleading cause of physician visits
Third ranking cause of surgery (250,000 + yearly) Fifth ranking cause of hospitalization 15% of adults experience episode each year

Lifting Roles of the Clinician

What Can be Done ?
** Treatment ** ** Prevention **

Lifting Injury Prevention

** Many Issues **

Potential Areas Influencing Risk

The Lifter The Load The Task The Conditions

The Lifter
Factors Influencing Risk
Anthropometrics Strength Endurance Range of Motion Technique Sensory Health Status

The Load
Factors Influencing Risk Weight Size and Shape Load Distribution Grip Coupling

The Task
Factors Influencing Risk Complexity Workplace Geometry Frequency Duration

Conditions
Factors Influencing Risk The Workplace Environment

Lifting Technique- Common Elements

What do all forms of Lifting Have in Common ??

Imposed Loads Motion - Inertia Joint Torques Joint Compression Joint Shear

Biomechanics of Joint Motion The Biomechanical Model

Internal Torque

External Torque

The External Torque and intended direction of motion determine the Internal Torque

If External Torque = Internal Torque Equilibrium If External Torque > Internal Torque Trunk Flexion If Internal Torque > External Torque Trunk Extension

Biomechanics of Joint Motion The Biomechanical Model

The External Torque is Determined by:

External Torque

Load - magnitude Position of Load Upper Body Mass Position of Upper Body Inertia

Biomechanics of Joint Motion The Biomechanical Model

The External Torque is Determined by:
COG Total Load = Mass of HAT + External Load Axis Moment Arm

Line of Gravity Torque = (Total Load) * (cosine of Slope * Moment Arm)

Biomechanics of Joint Motion The Biomechanical Model

The External Torque is Determined by:
Body Mass = 150 # HAT = 60 % of BM Load = 50 # Trunk Angle = 60 deg Moment Arm = 1.2

COG Axis Moment Arm

Line of Gravity Torque = (Total Load) * (cosine of Slope * Moment Arm)

Biomechanics of Joint Torque

External Torque
Body Mass = 150# Load = 50# HAT = 60% of Body Mass COG Distance = 1.2 Trunk Slope = 60 deg

External Torque
Torque = (Total Load) * (cosine of Slope * Moment Arm) Torque = (90# + 50# ) * (.5 * 1.2 )

External Torque = 84 ft/lbs

Biomechanics of Joint Torque

External Torque

External Torque

How Much Internal Torque is Needed to produce Equilibrium ?? 84 ft/lbs

External Torque = 84 ft/lbs

Biomechanics of Joint Torque

External Torque

Internal Torque

External Torque

How Much Internal Torque is Needed to produce Equilibrium ??

Muscle Moment Arm = .15

84 ftlbs How hard do the extensor muscle have to work to produce the needed internal torque ????

Biomechanics of Joint Torque

External Torque

Internal Torque

External Torque

How Much Internal Torque is Needed to produce Equilibrium ??

Muscle Moment Arm = .15

84 ftlbs Internal Torque = MMA * Muscle Force 84 ft-lbs = .15 * Muscle Force Muscle Force = 84 ft-lbs / .15

Biomechanics of Joint Torque

Joint Compression
Body Mass = 150# Load = 50# HAT = 60% of Body Mass Moment Arm = 1.2 Trunk Slope = 60 deg Muscle Moment Arm= .15

Joint Compression

How about Joint Compression ??

Joint Compression = HAT + Load + Muscle Contractio Joint Compression = 90# + 50# + 560#

Joint Compression = 700#

Biomechanics of Joint Torque

Joint Compression

Additional Factors Motion speed of lift Rotation Transverse Plane

Lifting Technique

COG

What can be done to decrease low back stressLighten the Load (1) ?

Lifting Technique

COG

What can be done to decrease low back stressLighten the Load (1) ?
(2) Change the position of the Load

Lifting Technique

COG

What can be done to decrease low back stressLighten the Load (1) ?
(2) Change the position of the Load (3) Change the position of the Body

Lifting Technique
Bad
COG COG

Good

Torque

Torque

NIOSH
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
* Work Practices Guide to Manual Lifting, 1981

NIOSH What do they do ??

Define risk associated with lifting Define safe lifting conditions Publish lifting guidelines and standards for the workplace Inspect workplace for safe lifting conditions Impose penalties for hazardous lifting conditions

NIOSH - Hazardous Lifting

Dependent on:

Weight of Object Location of Object COM at beginning of lift Vertical travel distance of object Frequency of Lift (lifts per minute) Duration of lifting

NIOSH Standards
Action Limit and Maximum Permissable Limit AL:
Tolerated by 99% of males and 75% of females L5/S1 compression below 3400N Energy cost below 3.5 kcals/min
**If exceeded severe risk of injury

MPL:
Tolerated by 25% of males and 1% of females L5/S1 compression above 6500N Energy cost above 5 kcals/min

**If any exceeded - some risk of injury

NIOSH Standards

Below AL - Stress tolerated by most workers Above AL and below MPL - Risk of injury such that task re-design or change in worker may be necessary Above MPL - Unacceptable risk...Must redesign task