Exploring the Effects of Seated Whole Body Vibration Exposure on Repetitive Asymmetric Lifting Tasks

This study investigated changes in the physiological and behavioral responses to repetitive asymmetric lifting activity after exposure to whole body vibrations. Seventeen healthy volunteers repeatedly lifted a box (15% of lifter's capacity) positioned in front of them at ankle level to a locati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene 2015, Vol.12 (3), p.172-181
Main Authors: Mehta, Jay P., Lavender, Steven A., Jagacinski, Richard J., Sommerich, Carolyn M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological - physiology
Adolescent
Adult
Asymmetry
Back
Bending
biomechanics
Exposure
Female
Health risk assessment
Hoisting
Human exposure
Humans
Impact analysis
Lifting - adverse effects
lifting behavior
Male
Movement
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
musculoskeletal disorders
near-infrared spectroscopy
Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data
Physiology
Platforms
Posture
repetitive lifting
Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
Spectrum analysis
Spine
Spine - physiology
Studies
Tasks
Vibration
Vibration - adverse effects
whole body vibration
Workload
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Summary:This study investigated changes in the physiological and behavioral responses to repetitive asymmetric lifting activity after exposure to whole body vibrations. Seventeen healthy volunteers repeatedly lifted a box (15% of lifter's capacity) positioned in front of them at ankle level to a location on their left side at waist level at the rate of 10 lifts/min for a period of 60 minutes. Prior to lifting, participants were seated on a vibrating platform for 60 minutes; in one of the two sessions the platform did not vibrate. Overall, the physiological responses assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy signals for the erector spinae muscles decreased significantly over time during the seating and the lifting tasks (p < 0.001). During repetitive asymmetric lifting, behavioral changes included increases in peak forward bending motion, twisting movement, and three-dimensional movement velocities of the spine. The lateral bending movement of the spine and the duration of each lift decreased significantly over the 60 minutes of repetitive lifting. With exposure to whole body vibration, participants twisted farther (p = 0.046) and twisted faster (p = 0.025). These behavioral changes would suggest an increase in back injury risk when repetitive lifting tasks are preceded by whole body vibration exposure.
ISSN:1545-9624
1545-9632
DOI:10.1080/15459624.2014.960573