Determination of Safe Guidelines for One-Hand Lifting

Abstract

The broad aim of this research is to better understand the effect asymmetric lifting has on the low back and trunk muscles. Collecting anthropometric, muscle and lever arm information at the L-3 region of the back, muscle activity, and body position data it is anticipated that: (1) A biomechanically based model that can estimate the relative muscle contribution of each low back and trunk muscle during one-handed and asymmetric two-handed lifting activities can be developed; (2) A regression model that can estimate muscle size and mechanical lever arm lengths using easy to measure anthropometric measures such as height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) can be developed; and (3) the "benefit" one could expect in reduction of back compressive forces when laterally lifting with two hands vs. one hand can be estimated. Ideally, this data can act as a basis for creating one-hand lift guidance to existing two-hand lift standards.