Impact of a chest support on lower back muscle activity during forward bending
Armaĝan Albayrak (Erasmus MC, TU Delft - Human Factors)
Richard H.M. Goossens (TU Delft - Human Factors)
CJ Snijders (TU Delft - Human Factors, Erasmus MC)
H. De Ridder (TU Delft - Human Technology Relations)
G Kazemier (Erasmus MC)
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Abstract
The present study is based on previous research on the poor body posture of surgeons and their experienced discomfort during surgical procedures. Since surgeons have head-bent and back-bent posture during open surgical procedures, a chest support is a viable supporting principle. This support is meant to reduce lower back pain by minimising lower back muscle activity. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a chest support on lower back muscle activity during forward bending and to establish a possible relation between supporting force and the kind of balancing strategy a person adopts. Use of the chest support shows a significant reduction of muscle activity in the lower back and leg muscles. Within the participants three user groups are identified as “sceptical users”, “non-trusters” and “fully trusters”, each following a different balancing strategy. Since there are different kinds of users, the designed body support should offer the possibility for altering the posture and should not constrain the user to take a certain body posture.