This presentation describes the dynamic shoulder moments and peak strength requirements resulting from the performance of typical arm reach and materials handling tasks. It is shown by a dynamic biomechanical analysis that normal right arm reaches to the glove box or passenger door in a vehicle will cause peak moment loads sufficient to exceed the expected strengths of some drivers, particularly women. Using a similar biomechanical analysis of lifting and lowering 10 Kg and 20 Kg loads (both manually and with mechanical assistive devices) the peak strength requirements on both shoulders would exceed about one-third of women's capabilities (particularly when attempting to move the load with a large articulated balance arm device). It is concluded that such tasks are quite stressful to the shoulder musculoskeletal system, and should be given greater attention in job and vehicle ergonomic studies and modeling activities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.