A computerized biomechanical model—Development of and use in studying gross body actions

Abstract

Abstract-Gross body actions involved in heavy industry. e.g. lifting and carrying materials. are often the cause of injury to the musculoskeletal system. A computer model is developed which treats the human body as a series of seven links from which reactive forces and torques are computed at each articulation during various simulated materials handling tasks. In addition, an analysis of shearing and compressing forces at the lower lumbar spine is included. The assumptions of the present model are presented, along with a discussion of future models.IT HAS been reported by Troup (1965) that a relatively large portion of industrial injuries (as great as 12 per cent) are back disorders resulting from a lifting task. It is also evident from papers by Tichauer (1965), Raof et al. (1960) and Davis et al. (1965) that the estimation of stresses on various parts of the musculoskeletal system during lifting activities will require a complex methodology which takes account of such factors as (1) instantaneous positions of the extremities and trunk, (2) curvature changes in the spine, (3) strength variations within different muscle groups and people, and (4) abdominal pressure effects.

Influences on the use of observational methods by practitioners when identifying risk factors in physical work

“…Those surveyed were requested to respond whether they perceived each type of problem, and to what extent. The last question asked respondents to make an overall consideration regarding the characteristics of the method, the way in 1 GINSHT is used to refer to a method described in INSHT (1998) 2 BiomechEEC is a computerized biomechanical model based on the proposal in Chaffin (1969). Although it cannot strictly be considered to be an observational method, it was included in the study becaise it was one of the methods most used by practitioners.…”

“…However, the analysis of the statistics on the online tools showed that eleven were used significantly more than the rest, and therefore the number of methods was increase to eleven. The selected methods were: NIOSH lifting equation (NIOSH) (Waters et al 1993 Occupational Repetitive Action (OCRA) (Occhipinti 1998) and OCRA Checklist (Colombini et al 2000) for repetitive movements assessment; LEST (Guelaud et al 1977) and Chaffin Biomechanical Model 2 (BiomechEEC) (Chaffin 1969). …”

Low-Back Biomechanics and Static Stability During Isometric Pushing

“…Fortunately, stiffness of active skeletal muscles increases with force (Kearney & Hunter, 1990;Morgan, 1977) such that recruitment of the paraspinal muscles can augment the bending stiffness of the trunk and spine (Cholewicki, Jurulu, Radebold, Panjabi, & McGill, 1999;Gardner-Morse & Stokes, 2001;Kettler, Hartwig, Schultheis, Claes, & Wilke, 2002). Paraspinal muscle activation increases with lifting effort (Chaffin, 1969;Schultz & Anderson, 1981). Hence, during lifting exertions, the muscle activity recruited to achieve equilibrium also contributes to spinal stability.…”

Biomechanical Assessment of Lower Limbs Using Support Moment Measure at Walking Worker Assembly Lines

“…As a general approach, the human body is treated as a mechanical system, made up of rigid links (the bones) that are connected at joints. (Chaffin, 1969;Garg et al, 1982;Chaffin & Andersson 1990;Yanxin Zhang, 2005;Chaffin, 2007) have been presented a set of linked segment models of the human body that can be used to estimate forces and mechanical moments (torques) imposed on the system during work activities.…”