• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.107-118
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• 2008

In this study, lower extremity joint kinematics and kinetics and lumbar lordosis were investigated for two different symmetrical lifting techniques(squat and stoop) using the three-dimensional motion analysis. Twenty-six male volunteers lifted boxes weighing 5, 10 and 15kg by both squat and stoop lifting techniques. There were not significant differences in maximum lumbar joint moments between the two techniques. The hip and ankle contributed the most part of the support moments during squat lifting, and the knee flexion moment played an important role in stoop lifting. The hip, ankle and lumbar joints generated power and only the khee joint absorbed power in the squat lifting. The knee and ankle joints absorbed power, the hip and lumbar joints generated power in the stoop lifting. The bi-articular antagonist muscles' co-contraction around the knee joint during the squat lifting and the eccentric co-contraction of the gastrocnemius and semitendinosus were found to be important for straightening up during the stoop lifting. At the time of lordotic curvature appearance in the squat lifting, there were significant correlations in all three lower extremity joint moments with the lumbar joint. Differently, only the hip moment had significant correlation with the lumbar joint in the stoop lifting. In conclusion, the knee extension which is prominent kinematics during the squat tilling was produced by the contributions of the kinetic factors from the hip and ankle joints(extensor moment and power generation) and the lumbar extension which is prominent kinematics during the stoop lifting could be produced by the contributions of the knee joint kinetic factors(flexor moment, power absorption, bi-articular muscle function).

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.105-114
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• 2012

This study was performed to compare the muscle activity of lumbar stabilizers between stoop and semi-squat lifting techniques at different lifting loads. Twenty healthy subjects (9 males, 11 females) were recruited for this study. Muscle activity of external obliques (EO), internal obliques (IO) and lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle was measured by surface electromyography during stoop and semi-squat lifting at different lifting loads (10%, 20%, and 30% of the subject's body weight). A one-way repeated measure ANOVA was applied. The results showed that EMG activity of EO was significantly increased with a load of 30% of body weight compared to 10% and 20% of body weight in both lifting techniques (p<.05). Muscle activity of LM was significantly increased in 20% compared to 10% and 30% compared to 10% of subject's body weight in stoop lifting and the muscle activity of LM was significantly increased in 20% compared to 10%, 30% compared to 20%, and 30% compared to 10% of the subject's body weight in semi-squat lifting (p<.05). However, there was no significant difference in activity of IO according to lifting loads in both lifting techniques. There were no significant differences in muscle activity of EO, IO, and LM between stoop and semi-squat technique (p>.05). Therefore, the results of this study suggested that the EO can contribute to increase the lumbar stability during stoop and semi-squat lifting at 30% of body weight rather than at lower loads, and the LM seems to act as counteractor to imposed loads during stoop and semi-squat lifting with increasing loads.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two different lifting posture on the plantar foot pressure, force and COP(center of pressure) trajectory path during object lifting. Fourteen healthy adults who had no musculoskeletal disorders were instructed to lift with two postures(stoop and squat) and two object weights(empty box and 10 kg box). Plantar foot pressures, forces and COP trajectory path were recorded by the F-mat system(Tekscan, Boston, USA) during object lifting with barefoot. Plantar foot surface was defined as seven regions for pressure measurement; two toe regions, three forefoot regions, one midfoot region and one heel region. Paired t-test was used to compare the outcomes of peak pressure and maximum force with different two lifting postures and two object weights. Plantar peak pressure and maximum force under hallux was significantly greater in squat posture than stoop posture during the two different boxes lifting(p<.05). During the empty box lifting, maximum force under lessor toes was significantly less and plantar peak pressure under second metatarsal region was significantly greater in squat than stoop(p<.05). Maximum force under heel was significantly less in squat than stoop posture during 10kg box lifting(p<.05). Finally, COP trajectory path was significantly greater in squat than stoop(p<.05). These findings confirm that there are significantly change in the structure and function of the foot during the object lifting with different posture. Future studies should focus on the contribution of both structural and functional change to the development of common foot problems in adults.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2008

This research selects the lifting task to be the main subject. Four experiments were designed to measure which among lifting postures, lifting heights, waist-belt, and breathing control significantly influences intra-abdominal pressure (Gallagher, 1991; Lavender, Andersson and Natarajan, 1999). The experimental results were taken to be the recommendations of the manual materials handling work design. The research findings reveal that the symmetrical stoop posture is the most significant to the intra-abdominal pressure within all lifting postures. When the lifting height is increased, the intra-abdominal pressure produced relatively goes up. Also, the combination of symmetrical stoop posture, waist-belt use, and inspiration and holding at the same time is the most efficient in carrying out lifting tasks. Simultaneously, the research discovers that for any posture, the volume of the intra-abdominal pressure is much bigger when using the waist-belt compared to when it is not used. Therefore, the waist-belt design for the lifting works might be the future research approach.