Affiliations: National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad,
India
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Hir Vyas, Asst Professor, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India, Dharamsala, Managatupuramba, Kannur 670562, India. National Insittue of Of Occupational Health, Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad 380016. India. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Manual material handling has been attributed as a major
risk to human musculoskeletal system. Workers postural stability in these tasks
is influenced by holding method, time and weight being handled. OBJECTIVES: The study attempts to investigate postural balance in five
different commonly adopted load handling methods amongst female volunteers. METHODS: Ten women subjects performed manual material handling tasks by
lifting 9 kg load in five different ways. Lifting tasks included (1) Upfront in
palms (2) on head (3) sideways (left) (4) sideways (right) and (5) in bag at
back. Normalized electromyography signals (back and leg) and center of pressure
displacements parameters were investigated as measures of postural control. RESULT: An increase in the medio-lateral and anterio-posterior center of
pressure displacements and activity of back muscles was reported when subjects
lifted the weight directionally. CONCLUSION: There was a significant influence of load position on center of pressure displacements and muscle
activity and thereby on postural stability. Keywords: Balance; center of
pressure; electromyography.
Keywords: Balance, center of pressure, electromyography
