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Genaidy A.M. and Simmons R.J.
Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, Industrial Engineering
Program University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Summary: In recent years, there has been an increased use
of back supports in US industry to reduce the frequency and costs
of lower back disorders.
This paper reviews and considers a large body of published
literature with the aim of answering these questions:
What are the biomechanical, physiological and psychophysical
effects of back supports on the human spine?
What are the effects of back supports as an injury control
in the workplace?
Discussion: All studies reviewed agreed that the wearing of
back supports results in significant increases in intra-abdominal
pressure (IAP). However, a question still remains about the exact
role of increased values of IAP in the stability of the spine.
Two of the studies in the review suggest there may be implications
for employees with load handling responsibilities who use back
supports and have a history of cardiovascular disorders.
Based on assessment of the experimental methods and procedures
as well as the results reported in the studies reviewed, a major
finding is that back supports designed for specific purposes
could be biomechanically, physiologically and psychophysically
effective in relieving the loads on the lumbar spine for employees
engaged in many industrial operations.
This study concluded that selection of back supports should
be based on specific design parameters and their abilities to
relieve the load on the lumbar spine rather than as a mere matter
of preference.
Conclusions: How should the occupational safety and health
consultant decide upon the adoption of back supports for injury
prevention, in the absence of concrete scientific evidence as
to their effects? If the use of back supports is adopted as a
corporate policy, it should be accompanied by an educational
program covering the general biomechanics of the back and the
specific effects of back supports on the human spine. In addition,
it is strongly recommended that a continuing, job simulated exercise
program be instituted to improve the strength, endurance and
flexibility of workers' trunk muscles.
An alternative strategy would be to limit the use of back
supports to those tasks known to cause high frequency and severity
of lower-back injuries.
"Use of back supports as corporate policy should
be accompanied by an educational program about the back, a job
related exercise program and perhaps use of supports specifically
in jobs with high risk of lifting injury."
Ashraf M. Genaidy, PhD
Published in Ergonomics, 1995, Vol. 38, No. 5, Pages
996-1010. (Review by Chase Ergonomics approved by Dr. Genaidy,
July 1996.)
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