Trunk Muscle Performance and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Manual Lifting with Back Belt Wearing Workers
Nopporn Kurustien PhD*, Keerin Mekhora PhD**, Wattana Jalayondeja PhD**, Suebsak Nanthavanij PhD***
Affiliation : * Faculty of Physical Therapy, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan, Thailand ** Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand *** Engineering Management Program, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Objective : to determine the effects of back belt use on trunk muscle performance and the association between those performance
outcomes with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs).
Material and Method: All manual lifting workers in one grocery distribution, warehouse center were interviewed about the
history of illness, back injury, WMSDs, lifting manner, and experience of back belt use. They were assessed for trunk muscles
performance including the flexion (F), the extension (E) and the right and left side bridge (RSB and LSB) endurance test and
Exercise Level of Lumbar Stabilization test (ELLS). Pearson’s correlation and Spearman’s rank correlation statistics were
used to determine the association.
Results : One hundred and seven males, aged 18 to 42 years participated in the study. Most participants had ELLS at levels
2 (31.1%) and 3 (30.2%). The mean F, E, RSB and LSB endurance times were 62.33, 88.62, 77.17 and 77.33 seconds,
respectively. The greatest area of WMSDs was the lower back (53.33%). Significant correlations were found between the
ELLS and RSB (r = 0.244, p = 0.012) and between the ELLS and LSB (r = 0.199, p = 0.041). Significant correlations were
found between pain scale of back pain and ELLS (r = -0.299, p = 0.016). Significant correlations were found between the
number of WMSD areas and trunk flexion endurance (rs = -0.263, p = 0.007), right trunk endurance (rs = -0.195, p = 0.044),
left trunk endurance (rs = -0.325, p = 0.001) and endurance ratio of RSB/LSB (rs= 0.224, p = 0.022). Furthermore, most
participants (84.1%) had imbalanced endurance of RSB/LSB. Duration and frequency of back belt use did not correlate with
any trunk muscle performance. This may have been because few participants did not wear belts (10.1%) or wore belts
sometimes (26.6%).
Conclusion : Low correlation was found between back belt use and WMSDs. To prevent back injury, the lifting workers
should be trained to balance their trunk muscles endurance, especially right and left trunk muscles and to stabilize their lower
back while lifting.
Keywords : Back belt, Ergonomics, Lifting, Trunk stabilizer muscle, Endurance
