• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.20 no.44
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• pp.323-332
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• 1997

This study evaluated the compression force at the L5/S1 disc using EMG(Electromyography). EMG signals were analyzed under the condition of fixed vertical factor (20Cm∼80Cm), two horizontal factors (35Cm, 55Cm), and two weight factors (10Kg, 25Kg) 2 times per minute for each posture. Also, the result was compared with the compression force of each posture which computated by the equation of NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) guide to manual lifting(1991). The experimental result show that EMG signals have more an effect on the Weight than the Horizontal factors. Also, there are not significant differences on the analysis result of EMG signals between Health members and not, because the body buildings which doing Health members are not enhanced the motor unit due to the MMH(Manual Material Handing).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2005

This study investigated the spinal loads(L5/S1 disc compression and shear forces) predicted from four biomechanical models: one EMG model and three optimization models. Three objective functions used in the optimization models were to miminize 1) the cubed muscle forces : MF3, 2) the cubed muscle stress : MS3, 3) maximum muscle intensity : MI. Twelve healthy male subjects participated in the isometric voluntary exertion tests to six directions : flexion/extension, left/right lateral bending, clockwise/ counterclockwise twist. EMG signals were measured from ten trunk muscles and spinal loads were assessed at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90%MVE(maximum voluntary exertion) in each direction. Three optimization models predicted lower L5/S1 disc compression forces than the EMG model, on average, by 31%(MF3), 27%(MS3), 8%(MI). Especially, in twist and extension, the differences were relatively large. Anterior-posterior shear forces predicted from optimization models were lower, on average, by 27%(MF3), 21%(MS3), 9%(MI) than by the EMG model, especially in flexion(MF3 : 45%, MS3 : 40%, MI : 35%). Lateral shear forces were predicted far less than anterior-posterior shear forces(total average = 124 N), and the optimization models predicted larger values than the EMG model on average. These results indicated that the optimization models could underestimate compression forces during twisting and extension, and anterior-posterior shear forces during flexion. Thus, future research should address the antagonistic coactivation, one major reason of the difference between optimization models and the EMG model, in the optimization models.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.20 no.43
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• pp.197-204
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• 1997

Torques on each joint, the compression on L5/S1 disc, the force on hand of a rider are estimated using a static biomechnic model. Forces that the rider applies to the pedals, saddle and handle during starting and speeding are estimated using static mechanics. Physical stress is considered accroding to handle height and horizontal distance between handle and pedal. When handle height is higher in normal speeding, the force on handle and sum of torques on each joint decreases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.289-297
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• 1997

Work-related low back pain(below LBP) is one of the major cause of morbidity, disability, limitation of activity and economic loss. Therefore the work-related LBP is one of the major issue in the field of industrial safety and health. This study was performed for detecting the risk factors and proposing the effective control programs of work-related LBP. The subjects were male workers employed at the welding and metal factory. The data was collected by self-reported questionnaire, interview and checking abdomen muscular and grasping power for two days on October, 1993. The contents of questionnaire were as follow: the experience of LBP, general characteristics, physical characteristics, employment status, type of work and working environment. The number of cases was 104 with a history of work-related LBP, so the prevalence of work-related LBP was 35.0%, and the number of controls was 140 without any history of LBP. As a result, marital status, educational level, abdomen muscular power, tenure, category of job, satisfaction of job, working posture, satisfaction for table and chair and lifting materials showed a statistical significance between the case and control groups. 284 Lifting jobs were quantified by NIOSH lifting equation method and ergonomic computer modelling methods. There were no significant differences in the action limit and disc compression force between group with LBP and without LBP. But in the lifting frequency and cumulative disc compression force there were significant differences. Therefore work-related LBP should be prevented by the ergonomic and environmental control.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.248-255
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• 1998

The objective of this study is to conduct the prevention method using electromyography that is to resist the strain on L5/S1 disc and to measure the heart rate for the prevention of low back pain during lifting. EMG signals and heart rate were analyzed under the condition of fixed vertical factor (20∼80cm), two horizontal factors (35cm, 55cm), and two weight factors (10kg, 25kg) 2 times per minute for each lifting task. Eight healthy male workers performed nine-step stretching exercises which were intensified back power at the L5/S1 disc for six months. After completion of the two trials, the results were compared. The results of this analysis show that EMG signals have more an effect on the weight than the horizontal factors similar to those analyzed previous study, and are decreased. Therefore, those exercises presented very efficient. Also, there are not statistically significant differences on the analysis result of heart rate between weight factors.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.397-409
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• 2007

Owing to needs of biomechanical comprehension and analysis to obtain various medical treatment designs which are related with the spine in order to cure and diagnose LBP patients, the FE modeling and nonlinear analysis of lumbosacrum including a partial ilium and iliolumbar ligaments, were carried out. First, we investigated whether the geometrical configuration of vertebrae displayed by DICOM slice files is regular and normal condition. After constructing spinal vertebrae including a partial ilium, a sacrum and five lumbars (from L1 to L5)with anatomical shape reconstructed using softwares such as image modeler and CAD modeler, we added iliolumbar ligaments, lumbar ligaments, discs and facet joints, etc.. And also, we assigned material property and discretized the model using proper finite element types, thus it was completely modeled through the above procedure. For the verification of each segment, average sagittal ROM, average coronal ROM and average transversal ROM under various loading conditions(${\pm}10Nm$), average vertical displacement under compression(400N), ALL(Anterior Longitudinal Ligament) and PLL(Posterior Longitudinal Ligament) force at L12 level, strains of seven ligaments on sagittal plane at L45 level and maximal strain of disc fibers according to various loading conditions at L45 level, etc., they were compared with experimental results. For the verification of multilevel-lumbosacrum spine including partial ilium and iliolumbar ligaments, the cases with and without iliolumbar ligaments were compared with ROM of experiment. The results were obtained from analysis of the verified FE model as follows: I) Iliolumbar ligaments played a stabilizing role as mainly posterior iliolumbar ligaments under flexion and as both posterior and anterior iliolumbar ligaments of one side under lateral bending. 2) The iliolumbar ligaments decreased total ROM of 1-8% in total model according to various motion conditions, which changed facet contact forces of L5S level by approximately 0.8-1.4 times and disc forces of L5S level by approximately 0.8-1.5 times more than casewithout ilioligaments, under various loading conditions. 3) The force of lower discs such as L45 and L5S was bigger than upper discs under flexion, left and right bending and left and right twisting, except extension. 4) It was predicted that strains of posterior ligaments among iliolumbar ligaments would produce the maximum 16% under flexion and the maximum 10% under twisting. 5) It's expected that this present model applies to the development and design of artificial disc, since it was comparatively in agreement with the experimental datum.