Restricting lumbar spine flexion redistributes and changes total mechanical energy expenditure during lifting.

Minimizing lumbar spine flexion during lifting requires greater lower extremity joint motion. However, the effects of these kinematic changes on lumbar and lower extremity joint kinetics are unknown. Further, it is unclear whether the distribution of biomechanical demands throughout the lumbar spine and lower extremity during lumbar spine flexion restricted lifting are modulated by task factors like lift origin height and object mass.

Can we enable individuals to reach further down without rounding their backs before beginning a lift? Examining the influence of starting foot and trunk position on reach depth.

There is disagreement regarding the efficacy of 'safe' lifting recommendations for reducing low back disorder risk. These recommendations commonly focus on minimising lumbar spine flexion, which limits the range of allowable starting lift positions for that person. This study evaluated whether starting postural adaptations could allow a person to reach down further without rounding their lumbar spine before beginning a lift.

Kinematic adaptations to restricting spine motion during symmetrical lifting.

When lifting an object from the ground a person has many possible whole-body movement solutions to accomplish the task. It is unclear why lifters use most of their available lumbar spine flexion range-of-motion despite many ergonomic guidelines advising against doing so. Experimentally restricting spine motion and observing compensatory movement strategies is one approach to address this knowledge gap.

A comparative analysis of lumbar spine mechanics during barbell- and crate-lifting: implications for occupational lifting task assessments.

. To compare the effects of object handled and handgrip used on lumbar spine motion and loading during occupational lifting task simulations. .

Using verbal instructions to influence lifting mechanics - Does the directive "lift with your legs, not your back" attenuate spinal flexion?

"Use your legs" is commonly perceived as sound advice to prevent lifting-related low-back pain and injuries, but there is limited evidence that this directive attenuates the concomitant biomechanical risk factors. Body segment kinematic data were collected from 12 men and 12 women who performed a laboratory lifting/lowering task after being provided with different verbal instructions. The main finding was that instructing participants to lift "without rounding your lower back" had a greater effect on the amount of spine flexion they exhibited when lifting/lowering than instructing them to lift "with your legs instead of your back" and "bend your knees and hips".