Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
8-14-2020
Year of Publication
2020
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Document Type
Master's Thesis
College
Engineering
Department/School/Program
Biomedical Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. Babak Bazrgari
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to analyze effects of day-long exposure to LBP risk factors on lumbo-pelvic coordination (LPC) in nursing occupations and to verify if physical activity level affects diurnal work-related changes in LPC. Thirty-three nurses were recruited into three groups based on workplace physical demands and each completed two data collection sessions, one before and one after their 8-12 hour work shift. Participants completed several stationary trunk forward-bending/backward-return exercises at self-selected “fast” and “slow” rotational speeds, and while holding a 15 lbs. load. Kinematic data collected during these exercises were then used to characterize the timing and magnitude aspects of LPC during each exercise. We did not find any work-related changes in our measures of LPC, however, significant differences among groups were seen in thoracic rotation for all exercises (F> 13.39, p< .03) and pelvic rotation during the slow exercise (F= 3.678, p= .037). Considering earlier reports of changes in LPC following a short period of exposure to a single LBP risk factor, our results suggest that such changes when exposed to multiple risk factors and over the course of work day do not accumulate and likely recover by the end of work day.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2020.366
Funding Information
This research was funded from 2018-2020 by a small grant from the University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS).
Recommended Citation
McDonald, Maeve, "Work Related Diurnal Changes in Trunk Mechanical Behavior" (2020). Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering. 65.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cbme_etds/65
