The effect of age, prolonged seated work and sex on posture and perceived effort during a lifting task. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gruevski, Kristina M.; Callaghan, Jack P.
• Is Part Of: Applied ergonomics. Volume 89(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Manual material handling -- Prolonged sitting; Human engineering -- Periodicals; 620.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103198
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-6870

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of prolonged seated work, lift task, age and sex on normalized lumbar angles, thoracic angles, perceived effort and duration of lifts. A total of 17 young and 17 mature participants were recruited with an average (standard deviation) age of 23.8 (5.0) years and 63.7 (3.9) years, respectively. Participants completed 3 different floor to knuckle lifts before and following 90 min of seated work. The lifts included; (i) 7 kg symmetrical, (ii) 4.5 kg symmetrical and (iii) 4.5 kg asymmetrical. Prolonged seated work and age interacted to affect normalized peak lumbar angles (p = 0.0469) where older adults adopted 56(15)% flexion after seated work compared to 67(16)% among younger adults. Older adults took significantly longer to complete the lifting tasks compared to younger adults while age did not affect perceived effort across lifting tasks. Older workers may require age specific interventions given age specific responses. Highlights: Lumbar spine range of motion in flexion lower in older compared to younger adults. No change in lumbar angles during lifts in young adults following seated work. Reduced lumbar flexion during lifts among older adults following seated work. There was no effect of age on perceived effort during lifting tasks. Completion time of lifts was longer in older compared to younger adults.