Muscle fatigue related to human posture using a brush cutter for landscape gardening: a preliminary study

Background Brush cutters are widely used in Chinese landscape gardening and agricultural laboring which leads the operators being exposed to many risks. Low back pain (LBP) is particularly common and can lead to substantial personal, community and financial burdens. The aim of the presented study wa...

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Main Authors: Wanying Yang, Bo Li, Shusen Li, Yanlin Zhang, Hongze Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 2022-05-01
Series:Medycyna Pracy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://medpr.imp.lodz.pl/Muscle-fatigue-related-to-human-posture-using-a-brush-cutter-for-landscape-gardening,147731,0,2.html
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author Wanying Yang
Bo Li
Shusen Li
Yanlin Zhang
Hongze Yang
author_facet Wanying Yang
Bo Li
Shusen Li
Yanlin Zhang
Hongze Yang
author_sort Wanying Yang
collection DOAJ
description Background Brush cutters are widely used in Chinese landscape gardening and agricultural laboring which leads the operators being exposed to many risks. Low back pain (LBP) is particularly common and can lead to substantial personal, community and financial burdens. The aim of the presented study was to measure the activity and function of each torso muscle of the operator when using the bush cutter, so as to evaluate the muscle injury of the operator during using several common brush cutters for different landscape tasks. Material and Methods The human postures of 6 workers using 2 types of brush cutters in the 3 working conditions were recorded and measured by using a surface electromyography (sEMG) system and a camera. The test results were compared by t-test and sign test. The effect of human posture on the sEMG signal of trunk muscles in different working condition were analyzed by ANOVA. Results In the 3 working conditions, except for the left trapezius muscle, the muscle load of operating the backpack brush cutter is higher than that of operating side-mounted brush cutter. When operating the side-mounted backpack brush cutter, the force on both sides of the trapezius muscle is uneven, the load of the left trapezius muscle is >25%, and the maximum value is >30%. Conclusions The results highlighted significant differences in the effects of different working postures on the muscle activities of workers’ trunk. Safe operation standards should therefore be taken to protect the exposed workers and to improve the industrial design of irrigation cutters to prevent the occurrence of occupational diseases. Med Pr. 2022;73(3):201–7
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spelling doaj.art-6e2df9559ec74e7482b49283ceb343ca2022-12-22T03:31:26ZengNofer Institute of Occupational MedicineMedycyna Pracy0465-58932353-13392022-05-0173320120710.13075/mp.5893.01175147731Muscle fatigue related to human posture using a brush cutter for landscape gardening: a preliminary studyWanying Yang0Bo Li1Shusen Li2Yanlin Zhang3Hongze Yang4Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China (College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering)Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China (College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering)Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China (College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering)Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China (College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering)Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China (College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering)Background Brush cutters are widely used in Chinese landscape gardening and agricultural laboring which leads the operators being exposed to many risks. Low back pain (LBP) is particularly common and can lead to substantial personal, community and financial burdens. The aim of the presented study was to measure the activity and function of each torso muscle of the operator when using the bush cutter, so as to evaluate the muscle injury of the operator during using several common brush cutters for different landscape tasks. Material and Methods The human postures of 6 workers using 2 types of brush cutters in the 3 working conditions were recorded and measured by using a surface electromyography (sEMG) system and a camera. The test results were compared by t-test and sign test. The effect of human posture on the sEMG signal of trunk muscles in different working condition were analyzed by ANOVA. Results In the 3 working conditions, except for the left trapezius muscle, the muscle load of operating the backpack brush cutter is higher than that of operating side-mounted brush cutter. When operating the side-mounted backpack brush cutter, the force on both sides of the trapezius muscle is uneven, the load of the left trapezius muscle is >25%, and the maximum value is >30%. Conclusions The results highlighted significant differences in the effects of different working postures on the muscle activities of workers’ trunk. Safe operation standards should therefore be taken to protect the exposed workers and to improve the industrial design of irrigation cutters to prevent the occurrence of occupational diseases. Med Pr. 2022;73(3):201–7http://medpr.imp.lodz.pl/Muscle-fatigue-related-to-human-posture-using-a-brush-cutter-for-landscape-gardening,147731,0,2.htmlworking posturemuscle activityoccupational diseasesergonomics of workagriculture and forestrybrush cutter
spellingShingle Wanying Yang
Bo Li
Shusen Li
Yanlin Zhang
Hongze Yang
Muscle fatigue related to human posture using a brush cutter for landscape gardening: a preliminary study
Medycyna Pracy
working posture
muscle activity
occupational diseases
ergonomics of work
agriculture and forestry
brush cutter
title Muscle fatigue related to human posture using a brush cutter for landscape gardening: a preliminary study
title_full Muscle fatigue related to human posture using a brush cutter for landscape gardening: a preliminary study
title_fullStr Muscle fatigue related to human posture using a brush cutter for landscape gardening: a preliminary study
title_full_unstemmed Muscle fatigue related to human posture using a brush cutter for landscape gardening: a preliminary study
title_short Muscle fatigue related to human posture using a brush cutter for landscape gardening: a preliminary study
title_sort muscle fatigue related to human posture using a brush cutter for landscape gardening a preliminary study
topic working posture
muscle activity
occupational diseases
ergonomics of work
agriculture and forestry
brush cutter
url http://medpr.imp.lodz.pl/Muscle-fatigue-related-to-human-posture-using-a-brush-cutter-for-landscape-gardening,147731,0,2.html
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