Can infant carrier hip belts of 2-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch dimensions influence trunk muscle activities during front infant carrying tasks?
Abstract Background Utilization of infant carriers (ICs) for childcare activities is common and involves varieties of hip belts to offer maximum maternal and infant support. There is a need to establish ergonomic-based guidelines for IC components as a means of improving their supportive roles. Obje...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43161-023-00130-1 |
| _version_ | 1797818160049553408 |
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| author | Chidiebele Petronilla Ojukwu Clinton Ikechukwu Omeanu Ifeoma Blessing Nwosu Stephen Sunday Ede Ibifubara Ayoola Aiyegbusi Chiamaka Chinyere Anyaene Ikenna Theophilus Ikele |
| author_facet | Chidiebele Petronilla Ojukwu Clinton Ikechukwu Omeanu Ifeoma Blessing Nwosu Stephen Sunday Ede Ibifubara Ayoola Aiyegbusi Chiamaka Chinyere Anyaene Ikenna Theophilus Ikele |
| author_sort | Chidiebele Petronilla Ojukwu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Utilization of infant carriers (ICs) for childcare activities is common and involves varieties of hip belts to offer maximum maternal and infant support. There is a need to establish ergonomic-based guidelines for IC components as a means of improving their supportive roles. Objective This study evaluated the effects of infant carrier (IC) hip-belt dimensions on the erector spinae (ES) and multifidus (MF) muscles of healthy adult women during front infant carrying tasks. Methods It utilized three hip belts with different width dimensions (2 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch) attached to the IC during three front infant carrying tasks, respectively. During each 5-min trial, the activities of the right and left components of the ES and MF muscles were simultaneously monitored via surface electromyography (EMG). Asymmetry ratios of the normalized EMG values of the right and left components of each muscle were calculated. Results Utilization of different hip-belt dimensions did not elicit significant (p < 0.05) differences in the electrical activities of the back muscles as well as in their asymmetry ratios. However, marginal differences in the normalized EMG values showed that the 4-inch belt elicited the highest muscular activities in three of the four studied muscles. Conclusion During simulated front infant carrying tasks, hip-belt dimensions of the ICs did not influence back muscle activities in healthy adult women. Long-term effects of IC hip-belt dimensions on back muscle activities should be evaluated in future studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:03:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9a0fc03b65c455fabc22b7836a381d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2536-9660 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:03:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9a0fc03b65c455fabc22b7836a381d42023-05-28T11:09:07ZengSpringerOpenBulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy2536-96602023-05-012811610.1186/s43161-023-00130-1Can infant carrier hip belts of 2-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch dimensions influence trunk muscle activities during front infant carrying tasks?Chidiebele Petronilla Ojukwu0Clinton Ikechukwu Omeanu1Ifeoma Blessing Nwosu2Stephen Sunday Ede3Ibifubara Ayoola Aiyegbusi4Chiamaka Chinyere Anyaene5Ikenna Theophilus Ikele6Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of NigeriaDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of NigeriaDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe UniversitySchool of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Central LancashireDepartment of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of LagosDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of NigeriaDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of NigeriaAbstract Background Utilization of infant carriers (ICs) for childcare activities is common and involves varieties of hip belts to offer maximum maternal and infant support. There is a need to establish ergonomic-based guidelines for IC components as a means of improving their supportive roles. Objective This study evaluated the effects of infant carrier (IC) hip-belt dimensions on the erector spinae (ES) and multifidus (MF) muscles of healthy adult women during front infant carrying tasks. Methods It utilized three hip belts with different width dimensions (2 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch) attached to the IC during three front infant carrying tasks, respectively. During each 5-min trial, the activities of the right and left components of the ES and MF muscles were simultaneously monitored via surface electromyography (EMG). Asymmetry ratios of the normalized EMG values of the right and left components of each muscle were calculated. Results Utilization of different hip-belt dimensions did not elicit significant (p < 0.05) differences in the electrical activities of the back muscles as well as in their asymmetry ratios. However, marginal differences in the normalized EMG values showed that the 4-inch belt elicited the highest muscular activities in three of the four studied muscles. Conclusion During simulated front infant carrying tasks, hip-belt dimensions of the ICs did not influence back muscle activities in healthy adult women. Long-term effects of IC hip-belt dimensions on back muscle activities should be evaluated in future studies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43161-023-00130-1Infant carriersHip-belt dimensionsBack musclesElectromyography |
| spellingShingle | Chidiebele Petronilla Ojukwu Clinton Ikechukwu Omeanu Ifeoma Blessing Nwosu Stephen Sunday Ede Ibifubara Ayoola Aiyegbusi Chiamaka Chinyere Anyaene Ikenna Theophilus Ikele Can infant carrier hip belts of 2-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch dimensions influence trunk muscle activities during front infant carrying tasks? Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy Infant carriers Hip-belt dimensions Back muscles Electromyography |
| title | Can infant carrier hip belts of 2-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch dimensions influence trunk muscle activities during front infant carrying tasks? |
| title_full | Can infant carrier hip belts of 2-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch dimensions influence trunk muscle activities during front infant carrying tasks? |
| title_fullStr | Can infant carrier hip belts of 2-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch dimensions influence trunk muscle activities during front infant carrying tasks? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can infant carrier hip belts of 2-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch dimensions influence trunk muscle activities during front infant carrying tasks? |
| title_short | Can infant carrier hip belts of 2-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch dimensions influence trunk muscle activities during front infant carrying tasks? |
| title_sort | can infant carrier hip belts of 2 inch 4 inch and 6 inch dimensions influence trunk muscle activities during front infant carrying tasks |
| topic | Infant carriers Hip-belt dimensions Back muscles Electromyography |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43161-023-00130-1 |
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