Am. Genaidy et al., CAN BACK SUPPORTS RELIEVE THE LOAD ON THE LUMBAR SPINE FOR EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN INDUSTRIAL-OPERATIONS, Ergonomics, 38(5), 1995, pp. 996-1010
In recent years, there has been an increased use of back supports in U
S industry to reduce the frequency and concomitant costs of lower-back
disorders. The obvious question is, 'Can back supports relieve the lo
ad on the lumbar spine for employees engaged in industrial operations?
'. This paper is directed towards answering this question because ther
e have been mixed conclusions in the literature reporting on the effic
acy of back supports. The literature concerning the biomechanical, phy
siological and psychophysical effects of back supports on the human sp
ine has been reviewed as well as the use of back supports to control i
njury in the workplace. A critical assessment of the findings reported
by various investigators has been made together with a discussion of
the mechanisms used by the trunk muscles to provide extrinsic stabilit
y to the spine. It is hypothesized that the extrinsic stability of the
spine is manifested through more than one mechanism. These mechanisms
may act simultaneously or sequentially to stabilize the trunk. Finall
y, the ergonomics of back supports as a corporate policy are discussed
.