Relationship between lifting capacity and anthropometric measures

Study Design: Prospective analysis of relationship between lifting capacity and multiple anthropometric variables. Objectives: To determine the relationship between lifting capacity and anth ropometric variables and to model this relationship quantitatively. Background: low-back injuries commonly occur in individuals who perform lif ting tasks. Objective data are needed to determine preinjury lifting capaci ty that, in turn, might be used to guide decisions during rehabilitation of these injuries. Methods and Measures: We recorded age and sex and measured the following va riables for 35 men and 23 women between the ages of 22 and 40: height, weig ht, percentage of body fat, torso height, pelvic width, pelvic girth, arm l ength, thigh girth, and calf girth. Variables were selected for the study o n the basis of theoretical modeling or previous research regarding the rela tionship between study variables and lifting capacity. Subjects also were t ested to determine their maximum lifting capacity by using a lordotic lumba r spine lifting technique. Results: Stepwise regression analysis indicated that the combination of sex , age, thigh girth, pelvic girth, and percentage body fat was significantly related to maximum lift capacity (multiple R-2 = 0.76). The mean absolute difference (+/-SD) between lifted amount predicted by the regression model and the actual amount lifted was 118.6 +/- 86 N (26 +/- 19.3 Ib), which cor responded to an average absolute error of 16% (SD = 14%) of the actual weig ht lifted. Conclusion: The results may be useful in estimating 1 aspect of preinjury l ifting capacity. Similar studies are needed to model the requirements of fr equency of lift, duration of lifting efforts, variety of hand-object coupli ng, and combined lifting and reaching.