A new approach to assess movements and isometric postures of spine and trunk at the workplace

• DOI: 10.1007/s00586-011-1777-7
• Publication Date: 2011-03-28T20:51:47Z
• Authors: Max Wunderlich; Thomas Rüther; Dieter Essfeld; Thomas C. Erren; Claus Piekarski; Dieter Leyk
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Posture; 05 social sciences; Reproducibility of Results; Torso; Spine; Occupational Diseases; Young Adult; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Predictive Value of Tests; Humans; Female; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Exercise; Low Back Pain; Ultrasonography

Low back pain is regarded as the primary cause of occupational disability in many countries worldwide. However, there is a lack of valid assessment of kinematic spine and trunk parameters to provide further insight into occupational spine loads. A new 3-dimensional mobile measurement system (3D-SpineMoveGuard) was developed and evaluated by means of repeated dynamic and isometric trunk positions by 10 male and 10 female volunteers. The interclass correlation coefficient indicates high test-retest reliability (r = 0.975-0.999) of the 3D-SpineMoveGuard. Moreover, analysis of validity revealed almost identical results for the new measurement system. The evaluation study indicates a good scientific quality for the use in occupational task analyses. The objective assessment of indirectly measured spine and trunk kinematics will give further insight to predict and prevent job-related spine loads.