Abstract
Low back disorders (LBDs) are prevalent in the manual furniture moving industry. However, few practical lifting aids are available, especially when handling objects requiring two movers. A belt system, the GRIPSystem™, has been developed to assist movers who operate in pairs while lifting awkward furniture. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this manual device in reducing key low back disorders risk factors. Twelve subjects (9 male and 3 female) were recruited to participate in this study. The subjects lifted three household furniture items, at three varied weights, with and without the lifting device, while trunk kinematics and 10 muscle EMG signals were recorded. The results showed that the device significantly lowered the kinematics and muscle activity of the lower back, as well as the risk of LBDs. Other potential benefits of the device are also discussed. However, further studies are needed to confirm the device's effectiveness in reducing LBDs in the moving industry.
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