Developing a personalized decision-making tool to minimize handling risks associated with symmetrical and asymmetrical postures Abstract Excessive lumbar loads are a significant risk factor in back pain. Biomechanical modelling of the spine is the only non-invasive procedure for estimating such loads, but the complexity of the models restricts their use by ergonomists. There are a number of tools to help ergonomists identify situations presenting a potential risk of back injury and limit the load on the lumbar spine. These tools do not calculate the lumbar load directly, but instead provide an estimate of the maximum weights a worker can safely lift. New regression equations were recently developed based on the detailed kinetics model of Shirazi-Adl’s group. These equations are, however, limted to symmetrical postures and do not take account of variations in worker weight and height.The purpose of this project is to develop predictive equations for spinal loads, taking account for the first time of personal factors such as individual weight and height. It also aims to improve predictive equations for spinal loads in asymmetrical handling tasks. These equations would be used by ergonomists to assess situations carrying a risk of injury. The researchers also wish to propose adjustments to the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) lifting equation and compare the estimates against those of other tools. Produced Under this Project Scientific Reports Development of a Personalized Decision Support Tool to Minimize Manual Handling Risks Involving Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Postures Research Report: R-1125 Scientific Publications Trunk biomechanics under loads at various orientations, heights and magnitudesEl Ouaaid Z., Shirazi-Adl A., Plamondon A. Source : Proceeding of 19th Biennial Meeting of the Canadian Society for Biomechanics, Hamilton, ON.Strength, muscle activity and spinal forces in trunk maximum isometric exertionsEl Ouaaid Z., Shirazi-Adl A., Plamondon A. Source : Proceeding of 19th Biennial Meeting of the Canadian Society for Biomechanics, Hamilton, ON.Effects of hand-held loads at various orientations, heights and magnitudes on spine biomechanics in upright postureEl Ouaaid Z., Shirazi-Adl A., Plamondon A. Source : Communication présentée à 2nd International Workshop on Spine Loading and Deformation, Berlin, Allemagne, 2017 (p. 60-61). Tiré de http://workshop.spine-biomechanics.com/2017/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/program-and-abstract-book.pdfSubject-specific validation of a trunk musculoskeletal model in maximum voluntary exertionsGhezelbash F., El Ouaaid Z., Shirazi-Adl A., Plamondon A. , Arjmand N.Source : Communication présentée au2nd International Workshop on Spine Loading and Deformation, Berlin, Allemagne, 2017 (p. 50-51). Julius Wolff Institut. Tiré de http://workshop.spine-biomechanics.com/2017/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/program-and-abstract-book.pdfSubject-specific regression equations to estimate spinal loads in symmetric liftingGhezelbash F., El Ouaaid Z., Shirazi-Adl A., Plamondon A. , Arjmand N.Source : Communication présentée au2nd International Workshop on Spine Loading and Deformation, Berlin, Allemagne, 2017 (p. 42-43). Julius Wolff Institut. Tiré de http://workshop.spine-biomechanics.com/2017/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/program-and-abstract-book.pdfEffects of joint positioning and stiffness on spinal loads and kinematics in trunk musculoskeletal modelsGhezelbash F., Eskandari A., Shirazi-Adl A., Arjmand N., El Ouaaid Z., Plamondon A. Source : Communication présentée au2nd International Workshop on Spine Loading and Deformation, Berlin, Allemagne, 2017 (p. 56-57). Julius Wolff Institut. Tiré de http://workshop.spine-biomechanics.com/2017/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/program-and-abstract-book.pdfTrunk response and stability in standing under sagittal-symmetric pull-push forces at different orientations, elevations and magnitudesEl Ouaaid Z., Shirazi-Adl A., Plamondon A. Source : (2018). Journal of Biomechanics, 70, 166-174. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.10.008Subject-specific risk assessment of obesity and ageing in spine biomechanicsGhezelbash F., Shirazi-Adl A., Plamondon A. , Arjmand N.Source : (2018). Communication présentée à 15th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering and 3rd Conference on Imaging and Visualization, Lisbonne, Portugal.Subject-specific trunk musculoskeletal modeling: Characteristics, validation, and applicationsGhezelbash F., Shirazi-Adl A., El Ouaaid Z., Plamondon A. , Arjmand N.Source : (2018). Communication présentée à 15th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering and 3rd Conference on Imaging and Visualization, Lisbonne, Portugal.Subject-specific regression equations to estimate spinal loads in asymmetric static liftingGhezelbash F., Shirazi-Adl A., El Ouaaid Z., Plamondon A. , Arjmand N.Source : (2019). 3rd International Workshop on Spine Loading and Deformation, (p. 69).Effects of curved muscles and disc positioning in trunk models on spinal loadsGhezelbash F., Shirazi-Adl A., Arjmand N., El Ouaaid Z., Plamondon A. Source : Communication présentée à 19th Biennial Meeting of the Canadian Society for Biomechanics, Hamilton, ON.Significance of scaling in the musculoskeletal modeling of the spine biomechanicsGhezelbash F., Shirazi-Adl A., Arjmand N., El Ouaaid Z., Plamondon A. Source : Communication présentée à 19th Biennial Meeting of the Canadian Society for Biomechanics, Hamilton, ON.Subject-specific biomechanics of trunk: Musculoskeletal scaling, internal loads and intradiscal pressure estimationGhezelbash F., Shirazi-Adl A., Arjmand N., El-Ouaaid A., Plamondon A. Source : (2016). Biomechanics and Modeling Mechanobiology, 15(6), 1699-1712. doi: 10.1007/s10237-016-0792-3Effects of sex, age, body height and body weight on spinal loads: Sensitivity analyses in a subject-specific trunk musculoskeletal modelGhezelbash F., Shirazi-Adl A., Arjmand N., El-Ouaaid A., Plamondon A. , Meakin J. R.Source : (2016). Journal of Biomechanics, 49(14), 3492-3501. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.09.026Effects of motion segment simulation and joint positioning on spinal loads in trunk musculoskeletal modelsGhezelbash F., Eskandari A., Shirazi-Adl A., Arjmand N., El Ouaaid Z., Plamondon A. Source : (2018). Journal of Biomechanics, 70, 149-156. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.07.014Obesity and obesity shape markedly influence spine biomechanics: A subject-specific risk assessment modelGhezelbash F., Shirazi-Adl A., Plamondon A. , Arjmand N., Parnianpour M.Source : (2017). Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 45(10), 2373-2382. doi: 10.1007/s10439-017-1868-7Trunk musculoskeletal response in maximum voluntary exertions: A combined measurement-modeling investigationGhezelbash F., El Ouaaid Z., Shirazi-Adl A., Plamondon A. , Arjmand N.Source : (2018). Journal of Biomechanics, 70, 124-133. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.11.007Subject-specific regression equations to estimate lower spinal loads during symmetric and asymmetric static liftingGhezelbash F., Shirazi-Adl A., El Ouaaid Z., Plamondon A. , Arjmand N.Source : (2020). Journal of Biomechanics, 102. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.109550 Other Project(s) You May be Interested in Estimation of Lumbar Loading through Articular Biomechanical Models: Applications and Developments Additional Information Type: Project Number: 2014-0009 Status: Completed Year of completion: 2020 Research Field: OSH and Sustainable Prevention Work Environment Team: Aboulfazl Shirazi-Adl (Polytechnique Montréal)André Plamondon (IRSST)Navid Arjmand (IRSST)