An Undergraduate Laboratory Exercise on the Biomechanics of Lifting

Since industrial engineers are responsible for the design of work methods and work stations, undergraduates in this field need to be educated with respect to the biomechanical aspects of lifting; this is most effectively accomplished as part of a required undergraduate ergonomics course. In the Industrial Engineering program at Iowa State University, a required ergonomics course is taught at the sophomore level, prior to a course in work simplification and measurement. A dynamic link segment model has been adapted from its original context in research for use as one of five laboratory exercises in the course. Rapid data acquisition was accomplished using a Graf-Check camera and overhead projection through a grid. Two different lifts were compared in terms of dynamic moments generated in the low back and other areas. The computer output and subsequent analysis permitted a comparison between the two lifting methods as well as a quantitative estimate of effects of handling larger or heavier objects.