Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Issue 3 2022
Musculoskeletal Model for Assessing Firefighters’ Internal Forces and Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders During Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Carriage (Original article)
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Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Issue 3 2022
Musculoskeletal Model for Assessing Firefighters’ Internal Forces and Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders During Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Carriage (Original article)
Musculoskeletal Model for Assessing Firefighters’ Internal Forces and Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders During Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Carriage (Original article)
Subject
biomechanical evaluation, firefighters, grey relation analysis, musculoskeletal disorders, personal protective equipment
Description
Background: Firefighters are required to carry self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. This study assessed the newly recruited firefighters’ internal forces and potential musculoskeletal disorders when carrying SCBA. The effects of SCBA strap lengths were also evaluated.
Methods: Kinematic parameters of twelve male subjects running in a control condition with no SCBA equipped and three varying-strapped SCBAs were measured using 3D inertial motion capture. Subsequently, motion data and predicted ground reaction force were inputted for subject-specific musculoskeletal modeling to estimate joint and muscle forces.
Results: The knee was exposed to the highest internal force when carrying SCBA, followed by the rectus femoris and hip, while the shoulder had the lowest force compared to the no-SCBA condition. Our model also revealed that adjusting SCBA straps length was an efficient strategy to influence the force that occurred at the lumbar spine, hip, and knee regions. Grey relation analysis indicated that the deviation of
the center of mass, step length, and knee flexion-extension angle could be used as the predictor of musculoskeletal disorders.
Conclusion: The finding suggested that the training of the newly recruits focuses on the coordinated movement of muscle and joints in the lower limb. The strap lengths around 98-105 cm were also recommended. The findings are expected to provide injury interventions to enhance the occupational health and safety of the newly recruited firefighters.
Methods: Kinematic parameters of twelve male subjects running in a control condition with no SCBA equipped and three varying-strapped SCBAs were measured using 3D inertial motion capture. Subsequently, motion data and predicted ground reaction force were inputted for subject-specific musculoskeletal modeling to estimate joint and muscle forces.
Results: The knee was exposed to the highest internal force when carrying SCBA, followed by the rectus femoris and hip, while the shoulder had the lowest force compared to the no-SCBA condition. Our model also revealed that adjusting SCBA straps length was an efficient strategy to influence the force that occurred at the lumbar spine, hip, and knee regions. Grey relation analysis indicated that the deviation of
the center of mass, step length, and knee flexion-extension angle could be used as the predictor of musculoskeletal disorders.
Conclusion: The finding suggested that the training of the newly recruits focuses on the coordinated movement of muscle and joints in the lower limb. The strap lengths around 98-105 cm were also recommended. The findings are expected to provide injury interventions to enhance the occupational health and safety of the newly recruited firefighters.
Creator
Shitan Wang, Yunyi Wang
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
September 2022
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Issue 3 2022
Files
Citation
Shitan Wang, Yunyi Wang, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Issue 3 2022
Musculoskeletal Model for Assessing Firefighters’ Internal Forces and Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders During Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Carriage (Original article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed September 20, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2289.
Musculoskeletal Model for Assessing Firefighters’ Internal Forces and Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders During Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Carriage (Original article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed September 20, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2289.