Nowadays, lower Back Pain (LBP) is a disorder that afflicts a large percentage of workers engaged in manual handling of loads (MHL). This problem can arise from lifting loads of a certain nature at work, using an incorrect posture, lacking the means of support that can support the spinal column during the execution of the gesture. The aim of the following study is to analyse the motor task of lifting a weight, first of 20 kg and then of a variable nature between 0 kg and 50 kg; subsequently, we will assess the value assumed by the pressure force R acting on the L5-S1 functional unit following three different values assigned to the intra-abdominal pressure. During the lifting of a weight of the first type, a biomechanical analysis was performed on the spinal column: the forces and joint moments acting on it were quantified and analysed. In particular, the pressure force acting on the functional unit L5-S1 was quantified by determining its value during the extension phase alone (from 40° to 0°). The calculation of this force is carried out in relation to the value assumed by the intra-abdominal pressure. This pressure value is of considerable importance in the study conducted; its action makes it possible to decrease the value of the pressure force acting on the L5-S1 functional unit in such a way as to facilitate workers during the manual handling of loads. The choice was made to study the effects generated by the presence/absence of intracavitary pressure on the spinal column because I personally carry out a job that requires the manual handling of objects and it was my duty to conduct a study that would in some way attempt to safeguard the health of my colleagues in the working environment. In the first instance, a value of zero intra-cavitary pressure was assigned, then a value of between 100 Pa and 5700 Pa, and finally a hypothetical choice was made to double both the maximum and minimum values, so that the intra-cavitary pressure would assume a value of between 200 Pa and 11400 Pa, assuming that this was possible and would not create any physical discomfort, to be verified in future studies. The results obtained from the present study showed that: increasing the intra-abdominal pressure leads to a decrease in the pressure force R acting on the vertebrae; this allows us to deduce that as the intracavitary pressure (IAP) increases, the pressure force exerted on the vertebrae decreases and therefore the pain perceived in the lumbar region when lifting a weight. The conclusion of this study underlines the importance of intracavitary pressure during weight lifting. As a possible development of future technologies, one could consider the use of electrodes that can be conveniently applied to the worker's abdomen by means of hypoallergenic (and ergonomic) patches, which can stimulate the muscles that make up the abdominal wall, which in turn will artificially increase the intra-cavitary pressure, which will therefore contribute to decreasing the pressure force acting on the L5-S1 functional unit.
Il Lower Back Pain (LBP), al giorno d’oggi, è un disturbo che affligge un’estesa percentuale di lavoratori impegnati nella movimentazione manuale dei carichi (MMC). Questa problematica può scaturire dal sollevamento dei carichi di una certa natura in ambito lavorativo, impiegando una postura scorretta, priva di mezzi di supporto che possano sostenere la colonna vertebrale durante l’esecuzione del gesto. Il seguente studio si pone l’obiettivo di analizzare il task motorio del sollevamento di un peso dapprima di 20 kg poi di natura variabile tra 0 kg e 50 kg; successivamente si riserva di valutare il valore assunto dalla forza pressoria R agente sull’unità funzionale L5-S1 in seguito a tre valori differenti assegnati alla pressione endoaddominale. Durante il sollevamento di un peso del primo tipo è stata eseguita un’analisi biomeccanica sul rachide: sono state quantificate ed analizzate le forze e i momenti articolari in gioco che agiscono su di esso. In particolare è stata quantificata la forza pressoria che agisce sull’unità funzionale L5-S1 determinandone il valore durante la sola fase di estensione (da 40° a 0°). Il calcolo di suddetta forza viene eseguito in relazione al valore assunto dalla pressione intraddominale. Tale valore di pressione assume una notevole importanza nello studio condotto; la sua azione permette di diminuire il valore della forza pressoria agente sull’unità funzionale L5-S1 di modo tale da agevolare i lavoratori durante la movimentazione manuale dei carichi. Si è scelto di studiare gli effetti generati dalla presenza/assenza della pressione intracavitaria sul rachide poiché in prima persona svolgo un lavoro che richiede la movimentazione manuale di oggetti ed era doveroso per me condurre uno studio che in qualche modo tentasse di salvaguardare la salute dei colleghi in ambiente lavorativo. In prima battuta è stato assegnato un valore di pressione endocavitaria nullo, successivamente un valore compreso tra 100 Pa e 5700 Pa ed infine si è scelto ipoteticamente di raddoppiare sia il valore massimo che il minimo facendo assumere alla pressione intracavitaria un valore compreso tra 200 Pa e 11400 Pa assumendo che questo fosse possibile e che non creasse degli scompensi a livello fisico, da verificare in studi futuri. I risultati ottenuti dal presente studio hanno dimostrato che: l’aumento della pressione intraddominale comporta una diminuzione della forza pressoria R agente sulle vertebre; questo permette di dedurre quindi che all’aumentare della pressione intracavitaria (IAP) diminuisca la forza pressoria esercitata sulle vertebre e quindi il dolore percepito a livello della zona lombare durante il sollevamento di un peso. La conclusione di questo studio sottolinea l’importanza della pressione intracavitaria durante il sollevamento di un peso. Come possibile sviluppo di tecnologie future si potrebbe pensare all’utilizzo di elettrodi comodamente applicabili sull’addome del lavoratore tramite cerotti ipoallergenici (ed ergonomici), in grado di stimolare i muscoli che costituiscono la parete addominale che a loro volta aumenteranno artificialmente la pressione endocavitaria che, di conseguenza, contribuirà a diminuire quindi la forza pressoria agente sull’unità funzionale L5-S1.
Ruolo della pressione intracavitaria durante il sollevamento di un peso in ambiente OpenSim
Leggieri, Sonia
2022/2023
Abstract
Nowadays, lower Back Pain (LBP) is a disorder that afflicts a large percentage of workers engaged in manual handling of loads (MHL). This problem can arise from lifting loads of a certain nature at work, using an incorrect posture, lacking the means of support that can support the spinal column during the execution of the gesture. The aim of the following study is to analyse the motor task of lifting a weight, first of 20 kg and then of a variable nature between 0 kg and 50 kg; subsequently, we will assess the value assumed by the pressure force R acting on the L5-S1 functional unit following three different values assigned to the intra-abdominal pressure. During the lifting of a weight of the first type, a biomechanical analysis was performed on the spinal column: the forces and joint moments acting on it were quantified and analysed. In particular, the pressure force acting on the functional unit L5-S1 was quantified by determining its value during the extension phase alone (from 40° to 0°). The calculation of this force is carried out in relation to the value assumed by the intra-abdominal pressure. This pressure value is of considerable importance in the study conducted; its action makes it possible to decrease the value of the pressure force acting on the L5-S1 functional unit in such a way as to facilitate workers during the manual handling of loads. The choice was made to study the effects generated by the presence/absence of intracavitary pressure on the spinal column because I personally carry out a job that requires the manual handling of objects and it was my duty to conduct a study that would in some way attempt to safeguard the health of my colleagues in the working environment. In the first instance, a value of zero intra-cavitary pressure was assigned, then a value of between 100 Pa and 5700 Pa, and finally a hypothetical choice was made to double both the maximum and minimum values, so that the intra-cavitary pressure would assume a value of between 200 Pa and 11400 Pa, assuming that this was possible and would not create any physical discomfort, to be verified in future studies. The results obtained from the present study showed that: increasing the intra-abdominal pressure leads to a decrease in the pressure force R acting on the vertebrae; this allows us to deduce that as the intracavitary pressure (IAP) increases, the pressure force exerted on the vertebrae decreases and therefore the pain perceived in the lumbar region when lifting a weight. The conclusion of this study underlines the importance of intracavitary pressure during weight lifting. As a possible development of future technologies, one could consider the use of electrodes that can be conveniently applied to the worker's abdomen by means of hypoallergenic (and ergonomic) patches, which can stimulate the muscles that make up the abdominal wall, which in turn will artificially increase the intra-cavitary pressure, which will therefore contribute to decreasing the pressure force acting on the L5-S1 functional unit.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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Descrizione: Ruolo della pressione intracavitaria durante il sollevamento di un peso
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/208512