Spine loading during trunk lateral bending motions

Increases in lateral trunk velocities have been identified as a mechanism for increasing the risk of low-back disorder. Previous studies have identified an increase in coactivation of the trunk musculature during lateral bends, but no studies have evaluated how spine loading changes as lateral trunk velocity increases. Twelve subjects were asked to lift loads laterally at one static and three dynamic velocities. Ten trunk muscle activities and trunk kinematics were documented and used as input parameters to an EMG-assisted model to evaluate spine loading. Muscle coactivation was observed in all lateral bends. Coactivation significantly increased during dynamic trials compared to the static trials. Coactivity increased spinal loads by as much as 25% compared to values predicted by models that did not consider coactivity. Movements to the right significantly increased spine loadings (252 N increase in compression) compared to movements to the left. Spine compression, A-P shear, and lateral shear all increased in the dynamic trials compared to the static conditions. Peak compression increased by an average of 525 N at 45° s−1 compared to static loading. Compression and lateral shear increased monotonically as trunk velocity increased. It is expected that this combined (compression and lateral shear) loading is the mechanism for increased risk observed in industry.