Skip to main content
Article
The Effect of Stance Width on Trunk Kinematics and Trunk Kinetics during Sagitally Symmetric Lifting
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
  • Christopher Sorenson, Iowa State University
  • Omid Haddad, Iowa State University
  • Samuel Campbell, Iowa State University
  • Gary Mirka, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
1-1-2011
DOI
10.1016/j.ergon.2010.12.007
Abstract

Lifting technique can have a significant impact on spine loading during lifting. The sports biomechanics literature has documented changes in trunk and lower extremity kinematics and muscle coactivation patterns as a function of stance width during high force dead lift and squat exercises. The focus of the current study was to explore whether these lifting stance width effects might translate into the occupational setting under more moderate load level conditions. Twelve subjects performed repetitions of a sagittally symmetric lifting and lowering task (10 kg load) under three stance width conditions: narrow (feet together), moderate (feet shoulder width) and wide (feet 150% of shoulder width). As they performed these exertions, trunk kinematics were captured using the lumbar motion monitor while the activity of the trunk muscles (erector spinae, rectus abdominis) and lower extremity muscles (gluteus maximus, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis) were evaluated using normalized electromyography. The results showed that both the range of motion and peak acceleration in the sagittal plane were significantly affected by the stance width. The muscle activation levels, however, were not significantly affected by the stance width. These results collectively would indicate that the stance width effects seen in power lifting activities do not translate well into the occupational environment where more moderate loads are typically lifted.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article published as Sorensen, Christopher J., Omid Haddad, Samuel Campbell, and Gary A. Mirka. "The effect of stance width on trunk kinematics and trunk kinetics during sagitally symmetric lifting." International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 41, no. 2 (2011): 147-152. doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2010.12.007. Posted with permission.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
Elsevier, B.V.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Christopher Sorenson, Omid Haddad, Samuel Campbell and Gary Mirka. "The Effect of Stance Width on Trunk Kinematics and Trunk Kinetics during Sagitally Symmetric Lifting" International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics Vol. 41 Iss. 2 (2011) p. 147 - 152
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/gary_mirka/21/