Investigating the effects of slipping on lumbar muscle activity, kinematics, and kinetics

Abstract

Slips, trips, and falls remain leading causes of occupational injuries and fatalities. The current exploratory study quantified lumbar kinematics and kinetics during both induced slips and normal walking. Individual anthropometry, lumbar muscle geometry, and lumbar kinematics, along with electromyography of 14 lumbar muscles were used as input to a 3D, dynamic, EMG-based model of the lumbar spine. Results indicated that, in comparison with values during normal walking, lumbar kinematics, lumbosacral kinetics, lumbar muscle activations, and lumbosacral reaction forces were all substantially increased during a slip event. Observed levels of muscle activity and lumbosacral reaction forces suggest the potential for low back injury during a slip event. Outcomes of this work may facilitate the identification and control of specific mechanisms involved with low back disorders consequent to a slip.

Recovering from Laboratory-Induced slips and trips causes high levels of lumbar muscle activity and spine loading

“…Of note, comparing our findings reported herein to our earlier study (Rashedi et al, 2012), both compression and shear forces were estimated to be somewhat smaller, likely due to protocolrelated differences in conducting the experiment, including the material used to make the surface slippery.…”

“…Additionally, increased L5/S1 moments were found when recovering from slip events simulated via platform displacements during load carriage (Liu et al, 2014). Rashedi et al (2012) reported pilot results (n = 6) on lumbar responses to an unexpected slip, which suggested higher lumbar muscle forces, along with higher L5/S1 reaction moments and internal forces (i.e., compression and shear forces), compared to those found during unperturbed gait.…”