Biomechanical Evaluation Of Spinal Loadings During Oil-Palm Plantation Tasks
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Date
2022-07-24
Authors
Mohamad Shaberi, Mohamad Nazhan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
While the immediate adverse effects of work-related musculoskeletal disorders
(WMSDs) related to oil palm harvesting have been well documented, its
biomechanical study focusing on lumbar spinal forces is poorly understood. This study
therefore aimed at comparing work postures and L5-S1 spinal loads during main oil-palm plantation tasks. Ten healthy, pain-free individuals were enrolled in this study
and asked to complete three main tasks: 1) FFB loading using manual hand lifting and
loading spike, 2) Fronds pruning using a chisel and 3) Fronds pruning using
conventional and intervention sickle. The whole-body kinematics were recorded using
a cutting-edge computerised Inertial Motion Unit (IMU) sensor to drive a digital
motion captured avatar and automatic REBA scoring system. The ground reaction
force will be acquired using a force plate, and the hand force will be measured using a
load cell that attached to the cutting tools. With that data, a biomechanical evaluation
will be done to predict the spinal compression forces and shear load at L5-S1 using 3D
Static Strength Prediction Program (3DSSPP) software. Lifting using a loading spike
could reduce the compression force on L5-S1, and it also shows that the lifting height
does affect the compression and shear but has no significant difference in the REBA
score. The fronds pruning tasks using sickle or chisel both recorded the highest peak
REBA score of 12 (very high level). Both intervention and conventional sickle produce
shear above the NIOSH allowable limit.