Journal of Ergonomics
Open Access

Abstract

Spinal Shrinkage Response to Shoulder Loading Posture

Hongyu Sun,Xiangrong Cheng,Xinhai Shan*

The aim of this study is to investigate effects of shoulder loading posture on spinal shrinkage. Twenty two university students (including five women and seventeen men) participated in the study. Each performed 10 min static standing with a load of 20% body weight on shoulder in two loading postures: front and back loading. One-way ANOVA was utilized to test the effect of loading posture. It was found that the loading posture has a significant effect on spinal shrinkage. The shrinkage in front posture is significantly larger than that in back one. It was suggested that the front loading posture could be more likely to developing LBP than the back posture during prolonged compressive loading.