earticle

영어

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the biomechanical effects of two types of manual-handling equipment commonly used in industrial settings by comparing muscle activation levels during pushing, pulling, and lifting tasks. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy adults participated in this study. Each participant performed pushing, pulling, and lifting tasks while transporting a 20-kg load using two types of manual handling equipment: one with a short handle (SH) and one with a long and adjustable handle (LH). Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to measure changes in trunk and lower limb muscle activation under identical experimental conditions. Results: LH consistently produced lower erector spinae (T7) activation than SH across all tasks. Soleus activation during pulling was significantly lower in the LH group than in the SH group. Trunk muscles showed higher activation during lifting than during pushing or pulling, regardless of handle type, whereas lower limb muscles demonstrated the greatest activation during pulling tasks. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that manual-handling equipment with an extended and adjustable handle significantly reduced muscle activation in users compared with conventional equipment. This finding provides fundamental evidence that biomechanical and ergonomic equipment can reduce musculoskeletal stress during industrial tasks, potentially contributing to the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.