File(s) under permanent embargo
Trunk postures and upper-body muscle activation during physically demanding wildfire suppression tasks
journal contribution
posted on 2014-01-01, 00:00 authored by Daniel NEESHAM-SMITH, Brad AisbettBrad Aisbett, Kevin NettoThis study examined the trunk postures and upper-body muscle activations during four physically demanding wildfire suppression tasks. Bilateral, wireless surface electromyography was recorded from the trapezius and erector spinae muscles of nine experienced, wildfire fighters. Synchronised video captured two retroreflective markers to allow for quantification of two-dimensional sagittal trunk flexion. In all tasks, significantly longer time was spent in the mild and severe trunk flexion (p ≤ 0.002) compared to the time spent in a neutral posture. Mean and peak muscle activation in all tasks exceeded previously established safe limits. These activation levels also significantly increased through the performance of each task (p < 0.001). The results suggest that the wildfire suppression tasks analysed impose significant musculoskeletal demand on firefighters. Fire agencies should consider developing interventions to reduce the exposure of their personnel to these potentially injurious musculoskeletal demands.
History
Journal
ErgonomicsVolume
57Issue
1Pagination
86 - 92Publisher
Taylor & FrancisLocation
Abingdon, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0014-0139eISSN
1366-5847Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2013, Taylor & FrancisUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC