Journal of biomechanics
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Journal of biomechanics · Feb 2020
A braced arm-to-thigh (BATT) lifting technique reduces lumbar spine loads in healthy and low back pain participants.
Despite the common use of one-handed lifting techniques for activities of daily living, these techniques have received little attention in the biomechanics literature. The braced arm-to-thigh technique (BATT) is a one-handed lifting method in which the dominant hand picks up objects, while the free hand braces the trunk on the ipsilateral thigh. The aim of this study was to compare the BATT to two-handed or unsupported one-handed lifting techniques with loads of 2 and 10 kg, by evaluating trunk motion and spine loading at L4/L5. ⋯ However, the BATT also increased asymmetric trunk kinematics and moments at L4/L5. The BATT produced significantly lower moments (28-38%), and compressive (25-32%) and antero-posterior shear (25-45%) forces at L4/L5, compared to unsupported lifting techniques. Bracing the hand on the thigh to support the trunk can substantially reduce low back loading during lifting tasks of 2 to 10 kg.