Sex differences in upper limb musculoskeletal biomechanics during a lifting task

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Romain Martinez - , University of Montreal (Author)
  • Najoua Assila - , University of Montreal (Author)
  • Etienne Goubault - , University of Montreal (Author)
  • Mickaël Begon - , University of Montreal (Author)

Abstract

Women experience higher prevalence of work-related upper limb musculoskeletal disorders compared to men. Previous studies have investigated the biological, kinematic and electromyographic sex-related differences during a lifting task but the actual differences in musculoskeletal loads remain unknown. We investigated the sex differences in three musculoskeletal indicators: the sum of muscle activations, the sum of muscle forces and the relative time spent beyond a shear-compression dislocation ratio. A musculoskeletal model was scaled on 20 women and 20 men lifting a 6 or 12kg box from hip to eye level. Women generated more muscle forces and activations than men, regardless of the lifted mass. Those differences occurred when the box was above shoulder level. In addition, women might spend more time beyond a shear-compression dislocation ratio. Our work suggests higher musculoskeletal loads among women compared to men during a lifting task, which could be the result of poor technique and strength difference.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number103106
JournalApplied Ergonomics
Volume86
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2020
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85084170638
ORCID /0000-0002-8929-2526/work/150883856

Keywords

Keywords

  • Adult, Biomechanical Phenomena, Electromyography, Ergonomics, Female, Healthy Volunteers, Humans, Lifting, Male, Muscle, Skeletal/physiology, Musculoskeletal Diseases/etiology, Occupational Diseases/etiology, Sex Factors, Shoulder/physiology, Task Performance and Analysis, Upper Extremity/physiology, Weight-Bearing/physiology, Workload, Young Adult