title: Posture analysis of lifting a load for head carriage and comparison between pregnant and non-pregnant women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Western Africa, women continue performing heavy physical work that includes carrying loads on their heads during pregnancy. Women may adapt to pregnancy related body changes by modifying their postures to perform such tasks.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this biomechanical task analysis study were to 1) determine sagittal plane postures of the trunk and upper extremities at specific events during the task of lifting and lowering a load to be carried on the head, 2) compare postures of pregnant and non-pregnant participants, 3) evaluate risk for musculo-skeletal disorders (MSD) with the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six pregnant (26 ± 5 years, 159 ± 9 cm, 63 ± 15 kg, 25 ± 9 weeks of pregnancy) and 25 paired non-pregnant retail merchants were recruited in Porto-Novo (Benin).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recorded on video in a laboratory setting while they lifted a tray (20% body weight) from a stool to their head and then put it back down. Trunk inclination and knee, shoulder and elbow flexion angles were determined using Dartfish® software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The trunk was bent by more than 80° at pick-up and set-down and knees were moderately flexed, significantly less (< 11°) for pregnant women, possibly because it was harder to lift the trunk, or for stability. For all postures analysed, the majority of trials were classified as "high" risk or "very high risk" for MSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research should investigate prevalence of MSDs in this population to confirm the results of this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beaucage-Gauvreau
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Jeunesse, de l'Éducation Physique et du Sport, Université D'Abomey-Calavi, Porto-Novo, Bénin.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lawani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology; D060726:Torso / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Africa; Musculoskeletal disorders; pregnancy