title: Effect of a worktable position on head and shoulder posture and shoulder muscles in manual material handling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to a recent research, manual working with high levels of static contraction, repetitive loads, or extreme working postures involving the neck and shoulder muscles causes an increased risk of neck and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects of the forwardly worktable position on head and shoulder angles and shoulder muscle activity in manual material handling tasks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The forward head and shoulder angles and the activity of upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and middle deltoid muscle activities of 15 workers were measured during performing of manual material handling in two tasks that required different forward head and shoulder angles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The second manual material task required a significantly increased forward head and shoulder angle. The upper trapezius and levator scapulae muscle activity in second manual material task was increased significantly compared with first manual material task. The middle deltoid muscle activity in second manual material task was not significantly different compared with first manual material task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on this result, the forward head and shoulder angles while performing manual work need to be considered in selection of the forward distance of a worktable form the body. The high level contractions of the neck and shoulder muscles correlated with neck and shoulder pain. Therefore, the forward distance of a worktable can be an important factor in preventing neck and shoulder pain in manual material handling workers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Science, Yonsei University, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Gyu
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D057645:Deltoid Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012782:Shoulder; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Manual material handling; musculoskeletal disorders; working posture