A Pilot Study on Injury Risk Assessment in Emergency Care Using Dual Motion Capture Systems

Manual lifting is a common occupational activity associated with an increased risk of low back disorders. In this study, 22 participants from UPMC Hamot, organized into 11 pairs, were recruited. A combination of motion capture techniques and an injury assessment tool was used to investigate the relationships among body anthropometrics, three-dimensional trunk and lower-limb kinematics, and lumbar spinal loading. Potential differences in lifting mechanics were observed between male and female participants. Males exhibited greater trunk flexion and higher compressive loading, while females demonstrated greater hip and knee flexion with reduced trunk motion. These findings indicate that spinal loading during lifting is influenced by an interaction between anthropometric characteristics and movement coordination patterns, with variable behavioral trends affecting load distribution across the trunk and lower extremities. The results provide biomechanical insight that may inform the development of bio-ergonomic training techniques aimed at reducing lumbar spine loading and minimizing injury risk in occupational lifting tasks.