Ergonomics

Question 1

For a patient that needs to return to a heavy intensity of work, what is their lifting # protocol?

Answer 1

occasionally lifting 100lbs
frequently lifting 50lbs
>7.5 METS

Question 2

What are the different variations of work intensity?

Answer 2

sedentary (up to 10 lbs weight lifted)
light (up to 20 lbs)
medium (up to 50 lbs)
heavy (up to 100 lbs)
very heavy (>100 lbs)

Question 3

What forces are largely believed to be responsible for vertebral end-plate fractures, disc herniations, and nerve root irritation?

Answer 3

disc compressive forces
shear force
torsional forces

Question 4

T/F: Compression forces with a subject standing are significantly lower than when the subject is sitting without support.

Answer 4

true

Question 5

If a patient is experiencing low back pain with sitting, how can you adjust their backrest to reduce lumbar disc pressure?

Answer 5

change backrest angle from 90-110d

Question 6

If the seat of a chair is too low to the ground, this can increase knee flexion angle to greater than 90 deg. How does this impact the back?

Answer 6

excessive knee flexion = results in excessive spinal flexion -> posterior tilt of back