Gender and body height discriminate spinal movement patterns during lifting and lowering tasks
研究了30名成年人提举和放下15公斤箱子时，性别和身高如何影响脊柱运动模式，发现女性在弯腰提举时更倾向自下而上的模式，而男性偏好同步模式，这有助于设计个性化搬运策略和康复方案。
This study aimed to explore the relationships between gender, anthropometrics, and spinal movement patterns (SMP) during lifting and lowering tasks. Thirty adults lifted and lowered a 15 kg-box using a freestyle, squat, and stoop technique. A stepwise segmentation approach, along with the timing of main inflection points of relative angles, was used to distinguish various spinal movement patterns. Temporal multi-segmental interactions were categorised, and their frequencies were analysed based on segments and lifting techniques. SMP's demonstrated varying associations with gender and anthropometric factors during lifting and lowering phases. Notably, during stoop lifting, females tended towards a bottom-up pattern, contrasting with males' preference for a simultaneous pattern. Cluster analysis highlighted the bottom-up pattern in the thoracic spine as the most prominent discriminating factor among females. This SMP categorisation method holds potential for designing tailored manual material handling strategies and re-evaluating therapeutic and exercise programs in occupational, clinical, and sport contexts.