DYNAMIC BIOMECHANICAL EVALUATIONS OF LOAD LIFTING.

A biomechanical evaluation of stresses imposed upon a worker during load lifting is a potential means for reducing injuries. Two very different approaches using biomechanical models are presented. The first method incorporates data collected from cinematographic analysis of lifting motions into a seven link/six articulation model to predict angular accelerations, inertial forces and joint reaction forces. The second method predicts joint reaction forces (as well as joint displacements, velocities and accelerations) using the kinematic articulated total body model with preprogrammed viscoelastic elements to simulate directly the neuromuscular responses to external mechanical forces.