A Fatigue Failure Framework for the Assessment of Highly Variable Low Back Loading Using Inertial Motion Capture – a Case Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gallagher S ; Nail-Ulloa I ; Pool N ; Schall MC Jr. ; Sesek R ; Thiese, Matt ; Zabala M
• Description:
  Workers in manufacturing settings experience highly variable musculoskeletal loading, which current risk assessment methods often fail to fully capture. This study evaluated a Fatigue Failure-Based framework for estimating continuous lumbar loading from variable occupational loads. Worker movements and postures were recorded using Inertial Motion Capture technologies, and L5/S1 joint loading history was estimated through inverse dynamics. Stress cycles were analysed using Rainflow analysis, adjusted with Goodman's method, and summed using Palmgren-Miner rule to estimate cumulative damage. The framework was tested in live industrial settings with eight automotive workers across 108 trials. Logistic regression models demonstrated significant correlations between cumulative damage estimates and self-reported low-back pain (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.30, 3.57). This framework provides a novel method for analysing highly variable loading to estimate cumulative exposure in ergonomics, offering a starting point for future research and potential applications in assessing low back injury risks in similar occupational settings. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Geology Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders Biomechanical Modeling Biomechanics Cumulative Exposure Ergonomics Fatigue Failure Manufacturing Motion Studies MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Sensors

  More +
• ISSN:
  0014-0139
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alabama ; Birmingham Region [OSHA] ; Denver Region [OSHA] ; Utah
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070501
• Citation:
  Ergonomics 2025 Feb; :[Epub ahead of print]
• Contact Point Address:
  Iván Nail-Ulloa, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
• Email:
  ivan.nail@auburn.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  Auburn University at Auburn
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20180901
• Source Full Name:
  Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20200831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d8a503f0874508c4154623bb38e38b63e48a93fb997fde4616d8149dc69a99b9f77b1a6a3339ae8af83ab1f862e61a120661e1b41ccd907f2f6e82963f2f43dd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208699/cdc_208699_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.46 MB ]