Locomotion in Restricted Space: Kinematic and Electromyographic Analysis of Stoopwalking and Crawling

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gallagher S ; Pollard J ; Porter, William L.
• Description:
  Stoopwalking and crawling are compulsory gait techniques in some occupational settings, as in low-seam coal mines (where vertical space may be less than 122cm). Nine participants, six males and three females (mean=35 years+17 SD), participated in a study examining kinematic and electromyographic (EMG) responses to natural cadence stoopwalking, four-point crawling (all fours), and two-point crawling (knees only). EMG data were collected from knee extensors and flexors, and a motion analysis system was used to obtain kinematic data. The average gait velocity for stoopwalking was 1.01 (+/-0.32)m/s with an average cadence of 112.8steps/min and stride length of 1.04m. Four-point crawling velocity averaged 0.50 (+/-0.20)m/s, with average cadence of 86.3steps/min and stride length of 0.69m. Two-point crawling exhibited the slowest velocity (0.32m/s) and shortest stride length (0.40m); however, cadence was greater than four-point crawling (96.8steps/min). EMG findings included prolonged contraction of both knee extensors and flexors (compared to normative data on normal walking), increased relative activity SD of the flexors (versus extensors) in two-point crawling, and decreased thigh muscle activity in four-point crawling. Interlimb coordination in four-point crawling trials indicated trot-like, no limb pairing, and near pace-like limb contact patterns. Presence or absence of kneepads had no impact on kinematic or EMG measures (p>0.05); however, subjects complained of discomfort without kneepads (especially in two-point crawling). Results of this study have implications for work performed in underground coal mines, as well as emergency or evacuation considerations. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Mining Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety Sex Characteristics Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Human Locomotion Biomechanical-modeling Biomechanics Constrained Space Crawling Gait Mathematical-models Miners Mining-industry Muscle-function Muscle-stress Muscles Musculoskeletal-system Personal-protective-equipment Posture Protective-equipment Sex-factors Statistical-analysis Stoopwalking Underground-mining Walking-surfaces Work-analysis Work-environment Work-operations Work-performance

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0966-6362
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  71-76
• Volume:
  33
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20037840
• Citation:
  Gait Posture 2011 Jan; 33(1):71-76
• Contact Point Address:
  Sean Gallagher, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, PO Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0070, USA
• Email:
  sgallagher@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Gait and Posture
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:31e325c259faefc6023cbfc3d4d383313b714d7327874a3faafd5c8ee000abea3f181ca5712c14d5b0dd838f9e51886bebd484b4637a69563eb6bf29f40751f8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227276/cdc_227276_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 314.01 KB ]