BIOMECHANICAL EVALUATION OF A LIFT ASSIST DEVICE WHILE USING A LIGHT WEIGHT JACKHAMER

摘要

There are currently relatively few interventions designed to decrease the risk of injurywhile operating a jackhammer. One intervention that is aimed at reducing the risks ofoverexertion and repetitive lifting injury is the lift assist attachment. However, researchon the effectiveness of this device is non-existent. This study investigated theeffectiveness of the lift assist device through the muscle activity and grip pressurevariations while using a light weight jackhammer. The lift assist reduced grip pressureby 31%, along with the left and right Bicep Brachii muscle activity by 49% and 45%respectively. These results show that the effort required to lift the jackhammer is beingreduced through the use of the lift assist. With less effort required by the operator, therisk of an overexertion or repetitive lifting injury is decreased.