Loads on the lumbar spine during a work capacity assessment test

Abstract

Many clinicians and employers utilise work-related assessment tools for the purposes of identifying whether or not the performance of a specific job exposes an individual to a heightened risk of developing a low back injury. However, research has shown that some of these tools have not been assessed for validity or reliability, and thus may not accurately assess the risk associated with a particular activity. An example of a test employed by some Australian private industries is the Work Capacity Assessment Test, which is a procedure that is commonly used to screen potential employees and evaluate those workers returning to the workplace following injury. This research was designed to simulate the lifting component of the Work Capacity Assessment Test and involved a series of lifts ranging from 2.5 kg to 22.5 kg. Six subjects performed this task, whilst being assessed using two-dimensional videography and surface electromyography. The two-dimensional kinematic data were input into the 4D WATBAK software to quantify the compression forces acting between L4 and L5 during each performance. Results of this study showed that spinal compression and paraspinal muscle activity increased incrementally from the 2.5 kg lift to the 22.5 kg lift, whilst abdominal muscle activity also increased across the lifts. This study demonstrated that lifting masses of 22.5 kg or more can produce loads on the spine that are considered potentially hazardous, when compared to safe lifting guidelines, and indicated that there is a clear concern for the use of such lifting tasks in the evaluation of workers following injury.