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Ex vivo biomechanics of bus driver whole body vibration exposures in the lumbar spine.

Authors
Aulck L; Johnson PW; Ching RP
Source
International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI) Conference 2013, Sep 11-13, 2013, Gothenburg, Sweden. Gothenburg, Sweden: International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury, 2013 Sep; :13-18
Link
http://www.ircobi.org/wordpress/downloads/irc13/pdf_files/18.pdf
NIOSHTIC No.
20047091
Abstract
This pilot study is a first attempt to translate occupational whole body vibration (WBV) exposures into a laboratory setting to better understand the biomechanical loading on the spine that may be associated with WBV-related low back pain and injury. WBV exposures experienced by bus drivers were recorded from a low-floor city bus when driving across two distinct road types - one profile was a continuous, low-amplitude exposure (representative of freeway driving) and the other an intermittent, impulsive, high-amplitude exposure (induced by raised freeway expansion joints). The exposure signals were processed to extract vibration signatures (amplitude and frequency). Then, 6 human cadaver spinal segments were exposed to one of the two exposure profiles. A novel staining technique was used to explore disc degradation resulting from the two different exposure profiles. None of the specimens exposed to the continuous, low-amplitude exposure profile demonstrated any visible damage to the intervertebral disc whereas all three of the specimens exposed to the intermittent, impulsive exposure profile demonstrated at least some signs of damage.
Keywords
Vibration; Vibration-exposure; Vibration-effects; Exposure-levels; Risk-factors; Biomechanical-modeling; Back-injuries; Injuries; Motor-vehicles; Bus-drivers; Drivers; Medical-care; Medical-treatment; Author Keywords: driving exposure; intervertebral disc; low back pain; occupational health; vertebrae
Publication Date
20130911
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Funding Type
Grant
Fiscal Year
2013
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-008777
Priority Area
Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities
Source Name
International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI) Conference 2013, Sep 11-13, 2013, Gothenburg, Sweden
State
WA
Performing Organization
University of Washington
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division