With the health care costs on the rise, prevention is the key. No longer is the population content to wait until a health problem arises to seek a cure. People are looking for ways to avoid problems before they even begin. A main concern affecting our society today is that of lower back pain. About 1.5 million new cases of are diagnosed each month (Oakley and Smith, 2000). Research has concluded that the most commonly recognized threat for lower back pain involves heavy lifting (Van Dieen et al., 1999). Because many of these lifting activities take place in the work environment, companies are interested in implementing technique training that will reduce the risk of lower back pain, and as a result, reduce the cost of workman's compensation. Current research in this area involves two main lifting techniques, the squat lift and the stoop lift.
In our study of lifting methods, we will examine and compare these two common movements. The squat lift involves primarily using the legs, bending at the knee and keeping the back relatively straight. The stoop lift is performed with the legs more or less straight, bending at the hip causing the back to arch somewhat. In order to compare these two lifting techniques, we will analyze digital video files to gather information on body segments and joint angles. Using angular and linear kinematics, conclusions can be drawn as to which lifting technique reduces the risk of lower back pain.