Posture and compressive spine loading: intradiscal pressures, trunk myoelectric activities, intra-abdominal pressures, and biochemical analyses

Abstract

Compressive loads on the spine are mainly developed by muscle contractions necessary to equilibrate external moments. These moments arise partly from task execution but also from the location of the different body segments, i.e. from the posture. Indirect measurement methods such as electromyography of trunk muscles, and intradiscal and intraabdominal pressure measurements have detailed the importance of posture to the compressive loads on the lumbar spine, confirming biomechanical model predictions. Recommendations on work postures can now be made based on this knowledge. But, prolonged work in any posture should be avoided