Biomechanical Modeling Of Spinal Loading Due To Jarring And Jolting For Heavy Equipment Operators

This paper describes the development of a multi-body biomechanical model that can be used to assess the risk of low back disorders due to occupational exposure to jarring and jolting from operation of heavy mobile equipment (e.g., trucks, haulers, graders, tractors, etc.) The four-element dynamic spinal model is capable of providing estimates of the force and acceleration responses of the head/neck, upper, lower, and middle torso resulting from vibration input collected in field studies. The paper also presents a method for using the model output to assess an individual's risk of low back disorder due to a specific jarring and jolting exposure.