International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 38 (2008) 298–306 Are the anticipatory trunk movements occurring during load-carrying activities protective or risky? Rosimeire Simprini Padula a,b , Ana Beatriz de Oliveira b , Ana Maria Barela b,c , Jose´ A ˆ ngelo Barela d , Helenice Jane Cote Gil Coury b,Ã a Department of Physical Therapy, San Francisco University, Av. Sa˜o Francisco de Assis, 218, CEP 12916-900 Braganc - a Paulista, SP, Brazil b Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Sa˜o Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis, Km. 235, CP, 676, 13565-905 Sa˜o Carlos, SP, Brazil c Department of Physical Education, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, Av. Dr. Ussiel Cirilo, 225, Sa˜o Miguel Paulista, CEP 08060-070, SP, Brazil d Department of Physical Education, State University of Sao Paulo, Campus Rio Claro, Av.24-A, 1515, CEP 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Received 21 September 2006; received in revised form 4 October 2007; accepted 24 October 2007 Available online 20 February 2008 Abstract This study evaluated anteroposterior trunk movements and the time spent on activities of load-carrying to surfaces at different heights, among experienced and inexperienced individuals. Thirty-six healthy males (16 experienced and 20 inexperienced in load-carrying) had their trunk movements recorded by an electrogoniometer while transporting boxes (7 and 15 kg) to surfaces of variable heights (low, low intermediate, high intermediate and high). Longer time was spent on trunk flexion when carrying loads to low surfaces and on trunk extension when carrying to high surfaces (po0.05). Differences in time spent on trunk flexion/extension were identified between loads, and between groups for the heavier load. There were no differences in flexion/extension amplitudes between groups or loads. Although unnecessary flexion/extension occurring prior to a task may increase the exposure of the trunk to risky movements, the amplitudes reported here were relatively small and seemed to have occurred to facilitate the final tasks. Relevance to industry Lifting devices and technological assistance are increasingly available in industrial settings. However, distribution centers and delivery services represent new demands on workers and involve an expressive amount of manual handling and carrying activities. Thus, studies on carrying strategies are necessary as they can provide guidelines for safer activities. r 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Carrying; Handling; Musculoskeletal risks 1. Introduction Load-carrying activities are considered to be risky for the musculoskeletal system, especially with regard to the upper limbs and vertebral spine (Straker, 1999). Handling loads involves holding, carrying, pushing and pulling objects. In industrial settings, the proportions of load-handling activ- ities involving lifting and holding (supporting) are 39.9% and 29.5%, respectively, while carrying activities account for 15.7% (Ciriello et al., 1999). Automated production systems have gradually reduced the need for handling in industrial contexts. More recently, the nature of work seems to have entered a transitory phase. According to Marras (2000), the trend in work is moving away from activities for a manufacturing-based society and towards a distribution- based society. In the service system, the goods produced need to be handled and shipped quicker, which places extra workload on the workers. The risk factors involved in the activities of lifting and holding loads have been extensively studied. The para- meters evaluated have included the influence of the heights at which the load is placed and removed, in relation to overloading the trunk (Ciriello, 2001); the types of prehension used (Padula et al., 2006); and the effects of loads of different masses held using different postures, ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/ergon 0169-8141/$ - see front matter r 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2007.10.020 Ã Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 16 33518634; fax: +55 16 33612081. E-mail address: helenice@power.ufscar.br (H.J.C.G. Coury).