Vehicular Vibrations and Neuromotor Transmissibility

Vibration exposure is a known risk factor for low back pain disorders and a common complaint for commercial vehicle (eighteen-wheelers) operators to helicopter pilots. It can also be a common work-related complaint of construction workers, particularly highway construction where whole body vibrations occur in everything from heavy equipment operation to jackhammers. The goal of this study is to verify this connection and examine ways to reduce how vibration is delivered to the neuromotor system. Both traditional methods such as restricting belts to reduce flexion-extension motions in the lumbar region and use of novel exercise and muscle stretching regimes will be evaluated. The primary objective is to analyze effects of vertical seat pan vibration on humans to better understand how vibration could lead to low back injury. It is hypothesized that mechanical-neuromotor transmission from the seat pan to lumbar rotation may result in cyclic paraspinal muscle activation. Other objectives are: examine potential methods of preventing this mechanical-neuromotor transmission including a rigid backrest and a stiff lumbar belt; and, use this work to develop a collaborative relationship with National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Health Effects Laboratory (HELD) and use this material for future grants & collaborative research. Understanding these vibration-induced neuromotor responses is important for understanding the first premise, Resonances in transmissibility at 6 and 10-12 Hz suggest these frequencies may be critical to prevention. Complex nature of these response may also play a role in the neuromotor effects of vibration.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Program Information: Advanced Research, Advanced Vehicle Technology

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  Office of Research, Development, and Technology
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC    20590
• Project Managers:

  Johnson, Shawn

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Kansas, Lawrence

  Transportation Research Institute
  2117 Learned Hall, 1530 W 15th Street
  Lawrence, KS  United States  66045
• Principal Investigators:

  Wilson, Sara

• Start Date: 20061000
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Source Data: RiP Project 16725

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commercial vehicle operations; Muscles; Risk assessment; Truck drivers; Vibration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lumbar spine
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01468453
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Research and Innovative Technology Administration
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 3:51PM