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Spine Loads During Lifting: Gender Matters

A recent study of lifting highlights some differences in the ways men and women lift heavy objects. When lifting loads in the workplace, men have greater pressure on their spine than women. However, this study indicates that women are at greater risk of injury when lifting heavy or uneven loads.

In this study, 20 healthy men and 20 healthy women lifted the same boxes from a shelf or from the floor. Measurements were taken showing the effect of gender on spine loading during lifting. A higher load was noted when an object was lifted from a set height from the floor. Lifting the object from knee height instead of from the floor put less pressure on the spine of everyone in the study. This supports the recommendation to adjust the shelf height to fit the individuals doing the lifting.

Men and women experience different loads on the spine when lifting. Workplace factors, including shelf height, also influence pressure on the spine. According to the results of this study, differences in gender, as well as in box weight and lifting height, must be taken into account when building or designing a workplace.

References: William S. Marras, PhD, et al. Gender Influences on Spine Loads During Complex Lifting. In The Spine Journal. March/April 2003. Vol. 3. No. 2. Pp. 93-99.

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