Analysis of Muscle Activity of Ambulance Workers carrying a patient on a stretcher with or without Helmets Choi Ga-Ram1,*, Cho Byung-Jun2, Han Yong-Taek3, Kim Seung-Yong4, Kim Gyoung-Yong5, Shin Dong-Min6 1Republic of Korea Air Force Academy, Sangdang-gu Namil-myeon 335-1, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28187, Republic of Korea 2Dept. Emergency Medical Technology, Kangwon National University, Joongang-ro, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do, 25913, Republic of Korea, cho6451@gmail.com 3Korea Fire Institute, 331, Jisamro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17088, Republic of Korea, rthan102@hanmail.net 4Dept. of Management Information System, Korea National University of Transportation, 50 Daehak-ro, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, 27469, Republic of Korea, sykim@g.ut.ac.kr 5Yangpeong Fire Station, Kyungkang-ro 2047 Yangpeong-eup, Yangpeong-gun, Kyungkido, 12547, Republic of Korea, dragon01@gg.go.kr 6Dept. Emergency Medical Technology, Korea National University of Transportation, 50 Daehak-ro, Chungjusi, Chungbuk, 27469, Republic of Korea, dmshin@ut.ac.kr *Corresponding Author E-mail: choigaram@afa.ac.kr
Online published on 12 June, 2018. Abstract Background/Objectives The purpose of the study was to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms. Ambulance workers with helmets performed lifting and lowering a stretcher. Methods/Statistical analysis At this time, we compared the muscle activity of upper body muscles. With the collected data, descriptive statistics were conducted for each part and situation. We used an analysis method to verify the difference before and after wearing helmets. Findings The results of upper body muscle activity were calculated. When workers were wearing a helmet and lowering a stretcher, the muscle activity was high and showed statistically significant values in the right sternocleidomastoid muscle (p<.005), right splenius capitis (p<.001), left splenius capitis (p<.05), right trapezius muscle (p<.05), and left erector spinae muscle (p<.005). When workers were wearing helmets and lifting the stretcher, the muscle activity was high and showed statistically significant values in the left splenius capitis (p<.001), left trapezius muscle (p<.05), and right erector spinae muscle (p<.001). Therefore, our results suggest that developing higher helmets will reduce the stress of neck and back and musculoskeletal fatigue. Improvements/Applications Therefore, our results suggest that developing higher helmets will reduce the stress of neck and back and musculoskeletal fatigue. Top Keywords Musculoskeletal symptoms, Ambulance workers, helmets, fatigue, stress of neck and back. Top |