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152 Ergonomic Hazards in Construction
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MSD Injuries and Disorders

Lower Back

When you bend forward, your back muscles work harder and the ligaments flex and stretch. The discs get squeezed. As they are squeezed, they can press on different parts of the spine, including nerves. This can cause back pain. If you bend forward over and over for months or years, the discs are weakened, which may lead to disc rupture (or "herniation").

Lifting or lowering while twisting can increase the chance of injury.

Twisting your body while bending puts even more pressure on the discs, and more stress on the cartilage and ligaments, especially when you are exerting force to lift, push, or pull objects.

Knee

The muscles in your knees are connected to your leg by tendons. Between the tendons and bones are small sacs of fluid called bursa. They lubricate the knee so it moves easily.

Continual stress on your knee can cause the bursa to get squeezed, swollen, stiff, and inflamed (bursitis). This stress can also cause the knee tendons to become inflamed, resulting in pain (tendinitis).

If you work in a kneeled, stooped position, there is stress on your lower back as well as your knees, possibly leading to back pain and even a serious back injury.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-8. Which movement will greatly increase stress to the discs in your back while lifting?