{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,19]],"date-time":"2026-05-19T03:51:29Z","timestamp":1779162689737,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"21","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,31]],"date-time":"2022-10-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1667174400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003093","name":"Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["FRGS\/1\/2019\/STG02\/USM\/03\/2"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FRGS\/1\/2019\/STG02\/USM\/03\/2"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003093","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Back injury is a common musculoskeletal injury reported among firefighters (FFs) due to their nature of work and personal protective equipment (PPE). The nature of the work associated with heavy lifting tasks increases FFs\u2019 risk of back injury. This study aimed to assess the biomechanics movement of FFs on personal protective equipment during a lifting task. A set of questionnaires was used to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain experienced by FFs. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion capture was used in this study to record the body angle deviation and angular acceleration of FFs\u2019 thorax extension. The descriptive analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the FFs\u2019 age and body mass index with the FFs\u2019 thorax movement during the lifting task with PPE and without PPE. Sixty-three percent of FFs reported lower back pain during work, based on the musculoskeletal pain questionnaire. The biomechanics analysis of thorax angle deviation and angular acceleration has shown that using FFs PPE significantly causes restricted movement and limited mobility for the FFs. As regards human factors, the FFs\u2019 age influences the angle deviation while wearing PPE and FFs\u2019 BMI influences the angular acceleration without wearing PPE during the lifting activity.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph192114232","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,31]],"date-time":"2022-10-31T07:06:46Z","timestamp":1667200006000},"page":"14232","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Biomechanics Analysis of the Firefighters\u2019 Thorax Movement on Personal Protective Equipment during Lifting Task Using Inertial Measurement Unit Motion Capture"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Muhamad Nurul Hisyam","family":"Yunus","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang 11800, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mohd Hafiidz","family":"Jaafar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang 11800, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2838-0872","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ahmad Sufril Azlan","family":"Mohamed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Computer Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang 11800, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nur Zaidi","family":"Azraai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of the Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang 11800, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Norhaniza","family":"Amil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang 11800, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Remy Md","family":"Zein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Bangi 43650, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/2052-4374-25-9","article-title":"Relationship between Occupational Stress and Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Korean Male Firefighters","volume":"25","author":"Kim","year":"2013","journal-title":"Ann. Occup. Environ. Med."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1007\/s10694-017-0692-9","article-title":"Firefighter injuries on the fireground, 2010\u20132014","volume":"54","author":"Campbell","year":"2018","journal-title":"Fire Technol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsr.2017.06.011","article-title":"Safety climate and firefighting: Focus group results","volume":"62","author":"DeJoy","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Safety Res."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"447","DOI":"10.1080\/10803548.2016.1219149","article-title":"Nationwide firefighter survey: The prevalence of lower back pain and its related psychological factors among Korean Firefighters","volume":"23","author":"Kim","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Occup. Saf. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e83","DOI":"10.1097\/BCR.0000000000000434","article-title":"Factors Implicated in Safety-related Firefighter Fatalities","volume":"38","author":"Kahn","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Burn Care Res."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Le, A.B., Smith, T.D., McNulty, L.A., Dyal, M.A., and Dejoy, D.M. (2020). Firefighter overexertion: A continuing problem found in an analysis of non-fatal injury among career firefighters. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17217906"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Orr, R., Simas, V., Canetti, E., and Schram, B. (2019). A profile of injuries sustained by firefighters: A critical review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph16203931"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1367","DOI":"10.1080\/00405000.2018.1423881","article-title":"Impact of reinforcements on heat stress in structural firefighter turnout suits","volume":"109","author":"McQuerry","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Text. Inst."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"434","DOI":"10.2486\/indhealth.2015-0033","article-title":"What do firefighters desire from the next generation of personal protective equipment? Outcomes from an international survey","volume":"53","author":"Lee","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ind. Health"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"664","DOI":"10.1080\/10803548.2019.1607027","article-title":"Cross-cultural comparison of firefighters\u2019 perception of mobility and occupational injury risks associated with personal protective equipment","volume":"27","author":"Wang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Occup. Saf. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssci.2011.01.012","article-title":"Assessing gait changes in firefighters due to fatigue and protective clothing","volume":"49","author":"Park","year":"2011","journal-title":"Saf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1097\/01.jom.0000181756.38010.d2","article-title":"Postural balance changes in on-duty firefighters: Effect of gear and long work shifts","volume":"48","author":"Sobeih","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Occup. Environ. Med."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"49","article-title":"Work-related injuries among firefighters: Sites and circumstances of their occurrence","volume":"15","author":"Szubert","year":"2002","journal-title":"Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health"},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"341","article-title":"Occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms in firefighters","volume":"32","author":"Soteriades","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Occup. Environ. Med."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"835","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-152111","article-title":"Firefighter injuries are not just a fireground problem","volume":"52","author":"Frost","year":"2015","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102910","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apergo.2019.102910","article-title":"A biomechanical evaluation of potential ergonomic solutions for use by firefighter and EMS providers when lifting heavy patients in their homes","volume":"82","author":"Lavender","year":"2020","journal-title":"Appl. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"665","article-title":"Effects of external loading on lumbar extension moment during squat lifting","volume":"30","author":"Vahdat","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"853","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139.2017.1417643","article-title":"Biomechanically determined hand force limits protecting the low back during occupational pushing and pulling tasks","volume":"61","author":"Weston","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1088\/1757-899X\/210\/1\/012079","article-title":"The ergonomics body posture on repetitive and heavy lifting activities of workers in aerospace manufacturing warehouse","volume":"210","author":"Kamat","year":"2017","journal-title":"IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apergo.2017.02.006","article-title":"Neck posture during lifting and its effect on trunk muscle activation and lumbar spine posture","volume":"62","author":"Hlavenka","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appl. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apergo.2017.02.007","article-title":"Ergonomic analysis of construction worker \u2019 s body postures using wearable mobile sensors","volume":"62","author":"Nath","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appl. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yunus, M.N.H., Jaafar, M.H., Mohamed, A.S.A., Azraai, N.Z., and Hossain, M.S. (2021). Implementation of kinetic and kinematic variables in ergonomic risk assessment using motion capture simulation: A review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18168342"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-182683","article-title":"Awkward trunk postures and their relationship with low back pain in hospital nurses","volume":"59","author":"Nourollahi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2648","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbiomech.2010.04.044","article-title":"All joint moments significantly contribute to trunk angular acceleration","volume":"43","author":"Nott","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Biomech."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"366","DOI":"10.1080\/14763141.2017.1409259","article-title":"Accuracy between optical and inertial motion capture systems for assessing trunk speed during preferred gait and transition periods","volume":"18","author":"Fleron","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sports Biomech."},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"1156","article-title":"Motion Capture Technology\u2014Benefits and Challenges","volume":"48","author":"Ribeiro","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Innov. Res. Technol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1016\/j.procir.2018.03.198","article-title":"Automatic assessment of the ergonomic risk for manual manufacturing and assembly activities through optical motion capture technology","volume":"72","author":"Bortolini","year":"2018","journal-title":"Procedia CIRP"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2016.08.015","article-title":"Smartphone-based construction workers\u2019 activity recognition and classification","volume":"71","author":"Akhavian","year":"2016","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s40691-014-0001-x","article-title":"Assessment of firefighters\u2019 needs for personal protective equipment","volume":"1","author":"Park","year":"2014","journal-title":"Fash. Text."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1193","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139.2019.1623422","article-title":"The effect of firefighter personal protective equipment on static and dynamic balance dynamic balance","volume":"62","author":"Brown","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1177\/0887302X18807753","article-title":"Impact of Size of Fire boot and SCBA Cylinder on firefighters\u2019 Mobility","volume":"37","author":"Park","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cloth. Text. Res. J."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"DOSH (2017). Guidelines on Ergonomic Risk Assessment at Workplace, Department of Occupational Safety and Health Ministry of Human Resources."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1115\/1.4049199","article-title":"Wearable motion capture system evaluation for biomechanical studies for hip joints","volume":"143","author":"Mihcin","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Biomech. Eng."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"818","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139.2020.1759698","article-title":"Kinematic and kinetic functional requirements for industrial exoskeletons for lifting tasks and overhead lifting","volume":"63","author":"Huysamen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1016\/j.shaw.2013.04.001","article-title":"The effect of lifting speed on cumulative and peak biomechanical loading for symmetric lifting tasks","volume":"4","author":"Greenland","year":"2013","journal-title":"Saf. Health Work"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139508925111","article-title":"Biomechanical risk factors for occupationally related low back disorders","volume":"38","author":"Marras","year":"1995","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Hamm, K. (2016). Angular Kinematic. Biomechanics of Human Movement, Openstax, College Physic."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhao, Y.S., Jaafar, M.H., Mohamed, A.S.A., Azraai, N.Z., and Amil, N. (2022). Ergonomics Risk Assessment for Manual Material Handling of Warehouse Activities Involving High Shelf and Low Shelf Binning Processes: Application of Marker-Based Motion Capture. Sustainability, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/su14105767"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1097\/BSD.0000000000000468","article-title":"Obesity as a Risk Factor for Low Back Pain","volume":"31","author":"Zhang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clin. Spine Surg."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1666","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sbspro.2015.06.238","article-title":"A study on ergonomic awareness among workers performing manual material handling activities","volume":"195","author":"Deros","year":"2015","journal-title":"Procedia-Soc. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1023\/B:JOOR.0000018330.46029.05","article-title":"Working postures: A literature review","volume":"14","author":"Vieira","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Occup. Rehabil."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Herzog, V.N., and Buchmeister, B. (2015). The Review of Ergonomics Analysis for Body Postures Assessment. DAAAM International Scientific Book, DAAAM International."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brents, C., Hischke, M., Reiser, R., and Rosecrance, J. (2021). Trunk posture during manual materials handling of beer kegs. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18147380"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jelekin.2012.08.014","article-title":"Effect of a personal weight transfer device on muscle activities and joint flexions in the stooped posture","volume":"23","author":"Ulrey","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol."},{"key":"ref_45","first-page":"23","article-title":"Association between awkward posture and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among assembly line workers in an automotive industry","volume":"10","author":"Anita","year":"2014","journal-title":"Malaysian J. Med. Health Sci."},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"Antwi-Afari, M.F., Li, H., Luo, X.E., Edwards, D.J., Owusu-Manu, D., and Darko, A. (2019, January 9\u201311). Overexertion-related construction workers\u2019 activity recognition and ergonomic risk assessment based on wearable insole pressure system. Proceedings of the West Africa Built Environment Research Conference, Accra, Ghana."},{"key":"ref_47","first-page":"49","article-title":"Evaluation of Shoulder Stability During Forceful Arm Exertions","volume":"3","author":"Cutlip","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ind. Syst. Eng. Rev."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1208","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139.2018.1450999","article-title":"Impact of SCBA Size and Fatigue from Different Firefighting Work Cycles on firefighter Gait","volume":"61","author":"Kesler","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2174","DOI":"10.1177\/1747021817739784","article-title":"Lift speed moderates the effects of muscle activity on perceived heaviness","volume":"71","author":"Waddell","year":"2016","journal-title":"Q. J. Exp. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.3138\/jmvfh.2017-0002","article-title":"Prevalence and distribution of musculoskeletal disorders in firefighters are influenced by age and length of service","volume":"3","author":"Negm","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Mil. Veteran Fam. Health"},{"key":"ref_51","first-page":"1","article-title":"Balance abilities of workers in physically demanding jobs: With special reference to firefighters of different ages","volume":"4","author":"Punakallio","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Skovlund, S.V., Bl\u00e1foss, R., Sundstrup, E., and Andersen, L.L. (2020). Association between physical work demands and work ability in workers with musculoskeletal pain: Cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet. Disord., 21.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12891-020-03191-8"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tsang, S.M.H., Szeto, G.P.Y., Li, L.M.K., Wong, D.C.M., Yip, M.M.P., and Lee, R.Y.W. (2017). The effects of bending speed on the lumbo-pelvic kinematics and movement pattern during forward bending in people with and without low back pain. BMC Musculoskelet. Disord., 18.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12891-017-1515-3"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1044","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apergo.2012.03.004","article-title":"The effect of load weight vs. pace on muscle recruitment during lifting","volume":"43","author":"Yoon","year":"2012","journal-title":"Appl. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.7762\/cnr.2019.8.2.148","article-title":"Associations between Muscle Strength with Different Measures of Obesity and Lipid Profiles in Men and Women: Results from RaNCD Cohort Study","volume":"8","author":"Pasdar","year":"2019","journal-title":"Clin. Nutr. Res."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/19\/21\/14232\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:06:39Z","timestamp":1760144799000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/19\/21\/14232"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,31]]},"references-count":55,"journal-issue":{"issue":"21","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph192114232"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph192114232","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,31]]}}}