A Catastrophe Theory-Based Model for Quantification of Risk of Low Back Disorders at Work

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Abstract
This paper discusses applications of the catastrophe theory in the dynamic modeling of occupational low back disorders, and offers a framework for conceptualization of such disorders in view of the elementary cusp catastrophe models. It was proposed that low back disorders due to manual lifting should be considered as a discontinuous phenomenon, reflecting dynamic changes in the state of human musculoskeletal system, which are dependent upon the combination of human strength abilities, muscular fatigue and endurance, spinal loading tolerance, as well as dynamic equilibrium between these variables. The behavior of the proposed cusp-catastrophe based model for the risk of LBDs due to manual lifting jobs was examined based on empirical data collected in industry.

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