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British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research - Vol. 9, No. 6
Publication Date: December, 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/jbemi.96.13724. Kitagawa, K. (2022). Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Load and Weight of Manual Fish Handling Via 2D Simulation. British
Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, 9(6). 190-193.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Load and Weight of
Manual Fish Handling Via 2D Simulation
Kodai Kitagawa
Mechanical and Medical Engineering Course
Department of Industrial Systems Engineering
National Institute of Technology, Hachinohe College, Japan
ABSTRACT
Fisherman experienced work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) due to
manual handling. Especially, manual handling for heavy fish makes physical load
for fisherman. To prevent these WMSDs, fisherman should know the limit of weight
in manual fish handling. Thus, the objective of this study was to find the relationship
between the musculoskeletal load and weight of manual fish handling. This
investigation was performed by the 2D musculoskeletal simulation. Posture of
fishermen during manual fish handling on the commercial fishing boat was
obtained from the Fishnet Open Images Database. Compression force of L5-S1 and
joint torque of elbow, shoulder, knee, and ankle as musculoskeletal load were
calculated by BlessPro2 software. The weight values of bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna,
and albacore tuna were used for this simulation. The results showed that
compression force of L5-S1 and joint torque were increased with fish weight. In
addition, the compression forces of L5-S1 during manual handling for bigeye tuna
and yellowfin tuna were much larger than 3400 N as injury threshold of theNational
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These results indicate that
fishermen should avoid heavy fish such as bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna in manual
fish handling for preventing WMSDs.
Keywords: Fishing industry; Manual fish handling; Compression force of L5-S1; Joint
torque; Weight.
INTRODUCTION
Fishermen experienced work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) due to manual
handling [1,2]. Dogelio-Naga et al. reported that manual handling with 30 kgf caused subjective
loads for arm, finger, shoulder, and lower back of fisherman [1]. Dabholkar et al. found that
fisherman have lower back pain due to heavy manual handling in fishing industry [2]. From this
background, it is considered that fisherman should know the limit of weight in manual handling.
To prevent WMSDs, Álvarez-Casado et al. investigated awkward posture of fisherman by
computational simulation using digital human [3]. In addition, assistive device to support fish
handling was developed [1]. Furthermore, current study investigated risk factors for
musculoskeletal disorder of upper limb in fishing industry [4]. However, these studies did not
consider the relationship between weight of fish handling and musculoskeletal load. According
to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), compression force of L5-
S1 during manual handling should be less than 3400 N for preventing lower back pain [5]. It is
considered that relationship between fish weight and compression force of L5-S1 will be
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191
Kitagawa, K. (2022). Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Load and Weight of Manual Fish Handling Via 2D Simulation. British Journal of
Healthcare and Medical Research, 9(6). 190-193.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/jbemi.96.13724
effective to prevention of lower back pain using NIOSH’s injury threshold. In addition, joint
torque of full body is known as useful parameter to evaluate physical loads [6–10]. Therefore,
the objective of this study was to find the relationship between the fish weight during manual
handling and musculoskeletal load such as compression force of L5-S1 and joint torque.
METHOD
The relationship between the fish weight during manual handling and musculoskeletal load
was investigated via 2D musculoskeletal simulation. Figure 1 shows the process of 2D
musculoskeletal simulation. Posture of fishermen during manual fish handling on the
commercial fishing boat was obtained from the [11,12]. This database provides images
captured on the commercial ship of longline tuna in the western and central pacific oceans [12].
In this study, image of fisherman in manual fish handling on the ship was extracted for
musculoskeletal simulation. The BlessPro2 software was used as 2D musculoskeletal
simulation to calculate musculoskeletal load [13]. Specification of musculoskeletal model
(male, 25 years, 170 cm, 60kg) was default values of the BlessPro2. Posture image of manual
fish handling was input data of the BlessPro2. In addition, fish weight of bigeye tuna, yellowfin
tuna, and albacore tuna were input as weight of fish handling in this simulation. These fish
weight values were defined by previous study [14].
Figure 1. Process of 2D Musculoskeletal Simulation
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table1 shows musculoskeletal load in manual fish handling. The results showed that
compression force of L5-S1 and joint torque were increased with fish weight. In addition, the
compression forces of L5-S1 during manual handling for bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna were
much larger than 3400 N as injury threshold of the National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) [5].
These results indicate that fishermen should avoid heavy fish such as bigeye tuna and yellowfin
tuna in manual fish handling for preventing WMSDs. When it is necessary to manipulate heavy
fish such as bigeye tuna or yellowfin, multiple people or assistive device are required. These
findings and recommendations can be applied to prevention of WMSDs among fisherman.
The limitation of this study was that musculoskeletal simulation applied only one male model.
Future works, various parameters for gender, body height, or body weight of musculoskeletal
models should be considered. In addition, other tasks of fisherman such as pulling or pushing
should be investigated. Furthermore, various musculoskeletal load such as shear force [15,16]
of L5-S1 will be investigated by 3D musculoskeletal simulation.
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British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research (BJHMR) Vol 9, Issue 6, December - 2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Table 1. Musculoskeletal Load in Manual Fish Handling
Fish [14]
Musculoskeletal Load in Manual Fish Handling
Compressive
Force of L5/S1
[N]
Joint Torque in Sagittal Plane [Nm]
Area Species Weight
[kgf] Elbow Shoulder Knee Ankle
Atlantic
Bigeye
Tuna 36.55 4955 75.70 36.90 295.4 324.9
Yellowfin
Tuna 45.31 5719 93.20 46.00 341.6 373.9
Albacore
Tuna 23.99 3859 50.60 23.80 229.2 254.7
Indian
Ocean
Bigeye
Tuna 45.20 5709 93.00 45.90 341.0 373.3
Yellowfin
Tuna 32.27 4581 67.10 32.50 272.8 301.0
Albacore
Tuna 24.05 3864 50.70 23.90 229.5 255.0
Eastern
Pacific
Bigeye
Tuna 41.72 5406 86.00 42.30 322.7 353.8
Yellowfin
Tuna 33.21 4663 69.00 33.40 277.8 306.3
Albacore
Tuna 18.85 3411 40.30 18.50 202.1 225.9
CONCLUSION
In this study, the relationship between the musculoskeletal load and fish weight of manual fish
handling was investigated via 2D musculoskeletal simulation. The results showed that
compression force of L5-S1 and joint torque were increased with fish weight. In addition, the
compression forces of L5-S1 during manual handling for bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna were
much larger than 3400 N as injury threshold of the National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH). These results indicate that fishermen should avoid heavy fish such as
bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna in manual fish handling for preventing WMSDs. These findings
will contribute to prevention of WMSDs among fisherman.
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193
Kitagawa, K. (2022). Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Load and Weight of Manual Fish Handling Via 2D Simulation. British Journal of
Healthcare and Medical Research, 9(6). 190-193.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/jbemi.96.13724
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