Comparison of Applied Forces on Selective Joints and Muscles of Drivers During Clutching of MF285 and MF399 Tractors

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• H. Fallahi ¹
• M. H. Abbaspour-Fard ¹
• A. Azhari ²
• M. Khojastehpour ¹
• A. Nikkhah ¹

¹ Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

² Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

https://doi.org/10.22067/jam.v5i1.26247

Abstract

In this research, the imposed forces on three muscles including: Gastrocnemius muscle, Trapezius muscle and Quadratus lumborum of the tractor drivers during clutching have been studied. The sample included 30 persons and the research was conducted on two domestic tractors including: MF285 and MF399 models. The clutching forces for these tractors were measured as 340 N and 290 N, respectively. The difference between drivers’ knee angle of the two tractors was proved significant at the one percent level. The decrease of pain threshold after 30 seconds and 60 seconds clutching and 60 seconds rest after clutching in MF285 tractor in all three muscles were more than that of MF399 tractor. The impact of clutching on the average decrease of pain threshold, among all the drivers, and for all time intervals, during and after clutching in the Quadratus lumborum muscle for both tractors was more than the other two muscles. In order to reduce the imposed force of clutching for MF285 tractor, some modifications is suggested. In this regard the force transfer joint between the pedal and the disc in the mechanism of clutching can be replaced with one made of cast iron.

Keywords

• Algometer
• Ergonomic
• Muscle
• Operator
• Tractor

20.1001.1.22286829.1394.5.1.17.8

References

1. Agriculture Jahad Mechanization Development Center (AJMDC). 2012. Available from: http://www.ajmdc.ir. Accessed 26 May 2013. (In Farsi).

2. Almassi, M., S. Kiani, and N. loiemi. 2008. Principles of agricultural mechanization. Forest publications. (In Farsi).

3. Anderson, E. A., L. I. Oddsson, H. Grundstrom, J. Nilsson, and A. Thorstensson. 1996. EMG activities of the quadrates lumborum and erector spinae muscles during flexion-relaxation and other motor tasks. Clin biomech 11: 392-400.

4. Bhoi, P. K., V. K. Tewari, R. Dhar, and K. N. Dewangan. 2007. The effect of an all season collapsible tractor operator enclosure on driver comfort in three adverse environmental conditions. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 37 (6): 479-487.

5. Bovenzi, M., and A. Betta. 1994. Low-back disorders in agricultural tractor drivers exposed to whole-body vibration and postural stress. Applied Ergonomics 25 (4): 231-241.

6. Brian, G. S., and J. Kienzle. 2006. Farm power and mechanization for sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural and Food Engineering Technical Report. Available from: http://www.fao.org. Accessed 8 May 2013.

7. Bull, M. L., M. Vitti, and V. De Freitas. 1989. Electromyographic study of the trapezius (pars superior) and serratus anterior (pars inferior) muscles in free movements of the shoulder. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 29: 119-125.

8. Fathallah, F. A. 2010. Musculoskeletal disorders in labor-intensive agriculture. Applied Ergonomics 41 (6): 738-743.

9. International Labour Office (ILO). 2012. Ergonomic checkpoints in agriculture, Prepared by the International Labour Office in collaboration with the International Ergonomics Association. Geneva, Available from http://www.ilo.org. Accessed 3 May 2013.

10. Jaworowska, A., and G. Bazylak. 2009. An outbreak of body weight dissatisfaction associated with self-perceived BMI and dieting among female pharmacy students. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy 63: 679-692.

11. Kendall, F. P., E. K. McCreary, and P. G. Provance. 1993. Muscle testing and function. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins.

12. McGill, S. M. 1996. A revised anatomical model of the abdominal musculature for torso flexion efforts. Journal of biomech 29: 973-977.

13. Mehta, C. R., P. S. Tiwari, S. Rokade, M. M. Pandey, S. C. Pharade, L. P. Gite, and S. B. Yadav. 2007. Leg strength of Indian operators in the operation of tractor pedals. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 37: 283-289.

14. Mohammadi Zeidi, I., A. Heydarnia, S. Niknami, A. Safari Variani, and S. Varmazyar. 2010. The effects of an educational intervention on knowledge, attitude and ergonomic behaviors. The Journal of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences 14: 33-40. (In Farsi).

15. Nikkhah, A., M. Khojastehpour, B. Emadi, A. Taheri-Rad, and S. Khorramdel. 2015. Environmental impacts of peanut production system using life cycle assessment methodology. Journal of Cleaner Production, doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.12.048.

16. Nikkhah, A., Z. Kougir chegini, A. Kosari-moghadam, and S. H. Payman. 2014. Musculoskeletal disorders, energy use and costs of human labor in Rice farming in Guilan province. The 8th National Congress on Agricultural Machinery Engineering (Biosystem) and Mechanization, Mashhad, Iran. (In Farsi).

17. Niu, S. 2010. Ergonomics and occupational safety and health. An ILO perspective. Applied Ergonomics 41: 744-753.

18. Ojha, P., and S. Kwatra. 2012. An ergonomic study on human drudgery and musculoskeletal disorders by rice transplanting, Studies on Home Community Science 6 (1): 15-20.

19. Saiedirad, M., and S. Parhizgar. 2011. Study on agricultural mechanization indexes of small farms in khorasan razavi province and suggesting possible improvement. Journal of Agricultural Machinery Engineering 1 (1): 48-53. (In Farsi).

20. Simons, D. G., J. G. Travell, and L. S. Simons. 1999. Travell and Simons Myofacial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. Baltomore. Williams and Wilkins.

21. Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran. 1980. Statistical methods. Iowa State University Press.

22. Takala, J., and S. Niu. 2003. Responses to the equity challenge in safety and health at work: improvement of working conditions in equitable bases. In: 27th International Congress on Occupational Health, Iguassu Falls, Brazil.

23. World Bank. 2003. Researching the rural poor. A renewed strategy for rural development. Washington, D. C.