Positioning the Body to Reduce MSD Injury Risk: Focus on the Knee
Knee injuries represent half of all lower extremity lost-time claims in Ontario.
Image
- The knee is strongest and has the lowest risk of injury when it is lined up with the hips and toes and bodyweight is in the middle of the foot.
- This allows the knee to:
- Work harder, longer and more efficiently.
- Tolerate higher work demands.
Whole body positioning should be part of a holistic ergonomics program that involves engineering and administrative controls for modifiable tasks. The hierarchy of controls should be followed when addressing hazards.
Examples of Tasks
Image
Did you know?
- A) The knee is more prone to injury when it collapses inward.
- The result of knee injuries are:
- Absenteeism
- Reduced strength
- Delayed return to work
Keep in mind
- When handling heavy (and awkward) loads:
- B) Limit side-to-side bending and twisting of the knee
- C) Line up tip of knee cap over middle toe of foot
- Keep body weight centered on bottom of foot for balance
- Where possible, reduce frequency and duration of load handling
Image