Back injuries resulting from manual materials handling are one of the major sources of compensation claims and time lost from work. One of the possible means of reducing human susceptibility to musculoskeletal injuries is by increasing the individual's lifting capability by prior training. This paper describes a 6 week training programme that successfully increased the maximal oxygen uptake, isometric strength and lifting capability of 10 male subjects. The programme trained subjects for flexibility, muscle strength (by applying the concept of progressive resistance exercise), muscle endurance (by lifting light loads at high frequency of lift) and cardiovascular endurance (by exercising on a bicycle ergometer). The training programme resulted in significant increase in the maximal oxygen uptake and isometric back, arm, leg and shoulder strengths of the subjects. The maximum acceptable weight lifted, using a compact box for different heights of lift, also increased significantly.
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