CORRELATION BIOMECHANICAL METHOD OF MANUAL

MATERIAL HANDLING WITH LOW BACK PAIN

I Putu Sudayasa,* Muhammad Idris Ibnu I,** Mario Polo Widjaya***

*Department of Public Health Faculty of Medicine, University of Halu Oleo (UHO)
**Medical Education Study Program Faculty of Medicine, University of Halu Oleo
***Department of Traumatology and Emergency Faculty of Medicine UHO

Abstract

Low back pain is feeling of pain in the lumbosacral and sacroiliac region, often spreading to the upper
and lower limbs. Manual material handling (MMH) is still needed because it can be done in the limited
space and dependent of physical activity. If MMH is not ergonomically used, it would cause tissue
damage, due to excessive lifting load. The aimed of research is to determine the relationship of manual
material handling with low back pain. The study design was observational analytic with cross sectional
approach. Population were all of unloading workers in the Marine Nusantara Port, Kendari, as many as
268 people. The purposive sampling technique was used to recruit 120 respondents. Data was analyzed
using Chi Square test, as well as alternative of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Results of study showed a
correlation between manual material handling with the incidence of low back pain (p= 0.003). The other
risk factor, such as age (p= 0.537), smoking (p = 0.988 ), exercise habits (p= 0.854), overweight (p=
0.306) did not significantly correlated with low back pain. It can be concluded that manual material
handling is the determinant factor of low back pain, among Marine Nusantara Port, Kendari.

Key Words: manual material handling, biomechanical methodes, low back pain, unloading
workers, physical activity, Nusantara Marine Port

INTRODUCTION of occupational medical science Ramazzini

Industrial development has brought B. (2009), stateds that rough and irregular
convenience to human life, but there are still movement, accompanied by unnatural body
be a serious problems among workers, that it positions, can cause the damage of body
could not be overcome with existing structure4. LBP is the most common medical
technology. Interaction between workers condition among 85% workers. Hult and
and their environment and work tools can Rowe found that 60% and 56% of employees
have a negative impact on humans1. in Sweden and America, suffering from back
Indonesia has business institutions and pain at any given time during work. The
industries that they still use human United States occupies the lower backstroke
resources in material transfer. Although prevalence of second rank after upper
relatively modern industries have used many respiratory tract illness resulting in illness5.
machines as tools for moving materials, In 2012, out of about 1.8 million workers
manual handling or manual material with occupational illness recorded 452,000
handling (MMH) activities are still needed were new cases in the last 12 months, while
because they have advantages over using 80% of new cases were musculoscelatal
tools2. disorders (upper limbs or back problems),
Manual material transfer can be done in stress, depression or anxious. The
limited space, where the worker's activity prevalence of musculosceletal disorder was
relies heavily on physical strength to lift the 120,000 cases among 52,000 LBP cases6.
goods. If manual material handling (MMH) The historical aspect of the location of
is not done ergonomically, it will cause an Nusantara Marine Port of Kendari is the old
accident in the industry, which is called as port area that became the forerunner of the
over lifting and carying exertion. This growth of Kendari City. In the beginning
accident could caused the damage of body growth of Kendari City only occurred in the
tissue due to excessive weight lifting3. port area. Along with the time, population,
Lower Back Pain (LBP) is one of activities and community system, the growth
occupational health problems. The inventor in Kendari City were not only occurred in the

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port area but grow to the areas of the port, Nusantara Port of Kendari. This research
even began to shift to the west of the city of has obtained a letter of ethics from Health
Mandonga District. Location of the port Research Ethics Commission, University of
until now did not longer grow because the Halu Oleo, with number:
development of the city now leads to the 746/UN29.20/PPM/2015. The population of
mainland. These developments tend to leave research was LULW, amounting to 286
abandoned coastal and harbors areas and people and selected 120 samples using
did not developing properly. Based on the purposive random sampling technique.
location and function of the port, the LULW who suffered from low back pain,
Nusantara Marine Port, Kendari, has a before working at the port site, had
strong connection with the regional metabolic disease, postoperative back and
economic condition, as the strategic port for refused to be the respondents in the
importing large quantities materials from exclusion of the study sample.
another areas7. Manual Material Handling is measured
Data from Health Office of Nusantara using the Recommended Weight Limit
Marine Port Kendari reported a various of (RWL) and Lifting Index (LI) form while low
disease found in each month. Thar are acute back pain is measured using straight leg
respiratory syndrome infection, raising test with pain scale measurement
hypertension, hemiparese and others. Low using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).
back pain becomes one of the illnesses that Confounder variable, such as age, smoking,
is reported to be repeated every month8. exercise habits, and overweight with low
This study aimeds to analyze the correlation back pain occurences, were analyzed using
of manual biomechanical method of material Chi-square with combining cells and
handling with low back pain occurrence on Kolmogorov- Smirnov as the alternative test.
loading and unloading workers (LULW) at
Marine Nusantara Port, Kendari. RESULTS
Based on the results of statistical test
analysis as in Table 1, was obtained p-value
RESEARCH METHODS = 0.003. It can be concluded that there was
This research was an observational a significant correlation between manual
analytical study with cross sectional design. material handling with low back pain
The research was conducted in September occurences.
until December 2015 at the Marine

Table 1. Relation Of Manual Material Handling With Low Back Pain

Occurence, On TKBM, Port Of Nusantara, Kendari

LBP
Total
MMH No Light Moderate Heavy 
n % n % n % n % n %
Low 10 8,3 2 1,7 0 0,0 0 0 12 10,0
0,003
Medium-High 30 25,0 18 15,0 34 28,3 26 21,7 108 22,5

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 Table 2. Relation Of Confounding Variables With Low Back Pain Occurrence
On TKBM, Port Of Nusantara, Kendari

LBP
Total
Age No Light Moderate Heavy 
n % n % n % n % n %
25-35 32 26,6 18 15,8 25 20,8 20 16,7 95 79,2
0,537
36-65 8 6,7 2 4,2 6 5,0 6 5,0 25 20,8
LBP
Total
Smoking No Light Moderate Heavy 
n % n % n % n % n %
No 7 5,8 2 1,7 3 2,5 4 3,3 16 13,3
0,988
Yes 33 27,5 18 15,0 31 25,8 22 18,3 104 86,7
LBP
Total
Sport habits No Light Moderate Heavy 
n % n % n % n % n %
Yes 19 15,8 11 9,2 17 14,2 11 9,2 58 48,3
0,854
No 21 17,5 9 7,5 17 14,2 15 12,5 62 51,7
LBP
Total
Overweight No Light Moderate Heavy 
n % n % n % n % n %
No 28 23,3 16 13,3 28 23,3 23 19,2 95 79,2
0,306
Yes 12 10,0 4 3,3 6 5,0 3 2,5 25 20,8

Based on Table 2 that the number of LULW medium and high MMH with no LBP
respondents, Age 25-35 as many as 95 (25.0%). Meanwhile, the sample with the
respondents (79.2%) and age 36-65 as many lowest percentage was low MMH with
as 25 respondents (20.8%). Non-smokers moderate LBP and low MMH with heavy
accounted for 16 respondents (13.3%) and LBP occurences. The statistical test analysis,
smoked 104 respondents (86.7%). Not in Table 2, obtained p value of each variable
overweight were 95 respondents (79.2%) are: age p=0.537, smoking p=0.988, sport
and overweight were 25 respondents habits p=0.854 and overweight p=0.306. It
(20.8%). Sports habits was found among 58 shows that all confounding variables, there
respondents (48.3%) and 62 respondents were no significant correlation with low back
(51.7%) did not have sports habits. Low pain (LBP) occurence.
MMH was 12 respondents (10,0%), while 27
respondents (22,5%) and high were 81
respondents (67,5%). The degree of painless DISCUSSION
LBP was 40 respondents (33,3%), light pain
as much as 20 respondents (16,7%), The results of this study indicate that
moderate pain as many as 34 respondents there was a significant relations between
(28,3%) and heavy pain 26 respondents Manual Material Handling with Low Back
(21,7%). Pain Incidence, where the weight gain MMH
tends to have a moderate and severe LBP
Table 1 showed that the medium and incidence.The finding is in line with the
high MMH with LBP has the highest study of Musdalifah (2014) which found the
percenatage (28.3%) and followed by relationship of Weight Loss Technique with

29
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in PT IKI Makassar. South Sulawesi9. While, Risiko Cedera Tulang Belakang. Skripsi
results of Indri's research (2013) showed Program Studi Teknologi Industri. Unissula
that there was a significant relationship Semarang;2009.
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Back Pain occurrence on textile workers in 3. Widiyanti, L., Hubungan Sikap Tubuh Saat
Surabaya, East Java10. Mengangkat dan Memindahkan Pasien Pada
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 9. Musdalifah, et all. Teknik Angkat Beban
Dengan Keluhan Low Back Pain (LBP) Pada
Thanks to all respondents, research Pekerja di PT IKI Kota Makassar. Makassar:
teams and Health Office of Port of Kendari, Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat Universitas
which has helped the completion of research Hasanuddin;2014
10. Indri, S. Kajian Manual Material Handling
Terhadap Kejadian Low Back Pain Pada
Pekerja Tekstil. Surabaya, Program Studi
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