Enhanced Biomechanical Risk Assessment in Manual Lifting: Comparing Inertial Measurement Units with Optoelectronic Systems for Composite Lifting Index Calculation

This study aims to improve the assessment of biomechanical risk in manual lifting tasks by introducing a method for calculating composite lifting index (CLI) using wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs). While the revised NIOSH lifting equation (RNLE) is widely used to evaluate the risk associated with lifting tasks, traditional methods often struggle with accuracy, especially in complex tasks. To address this, we compared the CLI values obtained using IMUs with those derived from a gold standard optoelectronic system during laboratory tests involving three levels of lifting risk. Ten participants performed standardized lifting tasks under controlled conditions, and the results showed that the IMU-based method provided comparable accuracy to the optoelectronic system, with negligible differences. Despite some variability in horizontal multiplier (HM) values, the IMU system demonstrated potential for real-world applications due to its ease of use and automatic calculation capabilities. Future improvements may include refining distance measurements and expanding the method for more complex lifting scenarios. This novel approach offers a practical and precise tool for ergonomic risk assessments, particularly in dynamic work environments.