Effect of backrest inclination on the transmission of vertical vibrations through the lumbar spine

Various studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between low back pain and driving of vehicles. Little work has been done to establish how posture or seat design can attenuate vibrations. By means of skeletally mounted accelerometers it was demonstrated that the inclination of the backrest has only a minor role in vibration attenuation in the 4–6 Hz range. The increasing evidence of a positive relationship between driving and low back pain emphasizes the need for ways to attenuate vibrations on the spine. In the present study, the inclination of a backrest was studied.