ABSTRACT:
Background/Objectives: The purpose of the study was to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms. Ambulance workers with helmets performed lifting and lowering a stretcher. Methods/Statistical analysis: At this time, we compared the muscle activity of upper body muscles. With the collected data, descriptive statistics were conducted for each part and situation. We used an analysis method to verify the difference before and after wearing helmets. Findings: The results of upper body muscle activity were calculated. When workers were wearing a helmet and lowering a stretcher, the muscle activity was high and showed statistically significant values in the right sternocleidomastoid muscle (p<.005), right splenius capitis (p<.001), left splenius capitis (p<.05), right trapezius muscle (p<.05), and left erector spinae muscle (p<.005). When workers were wearing helmets and lifting the stretcher, the muscle activity was high and showed statistically significant values in the left splenius capitis (p<.001), left trapezius muscle (p<.05), and right erector spinae muscle (p<.001). Therefore, our results suggest that developing higher helmets will reduce the stress of neck and back and musculoskeletal fatigue. Improvements/Applications: Therefore, our results suggest that developing higher helmets will reduce the stress of neck and back and musculoskeletal fatigue.