Analysis of the Effects of Obesity Classes on Manual Lifting Using Fuzzy Differential Modeling

Bilal Usanmaz; Ömer Gündoğdu; Vecihi Yiğit

Article Details

Analysis of the Effects of Obesity Classes on Manual Lifting Using Fuzzy Differential Modeling

Authors:

Bilal Usanmaz | Ömer Gündoğdu | Vecihi Yiğit

Publisher:

Gumushane University

Main Topics:

Spor Biliminde Biyomekanik

Journal:

Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 3, pp.1075-1085

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358878

pISSN:

2146-9954

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Obesity has emerged as a major global public health challenge, while musculoskeletal disorders MSDs remain the leading cause of injury, disability, and work-related absenteeism worldwide. Increased body mass amplifies the mechanical load exerted on the musculoskeletal system during lifting tasks. In this study, a fuzzy differential equation-based model was developed to evaluate the biomechanical impact of manual material handling across varying body weights. The model quantifies the joint forces and moments at the lower back, explicitly accounting for uncertainties inherent in the model parameters. In biomechanical modeling, obesity introduces inherent uncertainties, primarily due to inter-individual variations in body composition, particularly the relative amounts and distribution of adipose and muscle tissue, which differentially affect mechanical responses to load and movement. To address these uncertainties, fuzzy differential equations FDEs offer a structured approach by incorporating imprecise parameters, initial conditions, and biological variability using fuzzy logic. Unlike classical methods, FDEs represent variables as fuzzy numbers, enabling simulations to better capture the imprecision of the real world. The results showed that with increasing obesity levels, both the forces and moments acting on the lower back during lifting tasks was increased noticeably. This pattern was observed consistently across different load weights and body heights, indicating that higher BMI leads to more greater biomechanical stress on the musculoskeletal system. The FDE model was successful in capturing the uncertainties caused by variations in body composition and changes in balance due to obesity. This approach provides a more realistic understanding of mechanical loads compared to traditional models.

 Obesity has emerged as a major global public health challenge, while musculoskeletal disorders MSDs remain the leading cause of injury, disability, and work-related absenteeism worldwide. Increased body mass amplifies the mechanical load exerted on the musculoskeletal system during lifting tasks. In this study, a fuzzy differential equation-based model was developed to evaluate the biomechanical impact of manual material handling across varying body weights. The model quantifies the joint forces and moments at the lower back, explicitly accounting for uncertainties inherent in the model parameters. In biomechanical modeling, obesity introduces inherent uncertainties, primarily due to inter-individual variations in body composition, particularly the relative amounts and distribution of adipose and muscle tissue, which differentially affect mechanical responses to load and movement. To address these uncertainties, fuzzy differential equations FDEs offer a structured approach by incorporating imprecise parameters, initial conditions, and biological variability using fuzzy logic. Unlike classical methods, FDEs represent variables as fuzzy numbers, enabling simulations to better capture the imprecision of the real world. The results showed that with increasing obesity levels, both the forces and moments acting on the lower back during lifting tasks was increased noticeably. This pattern was observed consistently across different load weights and body heights, indicating that higher BMI leads to more greater biomechanical stress on the musculoskeletal system. The FDE model was successful in capturing the uncertainties caused by variations in body composition and changes in balance due to obesity. This approach provides a more realistic understanding of mechanical loads compared to traditional models.

 Obesity has emerged as a major global public health challenge, while musculoskeletal disorders MSDs remain the leading cause of injury, disability, and work-related absenteeism worldwide. Increased body mass amplifies the mechanical load exerted on the musculoskeletal system during lifting tasks. In this study, a fuzzy differential equation-based model was developed to evaluate the biomechanical impact of manual material handling across varying body weights. The model quantifies the joint forces and moments at the lower back, explicitly accounting for uncertainties inherent in the model parameters. In biomechanical modeling, obesity introduces inherent uncertainties, primarily due to inter-individual variations in body composition, particularly the relative amounts and distribution of adipose and muscle tissue, which differentially affect mechanical responses to load and movement. To address these uncertainties, fuzzy differential equations FDEs offer a structured approach by incorporating imprecise parameters, initial conditions, and biological variability using fuzzy logic. Unlike classical methods, FDEs represent variables as fuzzy numbers, enabling simulations to better capture the imprecision of the real world. The results showed that with increasing obesity levels, both the forces and moments acting on the lower back during lifting tasks was increased noticeably. This pattern was observed consistently across different load weights and body heights, indicating that higher BMI leads to more greater biomechanical stress on the musculoskeletal system. The FDE model was successful in capturing the uncertainties caused by variations in body composition and changes in balance due to obesity. This approach provides a more realistic understanding of mechanical loads compared to traditional models.

 Obezite, küresel ölçekte önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunu olarak ortaya çıkarken, kas-iskelet sistemi hastalıkları MSDler, dünya genelinde yaralanma, sakatlık ve işe bağlı devamsızlığın başlıca nedeni olmaya devam etmektedir. Artan vücut kütlesi, kaldırma görevleri sırasında kas-iskelet sistemi üzerine binen mekanik yükü önemli ölçüde artırmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, farklı vücut ağırlıkları arasında elle malzeme taşımanın biyomekanik etkilerini değerlendirmek amacıyla bulanık diferansiyel denklemlere dayalı bir model geliştirilmiştir. Geliştirilen model, model parametrelerinde bulunan belirsizlikleri açıkça hesaba katarak alt bel bölgesindeki eklem kuvvetleri ve momentlerini nicel olarak ortaya koymaktadır. Biyomekanik modellemede obezite, temel olarak bireyler arası vücut kompozisyonu farklılıklarından kaynaklanan doğal belirsizlikleri beraberinde getirmektedir. Özellikle yağ ve kas dokularının miktarı ve dağılımındaki bireysel değişiklikler, yük ve hareket karşısındaki mekanik tepkileri farklı biçimlerde etkilemektedir. Bu belirsizliklerin üstesinden gelmek amacıyla, bulanık diferansiyel denklemler BDDler, bulanık mantık kullanarak belirsiz parametreleri, başlangıç koşullarını ve biyolojik değişkenliği modele dahil eden yapılandırılmış bir yaklaşım sunmaktadır. Klasik yöntemlerden farklı olarak, BDDler değişkenleri bulanık sayılar şeklinde temsil ederek, gerçek dünya koşullarındaki belirsizliklerin daha etkili biçimde simüle edilmesine olanak tanımaktadır. Elde edilen sonuçlar, obezite düzeyi arttıkça kaldırma görevleri sırasında alt bel bölgesine etki eden kuvvetlerin ve momentlerin belirgin şekilde arttığını göstermiştir. Bu eğilim, farklı yük ağırlıkları ve beden boyları arasında tutarlı biçimde gözlemlenmiş; dolayısıyla daha yüksek BMI değerlerinin kas-iskelet sistemi üzerinde daha fazla biyomekanik strese neden olduğu ortaya konmuştur. BDD modeli, obezitenin neden olduğu vücut kompozisyonu farklılıkları ve denge değişimlerinden kaynaklanan belirsizlikleri başarılı bir şekilde yakalamıştır. Bu yaklaşım, mekanik yüklerin modellenmesinde geleneksel yöntemlere kıyasla daha gerçekçi bir anlayış sunmaktadır.

Article Details

Analysis of the Effects of Obesity Classes on Manual Lifting Using Fuzzy Differential Modeling

Authors:

Bilal Usanmaz | Ömer Gündoğdu | Vecihi Yiğit

Publisher:

Gumushane University

Main Topics:

Spor Biliminde Biyomekanik

Journal:

Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 3, pp.1075-1085

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358878

pISSN:

2146-9954

Obesity

Manual Material Handling

Biomechanical Modelling

Fuzzy Differential Equations

Musculoskeletal Disorders.Obezite

Elle Yük Kaldırma

Biyomekanik Modelleme

Bulanık Diferansiyel Denklemler

Kas-İskelet Sistemi Hastalıkları

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Bilal Usanmaz | Ömer Gündoğdu | Vecihi Yiğit

Publisher: Gumushane University

Main Topics: Spor Biliminde Biyomekanik

Journal: Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 3, pp.1075-1085

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358878

pISSN: 2146-9954

Issues

Authors:

Bilal Usanmaz | Ömer Gündoğdu | Vecihi Yiğit

Publisher:

Gumushane University

Main Topics:

Spor Biliminde Biyomekanik

Journal:

Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 3, pp.1075-1085

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358878

pISSN:

2146-9954