The Effects of Muddy Terrain on Lower Extremity Loading During the Paddy Planting Activity

Abstract

In this research, 30 rice farmers were examined to investigate the effect of muddy terrain on lower extremity loadings during planting chores associated with rice production. A comparison was made against the force loadings on each lower extremity joint when rice cultivating on a flat, firm surface (rigid ground; "no-force") and muddy terrain (mud-force) using 3D Static Strength Prediction Program (3DSSPP). This research choses the toe-off stage of gait for the study since this is when a person raises their right foot off the work surface while planting. Each farmer's tensile viscosity force of mud was calculated individually. The study's findings indicate that muddy working surfaces place an increased load on lower extremity joints. The strain on all joints was found to be much greater in the mud-force condition than in the no-force condition (p<0.05). According to the descriptive data for the lower extremity joints, the tensile force of the right and left ankles rose by a ratio of 1.03 to 2.46 times. This study may result in reworking the work-rest schedule and designing an assistive device to decrease lower extremity harm caused by working in a muddy work environment.