Desenvolvimento de um equipamento individual de proteção para a prevenção de lombalgia
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2018-07-16
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A coluna lombar é uma estrutura anatómica de extrema importância pois suporta grandeparte do peso corporal, em virtude da deslocação do ser humano. Desta forma, está sujeita a desgaste, forças e momentos excessivos que podem estar na origem de distintas patologias, como a lombalgia. A lombalgia é uma disfunção frequente em trabalhadores que causa diminuição da qualidade de vida, produtividade, incapacidade funcional e absentismo. Dada a crescente dimensão que o problema tem assumido, vários grupos de investigação têm procurado identificar fatores predisponentes para o desenvolvimento e manutenção da cronicidade. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo principal fazer uso de têxteis inteligentes no desenvolvimento de um equipamento de proteção individual para prevenção a lombalgias, substituindo as ortóteses lombares comuns. Os têxteis inteligentes exibem várias vantagens, visíveis pela elevada versatilidade das roupas, tanto nos processos de produção como nos produtos finais. As fibras podem ser organizadas de várias formas, dando origem a produtos bidimensionais ou tridimensionais. Mas, mesmo depois das estruturas têxteis fabricadas, ainda é possível implementar características complementares através de processos de acabamento, como elasticidade ou rigidez. Os polímeros naturais têm vindo a ser alvo de uma grande investigação com vista a obtenção de novos materiais sustentáveis. A nanocelulose, material muito abundante, tem sido estudada também para o desenvolvimento de novos materiais na indústria têxtil. Deste modo, sendo a nanocelulose um polímero natural com propriedades promissoras, procedeu-se à investigação da possibilidade da sua aplicação como revestimento do têxtil utilizado num equipamento de proteção individual. Perante os resultados obtidos, a escolha para a faixa elástica de compressão do equipamento foi o tecido tafetá revestido com duas camadas de nanofibras de celulose em polpa na mesma face. Para as bandas de suporte com regulação térmica foi selecionada a malha jersey de algodão revestida com uma camada de nanofibras de celulose em polpa.
The lumbar spine is an anatomical structure of extreme importance because it supports a large part of the body weight, due to the displacement of the human being. In this way, it is subject to excessive wear, forces and moments that can be the origin of different pathologies, such as low back pain. Low back pain is a frequent dysfunction in workers that causes decreased life quality, productivity, functional disability and absenteeism. Given the increasing concern that this problem has assumed, several research groups have sought to identify predisposing factors for the development and maintenance of its chronic character. This study aims to make use of smart textiles in the development of an individual protective equipment to prevent low back pain, replacing the common lumbar orthotics. Smart textiles have several advantages due to the high versatility of the clothes, both in the production process and in the final products. The fibbers can be organized in several ways, giving rise to two-dimensional or three-dimensional products. But even after textile structures production, it is possible to implement complementary features through finishing processes such as elasticity or stiffness. Natural polymers have been the subject of much research to obtain new sustainable materials. Nanocellulose, a very abundant material, has been intensely studied for the development of new materials, also in the textile industry. Thus, as nanocellulose is a natural polymer with promising properties, the possibility of its application as a coating for textile, used in the individual protection equipment, was investigated. Considering the obtained results, the choice for the elastic compression range of the equipment was the taffeta fabric, coated with two layers of pulp cellulose nanofibers on the same face. For the thermally adjustable support bands, the cotton jersey mesh was coated with a layer of pulp cellulose nanofibers.
The lumbar spine is an anatomical structure of extreme importance because it supports a large part of the body weight, due to the displacement of the human being. In this way, it is subject to excessive wear, forces and moments that can be the origin of different pathologies, such as low back pain. Low back pain is a frequent dysfunction in workers that causes decreased life quality, productivity, functional disability and absenteeism. Given the increasing concern that this problem has assumed, several research groups have sought to identify predisposing factors for the development and maintenance of its chronic character. This study aims to make use of smart textiles in the development of an individual protective equipment to prevent low back pain, replacing the common lumbar orthotics. Smart textiles have several advantages due to the high versatility of the clothes, both in the production process and in the final products. The fibbers can be organized in several ways, giving rise to two-dimensional or three-dimensional products. But even after textile structures production, it is possible to implement complementary features through finishing processes such as elasticity or stiffness. Natural polymers have been the subject of much research to obtain new sustainable materials. Nanocellulose, a very abundant material, has been intensely studied for the development of new materials, also in the textile industry. Thus, as nanocellulose is a natural polymer with promising properties, the possibility of its application as a coating for textile, used in the individual protection equipment, was investigated. Considering the obtained results, the choice for the elastic compression range of the equipment was the taffeta fabric, coated with two layers of pulp cellulose nanofibers on the same face. For the thermally adjustable support bands, the cotton jersey mesh was coated with a layer of pulp cellulose nanofibers.
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Lesões músculo-esqueléticas relacionadas com o trabalho , Lombalgia , Têxtil inteligente , Coluna lombar , Ortótese lombar , Nanocelulose