Effects of box handle position and carrying range on bi-manual carrying capacity for females

This study utilizes a psychophysical approach to examine the effects oncarrying capacity for bi-manual carrying tasks involving different handle positions andcarrying ranges. A total of 16 female subjects participated in the experiment in groups oftwo people, and each group of subjects performed the tasks in a random order with 12different combinations of carrying task. The independent variables are handle position(upper, middle, lower) and carrying range (F–F: floor height carried to floor height, F–W:floor height carried to waist height, W–W: waist height carried to waist height, W–F:waist height carried to floor height), the dependent variable is the maximum acceptablecarried weight (MAWC), heart rate (HR), and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Theresults show that the handle position has a significant effect on MAWC and overall RPE butno significant effect on HR. Carrying range has a significant effect on the MAWC and HR,but no significant effect on overall HR. The handle position and carrying range have asignificant interaction on the MAWC and HR. The RPE for different body parts showssignificant differences, and the hands feel the most tired. Overall, this study confirmsthat the lower handle position with the W–W carrying range is the best combination for atwo-person carrying task.