Characterization of Occupational Lifting Patterns with Exposure Variation Analysis. Cross-sectional Workplace Study among Blue-Collar Workers
Jakobsen, Markus Due ; Sundstrup, Emil ; Brandt, Mikkel ; Persson, Roger LU
and Andersen, Lars L
(2022)
In Annals of Work Exposures and Health
66(7).
p.863-877
- Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate and characterize the influence of sex, age, muscle strength, and cardiovascular fitness on manual lifting patterns using exposure variation analysis (EVA) during a full working day among blue-collar workers.
METHODS: Muscular activity (surface electromyography [sEMG]) of the thigh, low-back, and shoulder was measured throughout the working day in 173 employees with manual lifting tasks from 14 workplaces. Relative sEMG loading was expressed as % of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). As an additional and more practically oriented analysis, calibration of load from standardized box lifts (5, 10, 20, and 30 kg) identified corresponding sEMG values in kg. Using an EVA 'lifting periods' of [1 to 5, >5 to... (More)
OBJECTIVES: To investigate and characterize the influence of sex, age, muscle strength, and cardiovascular fitness on manual lifting patterns using exposure variation analysis (EVA) during a full working day among blue-collar workers.
METHODS: Muscular activity (surface electromyography [sEMG]) of the thigh, low-back, and shoulder was measured throughout the working day in 173 employees with manual lifting tasks from 14 workplaces. Relative sEMG loading was expressed as % of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). As an additional and more practically oriented analysis, calibration of load from standardized box lifts (5, 10, 20, and 30 kg) identified corresponding sEMG values in kg. Using an EVA 'lifting periods' of [1 to 5, >5 to 10, >10 to 20, >20 to 30, and >30] kg in time intervals [0 to 0.5, >0.5 to 1, >1 to 2, >2 to 5, >5 to 10, and >10] s were identified. Arm elevation and back inclination were measured using accelerometers.
RESULTS: Females and older workers (≥50 years) primarily used the thighs for lifting and were exposed to more frequent thigh muscle 'lifting periods' of varying duration and load and performed more thigh lifts >30 kg and >60% of MVC compared with males and younger workers (P < 0.05). Females had less brief shoulder lifting periods and more work with bent back >30° than the males (P < 0.05), whereas stronger workers performed more work with elevated arm >60° and >90° than workers with low muscle strength (P < 0.05). However, besides a single difference where workers with lower cardiovascular fitness were exposed to more light (1-5 kg) and moderate duration (5-10 s) trapezius loading, the number of lifting periods was not affected by muscle strength nor cardiovascular fitness (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: This EVA demonstrated sex- and age-related differences in exposure to lifting periods involving shoulder and thigh muscles.
(Less)
- author
- Jakobsen, Markus Due
; Sundstrup, Emil
; Brandt, Mikkel
; Persson, Roger
LU
and Andersen, Lars L
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-04-21
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- aerobic capacity, Borg, EMG, EVA, low-back pain, manual handling, muscle strength, musculoskeletal disorders, physical exertion, self-report
- in
- Annals of Work Exposures and Health
- volume
- 66
- issue
- 7
- pages
- 863 - 877
- publisher
- Oxford University Press
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:35446940
- scopus:85135600300
- ISSN
- 2398-7308
- DOI
- 10.1093/annweh/wxac021
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 1fc196d4-72d7-4b32-bcb7-58da48a4b573
- date added to LUP
- 2022-04-24 20:32:58
- date last changed
- 2024-06-10 05:08:36
@article{1fc196d4-72d7-4b32-bcb7-58da48a4b573,
abstract = {{<p>OBJECTIVES: To investigate and characterize the influence of sex, age, muscle strength, and cardiovascular fitness on manual lifting patterns using exposure variation analysis (EVA) during a full working day among blue-collar workers.</p><p>METHODS: Muscular activity (surface electromyography [sEMG]) of the thigh, low-back, and shoulder was measured throughout the working day in 173 employees with manual lifting tasks from 14 workplaces. Relative sEMG loading was expressed as % of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). As an additional and more practically oriented analysis, calibration of load from standardized box lifts (5, 10, 20, and 30 kg) identified corresponding sEMG values in kg. Using an EVA 'lifting periods' of [1 to 5, >5 to 10, >10 to 20, >20 to 30, and >30] kg in time intervals [0 to 0.5, >0.5 to 1, >1 to 2, >2 to 5, >5 to 10, and >10] s were identified. Arm elevation and back inclination were measured using accelerometers.</p><p>RESULTS: Females and older workers (≥50 years) primarily used the thighs for lifting and were exposed to more frequent thigh muscle 'lifting periods' of varying duration and load and performed more thigh lifts >30 kg and >60% of MVC compared with males and younger workers (P < 0.05). Females had less brief shoulder lifting periods and more work with bent back >30° than the males (P < 0.05), whereas stronger workers performed more work with elevated arm >60° and >90° than workers with low muscle strength (P < 0.05). However, besides a single difference where workers with lower cardiovascular fitness were exposed to more light (1-5 kg) and moderate duration (5-10 s) trapezius loading, the number of lifting periods was not affected by muscle strength nor cardiovascular fitness (P > 0.05).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: This EVA demonstrated sex- and age-related differences in exposure to lifting periods involving shoulder and thigh muscles.</p>}},
author = {{Jakobsen, Markus Due and Sundstrup, Emil and Brandt, Mikkel and Persson, Roger and Andersen, Lars L}},
issn = {{2398-7308}},
keywords = {{aerobic capacity; Borg; EMG; EVA; low-back pain; manual handling; muscle strength; musculoskeletal disorders; physical exertion; self-report}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{04}},
number = {{7}},
pages = {{863--877}},
publisher = {{Oxford University Press}},
series = {{Annals of Work Exposures and Health}},
title = {{Characterization of Occupational Lifting Patterns with Exposure Variation Analysis. Cross-sectional Workplace Study among Blue-Collar Workers}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxac021}},
doi = {{10.1093/annweh/wxac021}},
volume = {{66}},
year = {{2022}},
}