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Physical workload in various types of work: Part II. Neck, shoulder and upper arm

Hansson, Gert-Åke LU ; Balogh, Istvan LU ; Ohlsson, Kerstina LU ; Granqvist, Lothy LU ; Nordander, Catarina LU orcid ; Arvidsson, Inger LU ; Åkesson, Ingrid LU ; Unge, Jeannette LU ; Rittner, Ralf LU orcid and Strömberg, Ulf LU , et al. (2010) In International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 40(3). p.267-281
Abstract
To explore the correlation between, and the variation in, various measures of exposure to potential risk factors for work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UE-WMSDs), physical workload was measured in 43 types of work (713 individuals), using inclinometry for the head and upper arms, and electromyography (EMG) for the trapezius muscles. Many exposure measures were highly correlated. Head flexion (90th percentile), extension (1st percentile), and movements (50th percentile); arm elevation (99th percentile) and movements (50th percentile); trapezius muscular rest (fraction of time) and peak load (90th percentile), constitute main exposure dimensions. The variations were large: head: flexion 9 degrees-63 degrees, extension... (More)
To explore the correlation between, and the variation in, various measures of exposure to potential risk factors for work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UE-WMSDs), physical workload was measured in 43 types of work (713 individuals), using inclinometry for the head and upper arms, and electromyography (EMG) for the trapezius muscles. Many exposure measures were highly correlated. Head flexion (90th percentile), extension (1st percentile), and movements (50th percentile); arm elevation (99th percentile) and movements (50th percentile); trapezius muscular rest (fraction of time) and peak load (90th percentile), constitute main exposure dimensions. The variations were large: head: flexion 9 degrees-63 degrees, extension -39 degrees-4 degrees, movements 2.3-33 degrees/s; arm: elevation 49 degrees-124 degrees, movements 3.0-103 degrees/s; trapezius: muscular rest 0.8%-52% of time, peak load 3.1%-24% of maximal EMC. Even within work categories, e.g. "repetitive industrial", there were large variations. Somewhat higher loads were recorded on the right as compared to the left side (differences: arm elevation 2, arm movements 19%; trapezius peak load 18%), but these were small compared to the differences due to work. There were high correlations between movements of arm and head (r(s) = 0.96), as well as arm and wrist (r(s) = 0.92), and between, on the one hand, trapezius muscular rest and peak load, and on the other, arm and head movements (vertical bar r(s)vertical bar = 0.47-0.62), as well as arm elevation (vertical bar r(s)vertical bar = 0.54-0.85), which has to be considered when assessing exposure-response relations. Relevance to industry: Direct measurements provide objective and quantitative data of the main physical risk factors for UE-WMSDs, appropriate for estimating the risk, as well as giving priority to and evaluating interventions. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Musculoskeletal disorders, Mechanical load, Inclinometry, Electromyography, Exposure, Upper limb
in
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
volume
40
issue
3
pages
267 - 281
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000277794600005
  • scopus:77951620612
ISSN
0169-8141
DOI
10.1016/j.ergon.2009.11.002
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
38b63ea5-e337-4b94-bd57-e0d55a47ad3d (old id 1617489)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:39:10
date last changed
2022-04-06 19:45:45
@article{38b63ea5-e337-4b94-bd57-e0d55a47ad3d,
  abstract     = {{To explore the correlation between, and the variation in, various measures of exposure to potential risk factors for work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UE-WMSDs), physical workload was measured in 43 types of work (713 individuals), using inclinometry for the head and upper arms, and electromyography (EMG) for the trapezius muscles. Many exposure measures were highly correlated. Head flexion (90th percentile), extension (1st percentile), and movements (50th percentile); arm elevation (99th percentile) and movements (50th percentile); trapezius muscular rest (fraction of time) and peak load (90th percentile), constitute main exposure dimensions. The variations were large: head: flexion 9 degrees-63 degrees, extension -39 degrees-4 degrees, movements 2.3-33 degrees/s; arm: elevation 49 degrees-124 degrees, movements 3.0-103 degrees/s; trapezius: muscular rest 0.8%-52% of time, peak load 3.1%-24% of maximal EMC. Even within work categories, e.g. "repetitive industrial", there were large variations. Somewhat higher loads were recorded on the right as compared to the left side (differences: arm elevation 2, arm movements 19%; trapezius peak load 18%), but these were small compared to the differences due to work. There were high correlations between movements of arm and head (r(s) = 0.96), as well as arm and wrist (r(s) = 0.92), and between, on the one hand, trapezius muscular rest and peak load, and on the other, arm and head movements (vertical bar r(s)vertical bar = 0.47-0.62), as well as arm elevation (vertical bar r(s)vertical bar = 0.54-0.85), which has to be considered when assessing exposure-response relations. Relevance to industry: Direct measurements provide objective and quantitative data of the main physical risk factors for UE-WMSDs, appropriate for estimating the risk, as well as giving priority to and evaluating interventions. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Hansson, Gert-Åke and Balogh, Istvan and Ohlsson, Kerstina and Granqvist, Lothy and Nordander, Catarina and Arvidsson, Inger and Åkesson, Ingrid and Unge, Jeannette and Rittner, Ralf and Strömberg, Ulf and Skerfving, Staffan}},
  issn         = {{0169-8141}},
  keywords     = {{Musculoskeletal disorders; Mechanical load; Inclinometry; Electromyography; Exposure; Upper limb}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{267--281}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics}},
  title        = {{Physical workload in various types of work: Part II. Neck, shoulder and upper arm}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2009.11.002}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ergon.2009.11.002}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}