Journal article
Variability in Muscle Activity and Wrist Motion Measurements Among Workers Performing Non-Cyclic Work
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Vol.9(1), pp.25-35
01/01/2012
DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2012.634361
PMID: 22150404
Abstract
Appropriate sampling strategies for estimation of exposure to physical risk factors require knowledge of exposure variability over time. Limited information is available about the variability of exposure to physical risk factors for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders, especially during non-cyclic work activities. We investigated the magnitude and relative contributions of several sources of variance to the total exposure variance among office, custodial, or maintenance workers (N = 5 per group). In addition, we examined the homogeneity of exposure within each group of workers and exposure contrast between groups of workers. Activation of the flexor carpi radialis and upper trapezius muscle groups was assessed with surface electromyography (EMG) and wrist motion was assessed with electrogoniometry. Exposure information was collected continuously over a complete work shift on two occasions. We observed a substantial contribution of the within-day-within-subject variance component to the total exposure variance for all EMG and electrogoniometer summary measures. We also observed limited exposure contrast between the occupational groups in summary measures of upper trapezius EMG and most electrogoniometry summary measures. The large within-day-within-subject variance suggests the need for prolonged measurement durations (e.g., more than 1 hr) in future epidemiologic investigations of associations between exposure to physical risk factors and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Variability in Muscle Activity and Wrist Motion Measurements Among Workers Performing Non-Cyclic Work
- Creators
- Nathan B Fethke - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , University of IowaFred Gerr - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , University of IowaDan Anton - Department of Physical Therapy , Eastern Washington UniversityJoseph E Cavanaugh - Department of Biostatistics , University of IowaMark T Quickel - Department of Environmental Health , East Tennessee State University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Vol.9(1), pp.25-35
- DOI
- 10.1080/15459624.2012.634361
- PMID
- 22150404
- NLM abbreviation
- J Occup Environ Hyg
- ISSN
- 1545-9624
- eISSN
- 1545-9632
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2012
- Academic Unit
- Statistics and Actuarial Science; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Biostatistics; Industrial and Systems Engineering; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9983985714402771
Metrics
18 Record Views