Seated work postures for manual,visual and combined tasks

An awkward and static work posture has been recognized as a risk factor for workrelated musculoskeletal problems. The objective of this study was to investigate some of the factors that can influence the posture adopted during work and in particular aspects of the task and how their influence is affected by work height. Three types of task were studied: a peg-hole assembly task, which was largely manual with very little visual component; a visual character identification task; and a combination of the two. Two levels of difficulty were included in each of the manual and visual elements. Postures of the head/neck, trunk and arm were recorded during performance of these tasks. The results showed that type and difficulty of task do influence the posture adopted, and that some of the postural responses (although complex) are predictable so that poor postures could be improved by adjusting task design in addition to workplace layout.     

Discomfort and load on the upper trapezius muscle when operating a word processor

Abstract

Surface electromyogram recordings from the descending part of the trapezius muscle and discomfort ratings were assessed for six female VDT wordprocessor operators during their work. Each operator was studied during three work periods of 3 to 5 hours on different days. During one of the work periods, short pauses (15 s) were introduced every sixth minute. A static local muscular load of 32 and 30% of the maximal voluntary contraction was found on the right and the left side, respectively. The median and peak muscular loads during work were low. There was a significant negative correlation between pauses and static load on the right upper trapezius muscle. The rating of perceived discomfort was less after the work periods with short pauses than after the work periods without.     

Motor-unit recruitment in the trapezius muscle during arm movements and in VDU precision work

It has been hypothesized that shoulder myalgia, which is common in many occupations involving light-to-moderate manual work, is due to an overuse of low threshold muscle fibers, causing damage at the muscle cell level. The present study was undertaken to investigate in the trapezius muscle, (a) to what extent it is possible to track low threshold motor-units in non-isometric conditions, and (b) to study the effect of arm movements on recruitment and firing patterns. Intramuscular four lead fine wire electrodes were inserted in the trapezius muscle of four volunteers, who performed arm movements (shoulder abduction–adduction 0–90–0° in the scapula plane), as well as standardized work using computer mouse. Three channels of electromyography (EMG) were used for motor-unit action potential (MUAP) identification and signal decomposition. Results showed (a) that it was possible to perform signal tracking during slow movements, and (b) that there were motor-units that were active over a wide range of shoulder abduction movement, as well as in work with computer mouse. The findings indicate that stereotypic recruitment patterns exist in the trapezius muscle not only in static work, but also in work situations involving arm and shoulder movements.

Relevance to industry

Occupationally related chronic shoulder pain is an increasing problem in industry, in manual work as well as in computer work. This paper presents results of studies on muscular activity patterns during movements which support the notion that chronic pain may be evoked by overuse syndromes at the muscular fiber level. Practical precautions to reduce such risks are discussed.     

Sex differences in glenohumeral muscle activation and coactivation during a box lifting task

Abstract

Manual material handling is associated with shoulder musculoskeletal disorders, especially for women. Sex differences in glenohumeral muscle activity may contribute to women’s higher injury risk by affecting shoulder load and stability. We assessed the effects of sex (25 women vs 26 men) and lifting load (6?kg vs 12?kg) on muscle activation during box lifting from hip to eye level. Surface and intramuscular electromyography were recorded from 10 glenohumeral muscles. Most muscles were more activated for the heavier box and for women. These effects were larger for ‘prime movers’ than for stabilisers and antagonists. Despite their apparently heterogeneous effects on muscle activity, sex and mass did not affect Muscle Focus, a metric of coactivation. This may be partly related to the limited sensitivity of the Muscle Focus. Nevertheless, sex differences in strength, more than in coactivation patterns, may contribute to the sex imbalance in the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders.

Practitioner summary: We studied sex differences in glenohumeral muscle activity in a lifting task to eye level. Women lifting a 6-kg box activated their muscles similarly to men lifting a 12-kg box, i.e. up to 48% of their maximum capacity. Interventions minimising shoulder load should be implemented, especially for women.

Abbreviations: BB: biceps brachii; DeltA: anterior deltoid; DeltL: lateral deltoid; DeltP: posterior deltoid; DoF: degrees of freedom; ED: effect duration; EMG: electromyography; ES: effect size; Infra: infraspinatus; Lat: latissimus dorsi; MF: muscle focus; MMH: manual material handling; MVA: maximal voluntary activation; Pect: pectoralis major; Subscap: subscapularis; Supra: supraspinatus; TB: triceps brachii     

The effect of overhead drilling position on shoulder moment and electromyography

The effect of overhead drilling tasks on electromyographic (EMG) activity and shoulder joint moment was examined in this study. Twenty subjects simulated an overhead drilling task using a close, middle and far reach position while standing on either a lower or a higher step of a stepladder. Root mean square amplitude (AMP) of EMG activity from the dominant side anterior deltoid, biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles was used to determine muscular load. Digital video was used to determine shoulder joint moment using 2-dimensional static link segment modelling in the sagittal plane. The results demonstrated that, compared to the far reach position, using the close reach position significantly decreased anterior deltoid AMP and biceps brachii AMP and moment, but increased triceps brachii AMP. Compared to the lower step, using the higher step significantly decreased anterior deltoid AMP and triceps AMP and moment, while increasing biceps AMP in the close position. There was no significant change noted in EMG median frequency indicating that fatigue was minimized. Moment increased monotonically with AMP. The findings indicated that workers performing overhead tasks should work close to their body in order to minimize shoulder forces. The implications of this recommendation are discussed.     

Posture,muscle activity and muscle fatigue in prolonged VDT work at different screen height settings

With the increasing use of video display terminals (VDTs), there is growing concern over the corresponding increase in the number of health problems reported. Although much research has focused on identifying the optimal screen height, there is to date no consensus. This study aimed to investigate the effect of prolonged (89 min) VDT work at four different screen heights on head-neck posture, muscle activity and the development of muscle fatigue. The results show that lowering screen height, starting from 15 cm above the baseline (i.e. top of the screen level with eye height while sitting), decreased the ear-eye angle, increased the viewing angle, increased the viewing angle relative to the ear-eye line, and increased the muscle activity of the neck extensor muscles. There were also some significant time effects on postural angles and muscle activity. In this study there were only rare occurrences of muscle fatigue, defined as a simultaneous increase in EMG amplitude and a shift of the EMG power spectrum to lower frequencies. Muscle activity increased significantly in some muscles and for certain screen heights.     

普通高校乒乓球选项课肩关节运动损伤调查与分析

在体育教学中运动损伤时有发生，通过对乒乓球教学中引发肩关节损伤的原因从生理、技术等方面进行了分析，就如何在教学中有效的预防肩关节损伤进行了阐述，尽可能避免和减少损伤的发生，以期对高校乒乓球选项课中发生的损伤的进行预防和恢复提供参考。     

Investigating shoulder muscle loading and exerted forces during wall painting tasks: Influence of gender,work height and paint tool design

The task of wall painting produces considerable risk to the workers, both male and female, primarily in the development of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Insufficient information is currently available regarding the potential benefits of using different paint roller designs or the possible adverse effects of painting at different work heights. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of gender, work height, and paint tool design on shoulder muscle activity and exerted forces during wall painting. Ten young adults, five male and five female, were recruited to perform simulated wall painting at three different work heights with three different paint roller designs while upper extremity muscle activity and horizontal push force were recorded. Results demonstrated that for female participants, significantly greater total average (p = 0.007) and integrated (p = 0.047) muscle activity was present while using the conventional and curly flex paint roller designs compared to the proposed design in which the load was distributed between both hands. Additionally, for both genders, the high working height imposed greater muscular demands compared to middle and low heights. These findings suggest that, if possible, avoid painting at extreme heights (low or high) and that for female painters, consider a roller that requires the use of two hands; this will reduce fatigue onset and subsequently mitigate potential musculoskeletal shoulder injury risks.     

Effects of shoulder rotation combined with elbow flexion on discomfort and EMG activity of ECRB muscle

Work related MusculoSkeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are injuries or dysfunctions caused by occupational or non occupational tasks involving bad postures, high frequency of exertions or high force levels. In the present study, the effects of shoulder flexion/extension combined with elbow flexion angle on discomfort score were investigated for repetitive gripping task. A laboratory experimental simulation was conducted. Ten male participants volunteered in this study. Four levels of shoulder flexion/extension (−45° extension, 0° neutral, 45° & 90° flexion) with three levels of elbow flexion angle (45°, 90° & 135°) were taken as levels of independent variables. There were 12 combinations available for each participant and the experiment was conducted on the basis of random order of experimental combinations for each participant. Discomfort score on 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) and Electromyography (EMG) activity of Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB) muscle were dependent variables for the analyses. The task for the experiment was of 150N ± 5N grip force at a frequency of 15 exertions/minute for five minutes duration. After performing the MANOVA on the recorded data, the results showed that the shoulder flexion/extension and elbow flexion both were highly significant (p < 0.001). Also it was found that −45° shoulder extension combined with 45° elbow flexion angle was the most discomfort posture. The practical relevance of the study is that, in industrial tasks such posture should be avoided to minimize risk of WMSDs.Relevance to industryThe findings in terms of relationship between discomfort/EMG vs. shoulder rotation combined with elbowflexion are important to design Industrial tasks with the reduced risk of WMSDs. Such as, sheet metal cutting, fabrication of sheet metal work, die casting, and drilling operations may require the shoulder movements in extenion/flexion combined with elbowflexion.     

一种神经康复机器人的研制

介绍了一种神经康复机器人,阐述了机器人的详细结构、工作原理、使用方法以及在结构上和控制模式上为 了保证患者瘫肢的安全所采取的策略。通过健康人实验证实了该机器人能够满足神经损伤患者康复训练的一般要 求,有望用于患者的临床康复训练。