Borah Ruplekha, Kalita Mira
Department of Family Resource Management, Faculty of Home Science, Assam Agricultural University, Assam, India. ruplekha
Work. 2012;43(4):411-6. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1482.
Pounding of rice for the preparation of indigenous food items is a regular food processing activity in rural Assam. The traditional tool used by the rural women for pounding is called 'Dhenki'.
An attempt was made to assess physical fitness of participants, to determine physiological workload involved in pounding of rice with this traditional tool, and to ascertain muscular and postural stress involved in the activity.
Twenty subjects in the age of 21-45 years were purposively selected.
A stepstool technique was adopted for assessing physical fitness of the participants. Heart rate was recorded with Polar Heart Rate Monitor (Polar Sports Tester - PE 4000) and angle of deviation in lower lumber region was measured with Dual Inclinometer during the operation.
The average resting heart rate values of participants was 80 b.min(-1). Average working heart rate values in pounding activity was 118.18 b.min(-1) and average energy expenditure was 10.04 kJ/min. Physiological workload of pounding of rice on the basis of heart rate and Energy Expenditures was found to be 'Moderately Heavy'. Perceived exertion of participants in pounding activity (RPE) was rated 4.1 in 5 point scales.
Ergonomic interventions through redesigning of traditional tool will improve work performance and enhance productivity of farm women.
在阿萨姆邦农村，舂米以制作当地食品是一项常见的食品加工活动。农村妇女用于舂米的传统工具叫做“登基”。
试图评估参与者的身体素质，确定使用这种传统工具舂米所涉及的生理工作量，并确定该活动中涉及的肌肉和姿势压力。
有目的地选取了20名年龄在21 - 45岁之间的受试者。
采用阶梯凳技术评估参与者的身体素质。在操作过程中，使用 Polar 心率监测仪（Polar 运动测试仪 - PE 4000）记录心率，并用双倾角仪测量下腰部区域的偏差角度。
参与者的平均静息心率值为80次/分钟。舂米活动中的平均工作心率值为118.18次/分钟，平均能量消耗为10.04千焦/分钟。基于心率和能量消耗，舂米的生理工作量被发现为“中度繁重”。参与者在舂米活动中的主观用力程度（RPE）在5分制中被评为4.1。
通过重新设计传统工具进行人体工程学干预将提高工作绩效并提高农村妇女的生产力。
