School of Business Administration, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P.R. China.
Work. 2022;73(3):871-879. doi: 10.3233/WOR-205107.
Due to the prevalence and increased demand for manual packaging tasks, the concern for worker health and safety has grown.
This study aims to assess the effects of gender and work postures on subjective discomfort, muscle fatigue, and kinematics during a manual packaging task.
Twenty participants, including 10 males and 10 females, were recruited to perform a 60-minute manual packaging task in sitting and standing postures.
Discomfort was evidenced by increased the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) values (sit: from 6 to 14.55; stand: from 6 to 17.15) and muscle fatigue was supported by decreased median power frequency (MPF) values for right brachioradialis (RB) (sit: -23.68%; stand: -16.20%), right upper trapezius (RUT) (sit: -20.14%; stand: 11.79%), and right erector spinae (RES) (sit: 8.64%; stand: 11.21%) muscles. Women were more likely to bend forward in a relaxed upper body position, especially while sitting, which may increase the risk of low back pain and women also reported greater discomfort than men, but not in the hands and back. Compared with sitting, the back showed greater muscle fatigue in standing, while muscle fatigue for the shoulders and hands was the opposite.
These findings suggest that work posture should be considered to prevent fatigue in manual packaging tasks. Given the impact of gender on muscle fatigue, work performed by women and men should both be considered. The results can help to develop action strategies and work posture design to prevent musculoskeletal disorders in the manual packaging industry.
由于手动包装任务的普遍存在和需求增加，工人的健康和安全问题受到关注。
本研究旨在评估性别和工作姿势对手动包装任务中主观不适、肌肉疲劳和运动学的影响。
招募了 20 名参与者，包括 10 名男性和 10 名女性，他们在坐姿和站姿下进行了 60 分钟的手动包装任务。
通过增加感知用力等级（RPE）值（坐姿：从 6 到 14.55；站姿：从 6 到 17.15）证实了不适，通过降低右侧肱桡肌（RB）（坐姿：-23.68%；站姿：-16.20%）、右侧上斜方肌（RUT）（坐姿：-20.14%；站姿：11.79%）和右侧竖脊肌（RES）（坐姿：8.64%；站姿：11.21%）的中值功率频率（MPF）值证实了肌肉疲劳。女性更倾向于在上半身放松的姿势下向前弯曲，尤其是在坐姿时，这可能会增加腰痛的风险，而且女性比男性更容易感到不适，但手部和背部除外。与坐姿相比，站姿时背部的肌肉疲劳更明显，而肩部和手部的肌肉疲劳则相反。
这些发现表明，在手动包装任务中应考虑工作姿势以预防疲劳。鉴于性别对肌肉疲劳的影响，应同时考虑女性和男性的工作。研究结果有助于制定行动策略和工作姿势设计，以预防手动包装行业的肌肉骨骼疾病。
