Lögdal Nestor, Jackson Jennie A, Mathiassen Svend Erik, Svensson Sven, Hallman David M
Department of Occupational Health, Psychology, and Sports Sciences, University of Gavle, Gävle, Sweden.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2025 Sep 9. doi: 10.1007/s00421-025-05962-4.
To summarize the literature on quantitative measures of physical demands in eldercare, with attention to differences between temporary and permanent workers, and to identify gaps to guide future physiological research.
We searched Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed for English and Swedish peer-reviewed studies on physical demands in eldercare. Risk of bias was assessed, and descriptive data extracted.
We identified 37 relevant articles where physical demands were assessed via self-report (n = 23), biomechanical modeling (n = 6), and direct measurement (n = 8). Risk of bias assessment showed generally insufficient descriptions of study settings and poor descriptions of instruments assessing physical demands. Workers reported physical demands ranging from 40 to 98% maximum (different scales across studies). Biomechanical models showed peak forces in the lower back up to 5092 N during lifts and transfers. Direct measurements indicated that workers spent half to two-thirds of the day on feet, had oxygen uptakes 0.59-0.63 L/min, and mean heart rates 89-107 bpm across the workday. No study provided estimates specifically for temporary workers.
Results suggested that eldercare work is perceived as demanding by the workers, who spend considerable time on feet, and that it comprises tasks with high spinal loads, but shows low cardiovascular demands. These findings offer a foundation for future studies exploring the short- and long-term physiological implications of occupational exposure in eldercare, including the effect of targeted interventions. Future studies are also needed that consider physical exposure differences between homecare and nursing home settings and between permanent and temporary workers, preferably using direct measurements.
总结有关老年护理中体力需求定量测量的文献，关注临时工和长期工之间的差异，并找出差距以指导未来的生理学研究。
我们在Scopus、科学网和PubMed上搜索了关于老年护理中体力需求的英文和瑞典文同行评审研究。评估了偏倚风险，并提取了描述性数据。
我们确定了37篇相关文章，其中通过自我报告（n = 23）、生物力学建模（n = 6）和直接测量（n = 8）来评估体力需求。偏倚风险评估显示，研究背景的描述总体不足，评估体力需求的工具描述不佳。工人报告的体力需求范围为最大值的40%至98%（不同研究采用不同量表）。生物力学模型显示，在搬运和转移过程中，下背部的峰值力高达5092 N。直接测量表明，工人在工作日有一半到三分之二的时间是站立的，摄氧量为0.59 - 0.63 L/分钟，平均心率为89 - 107次/分钟。没有研究专门提供临时工的估计值。
结果表明，老年护理工作被工人认为要求较高，他们站立时间相当长，且工作包含脊柱负荷高的任务，但心血管需求较低。这些发现为未来研究探索老年护理中职业暴露的短期和长期生理影响，包括针对性干预措施的效果，提供了基础。未来还需要开展研究，考虑家庭护理和养老院环境之间以及长期工和临时工之间的身体暴露差异，最好采用直接测量方法。
