Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reduction in finger blood flow induced by hand-transmitted vibration: effect of hand elevation

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

This study investigated the effect of hand elevation on reductions in finger blood flow (FBF) induced by hand-transmitted vibration.

Methods

Fourteen males attended six sessions on six separate days, with a control sessions and a vibration session (125-Hz vibration at 44 ms−2 rms) with the right hand supported at each of three elevations: 20 cm below heart level (HL), at HL, and 20 cm above HL. Finger blood flow on the left and right hand was measured every 30 s during each 25-min session comprised of five periods: (1) no force and no vibration (5 min), (2) 2-N force and no vibration (5 min), (3) 2-N force and vibration (5 min), (4) 2-N force and no vibration (5 min), and (5) no force and no vibration (5 min).

Results

Without vibration, FBF decreased with increasing elevation of the hand. During vibration of the right hand, FBF reduced on both hands. With elevation of the right hand, the percentage reduction in FBF due to vibration (relative to FBF on the same finger at the same elevation before exposure to vibration) was similar on the middle and little fingers of both hands. After cessation of vibration, there was delayed return of FBF with all three hand heights.

Conclusions

Vibration of one hand reduces FBF on both exposed and unexposed hands, with the reduction dependent on the elevation of the hand. The mechanisms responsible for vibration-induced reductions in FBF seem to reduce blood flow as a percentage of the blood flow without vibration. Tasks requiring the elevation of the hands will be associated with lower FBF, and the FBF will be reduced further if there is exposure to hand-transmitted vibration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bovenzi M (2010) A prospective cohort study of exposure-response relationship for vibration induced white finger. Occup Environ Med 67(1):38–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bovenzi M (2012) Epidemiological evidence for new frequency weightings of hand-transmitted vibration. Ind Health 50(5):377–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bovenzi M, Griffin MJ, Ruffell CM (1995) Acute effects of vibration on digital circulatory function in healthy men. Occup Environ Med 52:834–841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bovenzi M, Lindsell CJ, Griffin MJ (1998) Duration of acute exposure to vibration and finger circulation. Scand J Work Environ Health 24(2):130–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bovenzi M, Lindsell CJ, Griffin MJ (1999) Magnitude of acute exposure to vibration and finger circulation. Scand J Work Environ Health 25(3):278–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bovenzi M, Lindsell CJ, Griffin MJ (2000) Acute vascular responses to the frequency of vibration transmitted to the hand. Occup Environ Med 57(6):422–430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bovenzi M, Welsh AJL, Griffin MJ (2004) Acute effects of continuous and intermittent vibration on finger circulation. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 77(4):255–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bovenzi M, Welsh AJL, Della Vedova A, Griffin MJ (2006) Acute effects of force and vibration on finger blood flow. Occup Environ Med 63:84–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brammer AJ, Pitts PM (2012) Frequency weighting for vibration-induced white finger compatible with exposure-response models. Ind Health 50:397–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cushman WC, Cooper KM, Horne RA, Meydrech EF (1990) Effect of back support and stethoscope head on seated blood pressure determinations. Am J Hypertens 3:240–241

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furuta M, Sakakibara H, Miyao M, Kondo T, Yamada S (1991) Effect of vibration frequency on finger blood flow. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 63:221–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Futatsuka M, Sakurai T, Ariizumi M (1984) Preliminary evaluation of dose effect relationship for vibration-induced white finger in Japan. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 54:201–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gemne G, Lundström R, Hansson JE (1993) Disorders induced by work with hand-held vibrating tools. Arb Halsa 6:1–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenfield ADM, Whitney RJ, Mowbray JF (1963) Methods for the investigation of peripheral blood flow. Br Med Bull 19:101–109

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin MJ (1994) Foundations of hand-transmitted vibration standards. Nagoya J Med Sci 57(Suppl):147–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin MJ (2012) Frequency-dependence of psychophysical and physiological responses to hand-transmitted vibration. Ind Health 50(5):354–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin MJ, Bovenzi M (2002) The diagnosis of disorders caused by hand-transmitted vibration: Southampton Workshop 2000. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 75:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin MJ, Bovenzi M, Nelson CM (2003) Dose-response patterns for vibration-induced white finger. Occup Environ Med 60:16–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin MJ, Welsh AJL, Bovenzi M (2006) Acute response of finger circulation to force and vibration applied at the palm of the hand. Scand J Work Environ Health 32(5):383–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Organization for Standardization (2001) Mechanical vibration: guidelines for the measurement and the assessment of human response to hand-transmitted vibration. International Standard, ISO 5349–1

  • International Organization for Standardization (2005) Mechanical vibration and shock: cold provocation tests for the assessment of peripheral vascular function—Part 2: measurement and evaluation of finger systolic blood pressure. International standard, ISO 14835–2

  • McKenna KM, Blann AD, Allen JA (1994) Vascular responses in chain saw operators. Occup Environ Med 51:366–370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell PL, Parlin RW, Blackburn H (1964) Effect of vertical displacement of the arm on indirect blood-pressure measurement. N Engl J Med 271:72–74

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Netea RT, Lenders JW, Smits P, Thien T (1999) Arm position is important for blood pressure measurement. J Hum Hypertens 13:105–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Netea RT, Lenders JW, Smits P, Thien T (2003) Influence of body and arm position on blood pressure readings: an overview. J Hypertens 21:237–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perez Gonzalez JF (1981) Factors determining the blood pressure responses to isometric exercise. Circ Res 48:176–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Pickering TG, Hall JE, Appel LJ, Falkner BE, Graves J, Hill MN, Jones DW, Kurtz T, Sheps SG, Roccella EJ (2005) Recommendations for blood pressure measurement in humans and experimental animals–Part 1: blood pressure measurement in humans—a statement for professionals from the subcommittee of professional and public education of the American heart association council on high blood pressure research. Circulation 111:697–716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roddie IC (1983) Circulation to skin and adipose tissue. In: Handbook of Physiology. The cardiovascular system. Peripheral circulation and organ blood flow. Am Physiol Soc, Bethesda, sec 2, vol 3, chapter 10, 285–317

  • Takano H, Morita T, Iida H, Asada K, Kato M, Uno K, Hirose K, Matsumoto A, Takenaka K, Hirata Y, Eto F, Nagai R, Sato Y, Nakajima T (2005) Hemodynamic and hormonal responses to a short-term low-intensity resistance exercise with the reduction of muscle blood flow. Eur J Appl Physiol 96:65–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terent A, Breig-Asberg E (1994) Epidemiological perspective of body position and arm level in blood pressure measurement. Blood Press 3:156–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson AJL, Griffin MJ (2009) Effect of the magnitude and frequency of hand-transmitted vibration on finger blood flow during and after exposure to vibration. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 82:1151–1162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye Y, Griffin MJ (2011a) Reductions in finger blood flow in men and women induced by 125-Hz vibration: association with vibration perception thresholds. J Appl Physiol 111:1606–1613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye Y, Griffin MJ (2011b) Effects of temperature on reductions in finger blood flow induced by vibration. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 84:315–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye Y, Griffin MJ (2013) Reduction in finger blood flow induced by 125-Hz vibration: effect of area of contact with vibration. Eur J Appl Physiol 113:1017–1026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye Y, Griffin MJ (2014) Relation between vibrotactile perception thresholds and reductions in finger blood flow induced by vibration of the hand at frequencies in the range 8 to 250 Hz. Eur J Appl Physiol 114:1591–1603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye Y, Mauro M, Bovenzi M, Griffin MJ (2012) Acute effects of mechanical shocks on finger blood flow: influence of shock repetition rate and shock magnitude. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 85:605–614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye Y, Mauro M, Bovenzi M, Griffin MJ (2014) Association between vasoconstriction during and following exposure to hand-transmitted vibration. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 87:41–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Factors Research Unit, Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Ying Ye & Michael J. Griffin

  2. Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Trieste General Hospitals, University of Trieste, 34129, Trieste, Italy

    Marcella Mauro & Massimo Bovenzi

Authors
  1. Ying Ye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marcella Mauro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Massimo Bovenzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael J. Griffin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael J. Griffin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ye, Y., Mauro, M., Bovenzi, M. et al. Reduction in finger blood flow induced by hand-transmitted vibration: effect of hand elevation. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 88, 981–992 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1027-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1027-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation