Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the excess of metabolic level (metabolic demands in work exceeding one-third of the individual's aerobic capacity) of working men and women today and to describe the population whose metabolic level is exceeded. A second aim was to explore how externally assessed metabolic demands match with the physical function and capacity of working men and women in jobs with the lowest and the highest demands. The aerobic power of each individual (94 men and 94 women) was estimated from heart rate and workload in sub-maximal tests from dynamic legwork on a cycle ergometer. Physical activity was assessed using a task-oriented interview technique. Physical function was measured by tests of muscle endurance in arms, abdomen and legs, handgrip pressure, balance and coordination. The calculation of individual metabolic demands during a "typical working day" showed that 27% of the men and 22% of the women exceeded their metabolic level. The results indicate that the physical fitness is low or somewhat low for two-thirds of the 94 men and for more than one-half of the 94 women. Women in the group with the highest job demands had significantly lower muscle endurance in the abdomen and legs and worse coordination than women in the group with the lowest job demands. Metabolic demands in working life today remain high. This is reflected in a mismatch between individual physical capacity and the physical demands of work for 25% of the population.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ainsworth B, Haskell W, Leon A, Jacobs D, Montoye J, Paffenbarger R (1993) Compendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 25:71–80
Alaranta H, Soukka A, Harju R, Heliövaara M (1990) Improvement of the diagnostic of musculoskeletal diseases: measuring the capacity of back and neck and shoulders in the occupational health service [in Finnish with summary in English]. Rehabilitation Unit of The Invalid Foundation, Helsinki
Åstrand I (1960) Aerobic work capacity in men and women with special reference to age. Acta Physiol Scand 49 [Suppl. 169]:45–60
Åstrand I (1987) Arbeitsphysiologie. Schattauer, Stuttgart
Åstrand I (1988) Physical demands in worklife. Scand J Work Environ Health 14 [Suppl. 1]:10–13
Åstrand P-O, Ryhming I (1954) A nomogram for calculation of aerobic capacity (physical fitness) from pulse rate during submaximal work. J Appl Physiol 7:218–221
Bergkvist M, Hedberg G, Rahm M (1992) Assessment of physical capacity. An evaluation of strength, flexibility and coordination tests [in Swedish with abstract in English]. Arbete Och Hälsa 5:1–19
de Zwart B, Frings-Dresen M, van Dijk F (1995) Physical workload and the aging worker: a review of the literature. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 68:1–12
Era P (1992) Determinants of isometric muscle strength in men of different ages. Eur J Appl Physiol 64:84–91
Ford ES, Merritt RK, Heath GW, Powell KE Washburn RA, Kriska A, Haile G (1991) Physical activity behaviors in lower and higher socioeconomic populations. Am J Epidemiol 133(12):1246–1256
Giertz E (2000) Measuring success – identifying performance indicators. Celemilab International, Malmö
Grandjean E (1988) Fitting the task to the man. A textbook of occupational ergonomics, 4th edn. Taylor and Francis, London, pp 92–99
Hagberg M (1992) Exposure variables in ergonomic epidemiology. Am J Ind Med 21:91–100
Hallqvist J, Moller J, Ahlbom A, Diderichsen F, Reuterwall C, de Faire U (2000) Does heavy physical exertion trigger myocardial infarction? A case-crossover analysis nested in a population-based case-referent study. Am J Epidemiol 151(5):459–467
Härenstam A, Bodin G, Karlqvist L, Nise G, Schéele P (2001) The modern work-style – assessing exposures in future jobs. In: Hagberg M, Knave B, Lillienberg L, Westberg H (eds) X2001 - Exposure assessment in epidemiology and practice. Arbete och Hälsa 10:3–5
Härenstam A, Bodin L, Karlqvist L, Nise G, Schéele P, the MOA-research group (2003) Patterns of working and living conditions: a holistic, multivariate approach to occupational-health studies. Work Stress 17:1
Ilmarinen J (1992a) Job design for the aged with regard to decline in their maximal aerobic capacity: Part I. Guidelines for the practitioner. Int J Ind Erg 10:53–63
Ilmarinen J (1992b) Job design for the aged with regard to decline in their maximal aerobic capacity: Part 2. The scientific basis for the guide. Int J Ind Erg 10:65–77
Ilmarinen J, Louhevara V, Korhonen O, Nygård C-H, Hakola T, Suvanta S (1991) Changes in maximal cardiorespiratory capacity among aging municipal employees. Scand J Work Environ Health 17(Suppl. 1):99–109
Jörgensen K (1985) Permissible loads based on energy expenditure measurements. Ergonomics 28:365–369
Josephson M, Pernold G, Ahlberg-Hultén G, Härenstam A, Theorell T et al (1999) Differences in the association between psychosocial work conditions and physical workload in female and male dominated occupations. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 60:673–678
Karlqvist L, Winkel J, Wiktorin C and Stockholm MUSIC I Study Group (1994) Direct measurements and systematic observations of physical workload among medical secretaries, furniture removers and male and female reference populations. Appl Ergon 25(5):319–326
Kilbom Å, Messing K, Bildt Thorbjörnsson C (eds) (1998) Women's health at work. Arbetslivsinstitutet (National Institute for Working Life), Stockholm
Kohn ML, Schooler C (1983) Work and personality: an inquiry into the impact of social stratification. Ablex, Norwood, N.J.
Leijon O, Wiktorin C, Härenstam A, Karlqvist L, the MOA research group (2002) Validity of a self-administered questionnaire for assessment of physical work loads in a general population. J Occup Environ Med 44(8):724–735
Lusa S, Louhevaara V, Kinnunen K (1994) Are the job demands on physical work capacity equal for young and aging fire fighters? J Occup Med 36:70–74
Marklund S (ed) (2000) Worklife and health in Sweden 2000. Swedish Work Environment Authority and Arbetslivsinstitutet (National Institute for Working Life), Stockholm
Miettinen M, Louhevaara V (1994) Job demands, physical fitness, work ability, and age of vehicle inspectors. Int J Ind Ergon 13:337–342
Montoye H, Kemper H, Saris W, Washburn R (1996) In: Fowler M, Basic M (eds) Measuring physical activity and energy expenditury. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill.
Nygård C-H, Luopajärvi T, Cedercreutz G, Ilmarinen J (1987) Musculoskeletal capacity of employees aged 44 to 58 years in physical, mental and mixed types of work. Eur J Appl Physiol 56:555–561
Nygård C-H, Loupajärvi T, Suurnäkki T, Ilmarinen J (1988) Muscle strength and muscle endurance of middle-aged women and men associated to type, duration and intensity of muscular load at work. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 60:291–297
Östlin P (1988) Negative health selection into physically light occupations. J Epidem Comm Health 42:152–156
Pernold G, Wigaeus Tornqvist E, Wiktorin C, Mortimer M, Karlsson E, Kilbom Å et al (2002) Validity of occupational energy expenditure assessed by interview. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 63:29–33
Rantanen T, Parkatti T, Heikkinen E (1992) Muscle strength according to level of physical exercise and educational background in middle-aged women in Finland. Eur J Appl Physiol 65:507–512
Rutenfranz J, Ilmarinen J, Klimmer F, Kyllian H (1990) Work load and demanded physical performance capacity under different industrial working conditions. In: Kanebo M (ed) Fitness for the aged disabled and industrial worker Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill., pp 217–238
SCB (1999) Statistics Sweden. Labour force surveys 1999. http://www.scb.se/amne/arbetsmarknadeng.asp
Schibye B, Hansen AF, Søgaard K, Christensen H (2001) Aerobic power and muscle strength among young and elderly workers with and without demanding work tasks. Appl Ergon 32:425–431
The National Institute of Public Health. Get Sweden Moving - 2001. http://bli.fysisktaktiv.nu/showasppage.asp?AspPageID=89
Torgén M, Nygård C-H, Kilbom Å (1995) Physical workload, physical capacity and strain among elderly female aides in home-care service. Eur J Appl Physiol 71:444–452
Torgén M, Punnett L, Alfredsson L, Kilbom Å (1999) Physical capacity in relation to present and past physical load at work: A study of 484 men and women aged 41 to 58 years. Am J Ind Med 36:388–400
Wigaeus Hjelm E, Winkel J, Nygård CH, Wiktorin C, Karlqvist L, Stockholm MUSIC I Study Group (1995) Can cardiovascular load in ergonomic epidemiology be estimated by self-report? J Occup Environ Med 10:1210–1217
Wiktorin C, Selin K, Ekenvall L, Alfredsson L, MUSIC-Norrtälje study group (1996) An interview technique for recording work postures in epidemiological studies. Int J Epidemiol 25:171–179
Winkel J, Westgaard R (1992) Occupational and individual risk factors for shoulder-neck complaints: Part II. The scientific basis (literature review) for the guide. Int J Ind Erg 10:85–104
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karlqvist, L., Leijon, O. & Härenstam, A. Physical demands in working life and individual physical capacity. Eur J Appl Physiol 89, 536–547 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0832-4
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0832-4