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Effects of cooling and clothing on vertical trajectories of the upper arm and muscle functions during repetitive light work

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Abstract

The present study was designed to find out if cooling and/or clothing affect the vertical trajectories and muscle function of the upper arm during repetitive light work. Twelve female subjects performed a one-handed lifting task for 60 min while standing in front of a table with six target angles (30° to 220°). The experiment was carried out in a climatic chamber in three different conditions: at 10°C (C), at 25°C (TN), and at 10°C dressed in cold-protective clothing (Cp). Skin and rectal temperatures were measured continuously. The vertical trajectories of the head, shoulder, elbow, and wrist on the right side of the body were recorded. Muscular strain (averaged EMG, a-EMG) and EMG gaps in eight muscles on the right upper arm were measured. The variation of the vertical trajectory amplitude of the upper arm measured from the elbow was significantly higher (at 200°) both at C and Cp (50 and 25% respectively) and in shoulder (at 220° angle) at C (33%) compared with TN (P < 0.05). Both C and Cp increased a-EMG and reduced the number and duration of EMG gaps significantly in all muscles studied. In conclusion, in repetitive tasks the high mean vertical trajectory and changes in the amplitude of the trajectory of the upper arm at C and Cp compared with TN were associated with increased muscular strain and reduced number of EMG gaps (more continuous activation of given muscle fibers). The changes in trajectories may serve as indicator of a risk for local muscle fatigue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Work Sciences Department, Luleå University of Technology, 97187, Luleå, Sweden

    Hugo Piedrahita

  2. Physical Work Capacity Team, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 90220, Oulu, Finland

    Juha Oksa, Erja Sormunen & Hannu Rintamäki

  3. Winternet, 96136, Boden, Sweden

    Christer Malm

  4. The Muscle Research Group, Department of Integrated Medical Biology, Section for Anatomy, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden

    Christer Malm

  5. Center of Artic Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Erja Sormunen

  6. Department of Physiology, University of Oulu, 90220, Oulu, Finland

    Hannu Rintamäki

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  1. Hugo Piedrahita
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  2. Juha Oksa
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  3. Christer Malm
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  4. Erja Sormunen
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  5. Hannu Rintamäki
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Correspondence to Hugo Piedrahita.

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Piedrahita, H., Oksa, J., Malm, C. et al. Effects of cooling and clothing on vertical trajectories of the upper arm and muscle functions during repetitive light work. Eur J Appl Physiol 104, 183–191 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0657-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0657-7

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