Effects of Rotation Frequency and Starting Task on Localized Muscle Fatigue and Performance During Simulated Assembly Work

Details

• Personal Author:
  Agnew MJ ; Horton LM ; Nussbaum MA
• Description:
  Background: Rotating between tasks is widely used and considered to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, though there is limited evidence that it is effective in doing so. Purpose: This study assessed the effects of rotation during assembly work involving the upper extremity, specifically focusing on rotation frequency and starting task, on shoulder muscle fatigue and task performance when included tasks loaded the same muscle group. Methods: Twelve participants completed six experimental sessions during which a simulated repetitive assembly task was performed for 1 hour either with or without rotation. When rotation occurred, it was between two intensity levels corresponding to two working heights. Results: As expected, rotating between the tasks reduced shoulder muscle fatigue compared to only performing the higher intensity task and increased fatigue compared to only performing the lower intensity task. Neither rotation frequency nor starting task had significant or consistent effects on fatigue or task performance. Conclusions: While varying the intensity level of tasks included in rotation schedules reduced muscle fatigue, this effect was not influenced substantially by either rotation frequency or starting task during the moderately demanding upper extremity assembly task examined here. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Job Rotation Biomechanics MSD Muscle Fatigue Muscle Function Musculoskeletal Disorders Performance Rotation Frequency Task Order Task Performance Upper Extremities

  More +
• ISSN:
  2157-7323
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  176-189
• Volume:
  1
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054025
• Citation:
  IIE Trans Occup Ergon Hum Factors 2013 Jul; 1(3):176-189
• Contact Point Address:
  Maury A. Nussbaum, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 250 Durham Hall (0118), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
• Email:
  nussbaum@vt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010701
• Source Full Name:
  IIE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f078d67a0e2c1176fca8d5a05b3ed35929f20efc4818496bfb98c9faa222acdcee4639a3392e155ce9b5db2f808c1a2c7f9a49ec5f67fa8d6470acdb95b0988f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216674/cdc_216674_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 939.98 KB ]