Effects of Prolonged Standing Work on Lower-Leg Muscle Fatigue
Working in a standing posture is very common in workplaces. Prolonged standing work is known to induce discomfort and the resulting muscle fatigue is associated with different health disorders, such as back pain, even in the absence of load manipulation. The purpose of this research project is to better understand fatigue and muscle twitch force reduction related to standing work activities and its potential implications to work related health problems. For prevention adequate work-rest schedules are developed.
The project aims at improving the scientific base for recommendations, on how to optimally design standing work, two laboratory studies are planned. By laboratory tests we determine the effects of long standing periods on lower-leg muscle fatigue, leg/feet swelling, and motor behavior (back pain) in standing work. We investigate the effects of active short pauses and different work-rest schedules in five hours standing work by a laboratory study. Based on the results and in collaboration with research partners from Italy, Germany and France, a European field study will be prepared to test the practicality and efficiency of guidelines for the design of standing work in preventing negative health effects while positively influencing work productivity.
Publications
Garcia, M. G., Laubli, T., & Martin, B. J. Long-Term Muscle Fatigue After Standing Work. Human Factors, vol. 57, no.7, 1162 –1173 (2015)
Läubli Th: Arbeitsbezogene Muskel- und Skelett-Erkrankungen (MSE) – internationale Forschungsschwerpunkte. In: Grieshaber R, Stadeler M, Scholle H-Ch W (eds) Prävention von arbeitsbedingten Gesundheitsgefahren und Erkrankungen - 20. Erfurter Tage, Dez, 2013, p 405-13. Berufsgenossenschaft Nahrungsmittel und Gaststätten (BGN) Verlag Dr. Bussert & Stadeler, Leipzig, 2014.
Funding
Swiss Accident Insurance Agency Suva,.
Ecuadorian Secretariat for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to M.G. Garcia
The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO