Asthma, allergies and respiratory symptoms in different activity groups of swimmers exercising in swimming halls

Background Respiratory symptoms are common in competitive swimmers. However, among these and in swimmers at other activity levels the swimming distance, the total spent time in swimming halls and their medical background varies. Our objectives were, first, to assess their medical histories and the associations with respiratory symptoms among swimmers in different activity groups and then second, to study the pulmonary function findings and related medications in competitive swimmers who exercise in swimming hall environments the most. Methods First, 1118 participants consisting of 133 competitive-, 734 fitness- and 251 occasional swimmers answered questionnaires concerning their medical background, their respiratory symptoms in connection to swimming distance and their amount of time spent in swimming halls. Secondly, in 130 competitive swimmers, pulmonary function was tested by spirometry and a specific questionnaire was used to assess respiratory symptoms, medical histories and prescribed medication. Results Respiratory symptoms were reported by 18% of the studied swimmers. Competitive swimmers had significantly more symptoms than fitness- and occasional swimmers. Naturally competitive swimmers swum more than 2000 m and stayed by the pool more than 90 min, longer than the other activity groups of swimmers. Spirometry testing showed airway obstruction in 15 swimmers, which was 12% of the 130 competitive swimmers. 21 of them, had physician-diagnosed asthma and 16 of these individuals had prescribed medication for it. Conclusions Competitive swimmers had the highest swimming hall exposure and reported significantly more respiratory symptoms. A high prevalence of airway obstruction findings in competitive swimmers with asthma and allergies suggests a need for future recommendations for regular testing and special medical care for competitive swimmers.Peer reviewe

Airway obstruction in competetive swimmers.

Background: Swimming has been shown to cause beneficial effects on lung function. However, increased adverse effects have been hypothesized due to the air quality of indoor swimming pools. Objectives: To compare competitive swimmers present lung function to swimmers twenty to thirty years ago and examine the associations between lung function and medical history and reported respiratory symptoms in present swimmers. Methods: One hundred swimmers, 47 females and 53 males were studied with flow-volume spirometry. These findings were compared with ones obtained 20 - 30 years ago among 98 swimmers, 40 females and 58 males. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume (FVC) and their ratio (FEV%) were analysed for airways obstruction. Associations between lung function and asthma, allergy, and respiratory symptoms were examined using questionnaire. In addition airways inflammation was measured with exhaled nitric oxide measurement (FENO) in present swimmers. Airborne trichloramine was measured in air of indoor swimming pools. Results: Airway obstruction was found in 15%, 15 out of 100 studied swimmers, which all reported physician diagnosed asthma and/or family history of asthma. Most, 12 out of 15 of swimmers with obstruction finding, were males. Twenty to thirty years ago obstruction was found in 17 of the 98 swimmers. Airborne concentrations of trichloramine in the present swimming pools, were low, less than 0.1 mg/m3. Conclusion: Airway obstruction was associated with asthma and family history of asthma. There was no increase in obstruction findings among competitive swimmers within 2 - 3 decades. Measured concentrations of trichloramine raised no concern on swimmers health.</p

Asthma, allergies and respiratory symptoms in different activity groups of swimmers exercising in swimming halls

Background: Respiratory symptoms are common in competitive swimmers. However, among these and in swimmers at other activity levels the swimming distance, the total spent time in swimming halls and their medical background varies. Our objectives were, first, to assess their medical histories and the associations with respiratory symptoms among swimmers in different activity groups and then second, to study the pulmonary function findings and related medications in competitive swimmers who exercise in swimming hall environments the most. Methods: First, 1118 participants consisting of 133 competitive-, 734 fitness- and 251 occasional swimmers answered questionnaires concerning their medical background, their respiratory symptoms in connection to swimming distance and their amount of time spent in swimming halls. Secondly, in 130 competitive swimmers, pulmonary function was tested by spirometry and a specific questionnaire was used to assess respiratory symptoms, medical histories and prescribed medication. Results: Respiratory symptoms were reported by 18% of the studied swimmers. Competitive swimmers had significantly more symptoms than fitness- and occasional swimmers. Naturally competitive swimmers swum more than 2000 m and stayed by the pool more than 90 min, longer than the other activity groups of swimmers. Spirometry testing showed airway obstruction in 15 swimmers, which was 12% of the 130 competitive swimmers. 21 of them, had physician-diagnosed asthma and 16 of these individuals had prescribed medication for it. Conclusions: Competitive swimmers had the highest swimming hall exposure and reported significantly more respiratory symptoms. A high prevalence of airway obstruction findings in competitive swimmers with asthma and allergies suggests a need for future recommendations for regular testing and special medical care for competitive swimmers.</p

The Assessment of Ergonomics and Usability of Consumer Products - Four Case Studies on Hand Tools

Manufacturers are seeking solutions for gaining an advantage over their competitors. Improvement of ergonomics and usability of consumer products can give increased market value and has a major impact on the users safety and pleasure as well as the performance and productivity of work. In the competitive marketplace manufacturing firms are forced to design better performing products at a remarkably rapid pace. This creates new challenges for the integration and testing of ergonomics and usability. The objective of this study was to find ways to integrate ergonomics and usability issues into the process of development and design of consumer products using hand tools as an example. The purpose was to find ways to support the development and design process in order to be able to create more usable products. Four different approaches supporting a user-centred process of designing consumer products in the area of ergonomics and usability are described: 1) collection of ergonomic design criteria based on existing information and classifying them to be used as supportive material in hand tool design, for example with the Quality Function Deployment method (QFD); 2) use of a questionnaire and risk analysis method to investigate the ergonomics and usability of hand tools used by electricians working on telecommunications and electricity transmission masts in a cold climate; 3) assessment of the ergonomics and usability of hand tools by electromyography (EMG) and subjective opinions during the process of designing a garden pruners; 4) investigating the force demands during simulated cutting using lacquered, chromium-coated and polytetrafluoroethylene- (PTFE) coated cutting hand tool blades. The first two approaches can be used as pre-screening methods for gaining information which can be applied in product design. The latter two are more direct methods based on the measurement of certain product characteristics and provide results and improvement suggestions for particular design cases. Ergonomic design criteria for pliers-like hand tools were found and collected from literature. The data is presented as a detailed list and classified to be used as supportive material for hand tool design, for example in conjunction with the QFD method. It was possible to investigate the usability and ergonomics of hand tools using a questionnaire and a risk analysis. The falling of hand tools was ranked as the main risk in working on telecommunications and electricity transmission masts in a cold climate. Physiological and subjective methods were used to assess the usability and ergonomics of garden pruners during the process of designing a new tool. By performing the measurements in two parts and comparing different tools and prototypes, it was possible to integrate ergonomics and usability into the design process. PTFE-coated blades were found to create the lowest force demands compared with chromium-coated and lacquered blades. The main benefit of these different approaches was that they provided information which could be applied in different settings in further design cases as well as direct results applicable in current product design. As a result of the research, more ergonomic and usable hand tools were supplied to the market. Keywords: Ergonomics, usability, human factors, design, hand tool, safety, telecommunications, electricity transmission, PTF

The Assessment of Ergonomics and Usability of Consumer Products - Four Case Studies on Hand Tools

Manufacturers are seeking solutions for gaining an advantage over their competitors. Improvement of ergonomics and usability of consumer products can give increased market value and has a major impact on the users safety and pleasure as well as the performance and productivity of work. In the competitive marketplace manufacturing firms are forced to design better performing products at a remarkably rapid pace. This creates new challenges for the integration and testing of ergonomics and usability. The objective of this study was to find ways to integrate ergonomics and usability issues into the process of development and design of consumer products using hand tools as an example. The purpose was to find ways to support the development and design process in order to be able to create more usable products. Four different approaches supporting a user-centred process of designing consumer products in the area of ergonomics and usability are described: 1) collection of ergonomic design criteria based on existing information and classifying them to be used as supportive material in hand tool design, for example with the Quality Function Deployment method (QFD); 2) use of a questionnaire and risk analysis method to investigate the ergonomics and usability of hand tools used by electricians working on telecommunications and electricity transmission masts in a cold climate; 3) assessment of the ergonomics and usability of hand tools by electromyography (EMG) and subjective opinions during the process of designing a garden pruners; 4) investigating the force demands during simulated cutting using lacquered, chromium-coated and polytetrafluoroethylene- (PTFE) coated cutting hand tool blades. The first two approaches can be used as pre-screening methods for gaining information which can be applied in product design. The latter two are more direct methods based on the measurement of certain product characteristics and provide results and improvement suggestions for particular design cases. Ergonomic design criteria for pliers-like hand tools were found and collected from literature. The data is presented as a detailed list and classified to be used as supportive material for hand tool design, for example in conjunction with the QFD method. It was possible to investigate the usability and ergonomics of hand tools using a questionnaire and a risk analysis. The falling of hand tools was ranked as the main risk in working on telecommunications and electricity transmission masts in a cold climate. Physiological and subjective methods were used to assess the usability and ergonomics of garden pruners during the process of designing a new tool. By performing the measurements in two parts and comparing different tools and prototypes, it was possible to integrate ergonomics and usability into the design process. PTFE-coated blades were found to create the lowest force demands compared with chromium-coated and lacquered blades. The main benefit of these different approaches was that they provided information which could be applied in different settings in further design cases as well as direct results applicable in current product design. As a result of the research, more ergonomic and usable hand tools were supplied to the market. Keywords: Ergonomics, usability, human factors, design, hand tool, safety, telecommunications, electricity transmission, PTF