The relation between the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and Handgrip Strength among female students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Background: RPE scale can be used for self-assessing worker’s abilities in the workplace. When participants perform a task which transcends their ability, or the grip strength is not appropriate, they experience muscular tension and fatigue. Hand grip is a factor used for preventing muscular skeletal disorders in the upper limb. This study aimed to evaluate the relation between RPE and handgrip strength in female students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among 82 young female students enrolled using simple random sampling. The Borg Scale, a dynamometer, pinch gauge, and treadmill were used to assess the RPE, grip strength, pinch strength, and workload, respectively. Participant’s grip endurance was specified through determining the maximum time (in seconds) that she could continue applying one-third of the maximum voluntary contraction. Data analysis was carried out by SPSS 20, and using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. Results: The findings indicated that there was an inverse relation between RPE with grip (P = 0.011), pinch strength (P= 0.020) and age (P=0.005). Moreover, there was a direct relation between the RPE and heart rate (P=0.048). But, no significant relation was observed between the RPE with grip and pinch endurance, height, or BMI. Conclusion: Based on the results, in jobs that require high grip and pinch strength, people with low RPE should be employed to reduce fatigue and muscular discomfort and improve healt

The Effects of Maximum Aerobic Capacity and Ratings of Perceived Exertion on Muscular Strength and Endurance

Grip and pinch strength are the most important factors affecting the hand’s performance. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship among maximum aerobic capacity (Vo2max) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) with grip and pinch strength and endurance and their impact on these factors. This cross-sectional study was performed among 83 male students and office workers by means of simple random sampling. To assess the Vo2max, RPE, grip and pinch strength and endurance the Step Test, Borg scale, dynamometer and pinch gauge were used, respectively. The findings of the study indicate that there is a direct relationship between the Vo2max with grip strength and endurance, pinch strength and endurance and BMI. On the other hand, there is an indirect relationship between RPE with grip and pinch strength and Vo2max. Moreover, there was no relationship between RPE with grip and pinch endurance. It was also found that there is a direct relationship between the BMI with grip and pinch strength, pinch endurance, and Vo2max. Finally, no relationship was observed between BMI and grip endurance. Moreover, the Vo2max was found to have no influence on the grip and pinch strength and pinch endurance, but it has an influence on the grip endurance. In jobs that require high grip and pinch strength and endurance employed those with high Vo2max so that work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) would be prevented

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Body Mass Index with Reaction Time in the University Administrative Staff

Background: Today, physical activity as an important topic in physiology has attracted the attention of many researchers. The reaction time (simple, diagnostic and selective) which depends on the time of stimulation of sensory receptors, is an important factor in many movement functions. In this study, the authors attempted to evaluate the relation between physical activity and reaction time in adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 82 male administrative staff using simple random sampling. The Iranian version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and a Reaction Timer were used to determine physical activity and reaction time, respectively. Data analysis was carried out by SPSS 20 and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: There was a significant relation between reaction times and physical activity with age (P<0.05), while there was no significant relation between selective reaction time and physical activity with work experience. Also, there was a significant correlation between simple reaction time and physical activity with body mass index (BMI) (P<0.05), but no significant correlation was found between diagnostic and selective reaction time with BMI. Moreover, a significant relation was found between the types of reaction times and physical activity (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, by increased physical activity the reaction time decreases. So, for employees whose jobs require rapid reaction and high precision, increasing physical activity for reducing the reaction time, and ultimately improving the job performance is recommended. Keywords: Physical Activity, Reaction Time, BMI, Administrative Staf

The combined effect of Kinesio tape and exercise on risk reduction, pain relief, and hand function improvement in assembly workers of a manufacturing industry

Background and aims: Nowadays, one of the purposes of ergonomics is to identify the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders and provide solutions to reduce them. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using Kinesio tape and doing exercise during working hours for 8 weeks on the reduction of risk and pain and improvement of hand function during daily activities. Methods: This clinical trial study was carried out on 40 female workers employed in the manufacturing industry. The subjects were divided into three groups, including exercise-taping, exercise, and control, and performed an 8-week rehabilitation program twice a week. To assess the upper limb function, the cognitive demand of the assigned task, and hand strength, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, Borg Scale, and a dynamometer were used, respectively. Results: The results of this study indicated a decrease in upper limb disability and increased grip strength in the tape plus exercise group compared to the control group (P0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that attending at least 2 or 3 exercise sessions per week and using Kinesio tape can be effective in reducing pain in the upper limb

The Effect of Kinesio Tape and Exercise on Maximum Key Pinch Endurance on Assembly Workers

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal pain is generally caused by poor physical conditions and repetitive movement. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of kinesio tape and exercise on maximum key pinch endurance and pain reduction regarding the assembly workers. Method: This clinical trial study was conducted on 40 female workers employed in the assembly part of an electrical company. The subjects were categorized into three groups: exercise-taping, exercise and control, and performing an 8-week rehabilitation plan twice a week. To assess the upper limb disability and key pinch endurance before and after the intervention, authors used DASH questionnaire and pinch gauge, respectively. Data were evaluated with SPSS 20 and one-way ANOVA, Chi-Square and paired t-test tests. In this study, pinch gauge was used to measure pinch strength. Studies show that pinch gauge has high calibration accuracy and precision.  Results: The results of this study demonstrated a decrease in upper limb disability in the two groups of exercise and taping-exercise compared to the control group. Chi-square test indicated a statistically significant difference between the history of hand pain in the three groups. Moreover, paired t-test showed that the two hand's key pinch endurance was significantly increased in the two intervention groups compared to the control group. Conclusion: Using a kinesio tape can be effective in reducing pain and physical damage in hands. Therefore, at least 2 or 3 exercise sessions can be done per week during working hours

The relationship between maximum oxygen consumption with strength and endurance of hand grip powers in assembly workers

Introduction: Grip and pinch strength assess the function of hand and is considered as a sign of general health. Considering the high prevalence of related-work musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) due to the incongruity of work with the workers and preventability of diseases that are caused by such incongruity, we decided to study the relationship between maximum oxygen consumption (Vo2max) and with grip and pinch strength and endurance. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among 120 men assembly workers by means of simple random sampling. To assess the Vo2max, grip and pinch strength and endurance, the Step Test, dynamometer and pinch gauge were respectively used. Participant&rsquo;s grip endurance was specified through determining the maximum time (in seconds) that he could continue applying one third of the maximum voluntary contraction. Data analysis was carried out by using SPSS version 20 and Pearson correlation coefficient It is noteworthy to mention that P value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The findings of the study indicate that there is a direct relationship between the Vo2max and grip strength and endurance, pinch strength and endurance P value <0.05. It was also found that there is a direct relationship between BMI, age and height with grip and pinch strength and Vo2max P value <0.05. But, no relationship was observed between the BMI and height with grip endurance P value ˃0.05. Also there is a direct relationship between age with grip and pinch endurance P value <0.05. Conclusion: In jobs that require high grip and pinch strength and endurance it is necessary to employed those with high Vo2max so that WMSDs would be prevented and increased efficiency

Association between Maximum Aerobic Power and General Health in Women

Background: The highest aerobic capacity (VO2max) is one of the criteria that can be used to create a balance between work and worker. To maintain the health and physical capacity of individuals, as well as to increase production and profitability, physical work capacity (PWC) can be used to put individuals in jobs proportional to their capacities. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 120 women working in hospitals aged 21-49 years old. Individuals were evaluated by a single-stage Ebbeling test. A questionnaire about general health, job fatigue and job satisfaction was used, along with a treadmill. Data were analyzed by SPSS V22 software using the Pearson correlation and t-test. Results: According to the results, the highest aerobic capacity, physical working capacity and general health were &nbsp;ml/kg body weight per minute, &nbsp;kcal/min and &nbsp;respectively, and mean and standard deviation of fatigue and job satisfaction scores were &nbsp;and &nbsp;respectively. In this study, there was a significant relationship between VO2max and age, weight, body mass index (BMI), fatigue and job satisfaction. Conclusion: According to the results, since fatigue and job satisfaction are related to workers' VO2max, it is recommended that, in addition to considering the aspects of physical fitness in the workplace, special attention should be paid to mental aspects, since they affect the physical and, consequently, the productivity of workers

Comparison of the chemical health risk assessment of exposure to metal fumes for the furnace operator of a foundry industry using quantitative and semi-quantitative methods

Heavy metals have several adverse effects on the workers' bodies due to their accumulation in the vital organs. Besides that, the current study aimed to assess the health risk of exposure to metal fumes for furnace operators working in a foundry industry based on the three different methods. The current sectional descriptive-analytical research conducted on a foundry industry in Isfahan (Iran) in 2022. Three common methods currently available, including the Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Method (SQRCA) and two methods provided based on the US-EPA provided technique, were used in this study. At first, the extent of people's exposure to metal fumes of Fe, Ni, Cr, and Mn was measured. Then, the chemical risk assessment of exposure to these metals' fumes was done using the three methods, and their results were compared. The SPSS Ver.25 has been used for data analysis and comparison in the current study. Results indicated that the furnace operator's exposure to all four metals was above the allowed limit of occupational exposure. The chemical risk assessment results also showed that in the first method (US-EPA-based), the risk of exposure for all workers was acceptable, while in the second method (SQCRA), the risk level of a majority of workers was medium, and in the third method (US-EPA-based), the risk level of a majority of workers was not acceptable. Comparing the methods showed that average risk scores in the first and second methods were significant compared to the exposure to fumes with equivalent concentration (Pvalue<0.05). The average score of carcinogenicity risk in method 3 was significant compared to the concentration of chromium and nickel (P-value < 0.05), but it was not significant for iron and manganese and the non-carcinogenic risk of chromium and nickel. Chemical exposure risk level for the furnace operator was approximately moderate in all three methods. In terms of complexity and information required to implement the method, all three methods were almost the same, with the difference that the results of the first method cannot be generalized to other people who have the same job conditions because individual information such as a person's weight is used to calculate its score