Placement of forearm surface EMG electrodes in the assessment of hand loading in manual tasks.

Unlabelled: Surface electromyography (EMG) is commonly used to study the loading of the forearm. Pro-supination movements cause surface electrodes to move in relation to the underlying muscles. We studied the effects of different electrode locations and forearm postures on the association between the EMG signals and external hand load in a laboratory experiment.

Expert assessment of physical ergonomics at video-display unit workstations: repeatability, validity and responsiveness to changes.

Aims: Inter-observer repeatability, validity and responsiveness to change were determined for an expert assessment method for video-display unit (VDU) workstation ergonomics. The aim was to determine to what extent the expert assessment of ergonomics is related to the technical measurements, tidiness and space, work chair ergonomics and responds to changes in these characteristics.

Methods: Technical measurements and video-recordings before and 2 months after an ergonomic intervention were made for 109 VDU office workstations.

Grip forces of the fingertips.

Objective: A model has been developed for the power grip on a cylindrical handle. The model gives estimates of the forces acting on the fingertips as functions of total grip force, diameter of the handle, and hand size.

Design: The data in the literature were used to estimate the parameters of the model.

Effects of ergonomic intervention in work with video display units.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of an intensive ergonomic approach and education on workstation changes and musculoskeletal disorders among workers who used a video display unit (VDU).

Methods: A randomized controlled design was used. The subjects (N=124) were allocated into three groups (intensive ergonomics, ergonomic education, reference) using stratified random sampling.