Work ability and psychosocial work stress - predictors of retirement intention among older teachers.

Objectives: Many teachers worldwide retire early for health or personal reasons. Predictors could help to identify teachers at risk in order to counteract this development. The study therefore investigates whether the intention to retire can be predicted by work ability, psychosocial work stress and work behaviour.

Influence of Intraoperative Active and Passive Breaks in Simulated Minimally Invasive Procedures on Surgeons' Perceived Discomfort, Performance, and Workload.

Laparoscopic surgeons are at high risk of experiencing musculoskeletal discomfort, which is considered the result of long-lasting static and awkward body postures. We primarily aimed to evaluate whether passive and active work breaks can reduce ratings of perceived discomfort among laparoscopic surgeons compared with no work breaks. We secondarily aimed to examine potential differences in performance and workload across work break conditions and requested the surgeons evaluate working with passive or active work breaks.

Working time reduction, mental health, and early retirement among part-time teachers at German upper secondary schools - a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Many secondary school teachers work part-time in order to cope with the high workload and to remain as healthy as possible until regular retirement. However, due to the acute shortage of teachers, the increase in the teaching obligation for part-time teachers (PTT) has become a topic of discussion in Germany. Whether a reduction in teaching hours is associated with benefits for mental health has not yet become evident.

Wrist Extensor Muscle Fatigue During a Dual Task With Two Muscular and Cognitive Load Levels in Younger and Older Adults.

Objective: To examine the effect of concurrent physical and cognitive demands as well as age on indicators of muscle fatigue at the wrist.

Background: There are few studies examining risk indicators for musculoskeletal disorders associated with work-related physical and cognitive demands that often occur simultaneously in the workplace.

Methods: Twenty-four gender-balanced older and 24 gender-balanced younger (mean age 60 and 23 years) participants performed four 30 min dual tasks.

Musculoskeletal demands in microsurgery-an explorative study comparing the ergonomics of microscope and 3D exoscope.

To assess neurosurgeons' physical demands and investigate ergonomic aspects when using microsurgical visualization devices. Six neurosurgeons performed micro-surgical procedures on cadaveric specimens using the prototype of a digital 3D exoscope system (Aeos®, Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) and a standard operating microscope (Pentero 900, Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany) at two different patient positions (semisitting (SS), supine (SP)). The activities of the bilateral upper trapezius (UTM), anterior deltoid (ADM), and lumbar erector spinae (LEM) muscles were recorded using bipolar surface electromyography and neck flexion, arm abduction, and arm anteversion angles by gravimetrical posture sensors.

Influence of Face Masks on Physiological and Subjective Response during 130 Min of Simulated Light and Medium Physical Manual Work-An Explorative Study.

Background: Undesirable side effects from wearing face masks during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continue to be discussed and pose a challenge to occupational health and safety when recommending safe application. Only few studies examined the effects of continuously wearing a face mask for more than one hour. Therefore, the influence of wearing a medical mask (MedMask) and a filtering facepiece class II respirator (FFP2) on the physiological and subjective outcomes in the course of 130 min of manual work was exploratively investigated.

Intraoperative active and passive breaks during minimally invasive surgery influence upper extremity physical strain and physical stress response-A controlled, randomized cross-over, laboratory trial.

Objective: Investigate the effect of passive, active or no intra-operative work breaks on static, median and peak muscular activity, muscular fatigue, upper body postures, heart rate, and heart rate variability.

Background: Although laparoscopic surgery is preferred over open surgery for the benefit of the patient, it puts the surgeons at higher risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders especially due to the less dynamic and awkward working posture. The organizational intervention intraoperative work break is a workplace strategy that has previously demonstrated positive effects in small-scale intervention studies.

Limitations in evaluating COVID-19 protective face masks using open circuit spirometry systems: respiratory measurement mask introduces bias in breathing pressure and perceived respiratory effort.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting widespread use of protective face masks, studies have been and are being conducted to investigate potential side effects of wearing masks on the performance and physiological parameters of wearers. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether and to what extent the use of a respiratory measurement (RM) mask-which is normally used during open-circuit spirometry-influences the results of these types of studies.34 subjects were involved in this intra-subject study with a cross-over design.

Save our surgeons (SOS) - an explorative comparison of surgeons' muscular and cardiovascular demands, posture, perceived workload and discomfort during robotic vs. laparoscopic surgery.

Purpose: Conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) imposes an increased risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Technical innovations, such as robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS), may provide ergonomic benefits. We compare the surgeon`s work-related demands of CLS vs RALS for benign hysterectomies.

Effects of a Passive Back-Support Exoskeleton on Knee Joint Loading during Simulated Static Sorting and Dynamic Lifting Tasks.

Due to the load shifting mechanism of many back-support exoskeletons (BSEs), this study evaluated possible side effects of using a BSE on knee joint loading. Twenty-nine subjects (25.9 (±4.

Shift work and cardiovascular strain on working and non-working days.

Background: Shift work is often associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular health of employees. Only a few studies address the strain of shift and day workers on non-working days compared to working days.

Aims: This study aims to determine how the cardiovascular strain of hotel and catering industry (HCI) employees who work alternating shifts differs from those working normal day shifts-on both a working day (WD) and a non-working day (ND).

Psychosocial Work Stress and Health Risks - A Cross-Sectional Study of Shift Workers From the Hotel and Catering Industry and the Food Industry.

Purpose: Psychosocial work stress, and shift and night work are considered risk indicators for impaired health. Using the effort-reward (ER) model, it was possible to examine which relationships exist for shift workers between clusters (CL) of different levels of psychosocial work stress and overcommitment (OC) and cardiovascular or psychological health indicators, and which predictive value is evident in individual health indicators to explain the clusters.

Methods: The data were collected as part of an occupational health prevention program.

Gender-Specific Aspects of Teachers Regarding Working Behavior and Early Retirement.

Worldwide, a significant proportion of teachers retires prematurely for health reasons or at their own request. The study examines whether male and female teachers differ in terms of working conditions and coping with high work demands as well as individual factors that promote early retirement. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from 6,109 full-time teachers in high schools (56% women).

Using a Passive Back Exoskeleton During a Simulated Sorting Task: Influence on Muscle Activity, Posture, and Heart Rate.

Objective: To evaluate using a back exoskeleton in a simulated sorting task in a static forward bent trunk posture on muscle activity, posture, and heart rate (HR).

Background: Potentials of exoskeletons for reducing musculoskeletal demands in work tasks need to be clarified.

Methods: Thirty-six healthy males performed the sorting task in 40°-forward bent static trunk posture for 90 seconds, in three trunk orientations, with and without exoskeleton.

Teachers' working time as a risk factor for their mental health - findings from a cross-sectional study at German upper-level secondary schools.

Background: The work of teachers has changed due to an increase in the range of tasks. However, there is a lack of current information on working hours, task distribution and the possible health effects.

Methods: For the first time for Germany as a whole, a cross-sectional survey determined how long teachers at upper-level secondary schools work per week, what influences their working hours and how different recording methods affect the total working hours.

Effects of Face Masks on Physical Performance and Physiological Response during a Submaximal Bicycle Ergometer Test.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic requires wearing face masks in many areas of our daily life; hence, the potential side effects of mask use are discussed. Therefore, the present study explores whether wearing a medical face mask (MedMask) affects physical working capacity (PWC). Secondary, the influence of a filtering facepiece mask with exhalation valve class 2 (FFP2exhal) and a cotton fabric mask (community mask) on PWC was also investigated.

Ergonomics for surgeons - prototype of an external surgeon support system reduces muscular activity and fatigue.

Background: Since the unergonomic postures cannot be changed during a surgery, it seems reasonable to externally support the surgeon's posture in order to relieve the musculature. To evaluate this matter, we conducted a pilot study to investigate if a prototype of an external surgeon support system (S3) relieves the musculature in an objectively measurable manner.

Methods: Simultaneous surface electromyography (EMG) was used alongside a combination of a laser Doppler flowmeter and a tissue spectrometer to record back and leg muscles during a simulated surgical situation.

A passive back exoskeleton supporting symmetric and asymmetric lifting in stoop and squat posture reduces trunk and hip extensor muscle activity and adjusts body posture - A laboratory study.

The influence of a passive exoskeleton was assessed during repetitive lifting with different lifting styles (squat, stoop) and orientations (frontal/symmetric, lateral/asymmetric) on trunk and hip extensor muscle activity (primary outcomes), abdominal, leg, and shoulder muscle activity, joint kinematics, and heart rate (secondary outcomes). Using the exoskeleton significantly and partially clinically relevant reduced median/peak activity of the erector spinae (≤6%), biceps femoris (≤28%), rectus abdominis (≤6%) and increased median/peak activity of the vastus lateralis (≤69%), trapezius descendens (≤19%), and median knee (≤6%) and hip flexion angles (≤11%). Using the exoskeleton had only limited influence on muscular responses.

Using a Back Exoskeleton During Industrial and Functional Tasks-Effects on Muscle Activity, Posture, Performance, Usability, and Wearer Discomfort in a Laboratory Trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of using a passive back-support exoskeleton (Laevo V2.56) on muscle activity, posture, heart rate, performance, usability, and wearer comfort during a course of three industrial tasks (COU; exoskeleton worn, turned-on), stair climbing test (SCT; exoskeleton worn, turned-off), timed-up-and-go test (TUG; exoskeleton worn, turned-off) compared to no exoskeleton.

Background: Back-support exoskeletons have the potential to reduce work-related physical demands.

Influence of Work-Related and Personal Characteristics on the Burnout Risk among Full- and Part-Time Teachers.

Teachers are at increased risk of stress-related illnesses and burnout symptoms. Thus, a cross-sectional study involving 6109 full-time and 5905 part-time teachers at upper-level secondary schools examined the influence of presumed work-related and personal characteristics on burnout risk between January and April 2018. Burnout was recorded using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS).

Active and passive work breaks during simulated laparoscopy among laparoscopic surgeons: study protocol for a controlled, randomised cross-over laboratory trial.

Introduction: Laparoscopy has partially replaced open surgery due to the lower infection rate for the patient and hence better and shorter recovery. However, the surgeon's physical load is higher due to longer duration static and awkward body postures, increasing the risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Interventions of an organisational nature are work breaks, being either passive or active.

Postural Control When Using an Industrial Lower Limb Exoskeleton: Impact of Reaching for a Working Tool and External Perturbation.

Objective: To investigate postural control related to a lower limb exoskeleton (Chairless Chair) when (a) reaching for a working tool, and (b) an external perturbation occurs.

Background: Lower limb exoskeletons aiming to reduce physical load associated with prolonged standing may impair workers' postural control and increase the risk of falling.

Method: Forty-five males were reaching for an object (3-kg dumbbell) at the lateral end of their reaching area without the exoskeleton in upright standing (STAND) and with the exoskeleton at a high (EXO) and low sitting position (EXO).

Physiological changes during prolonged standing and walking considering age, gender and standing work experience.

Occupational standing is associated with musculoskeletal and venous disorders. The aim was to investigate whether lower leg oedema and muscle fatigue development differ between standing and walking and whether age, gender and standing work habituation are factors to consider. Sixty participants (15 young females, 15 young males, 15 older males, and 15 young males habituated to standing work) were included and required to stand/walk for 4.

Sex differences in muscle activity and motor variability in response to a non-fatiguing repetitive screwing task.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are more prevalent among women than among men, which may be explained by aspects of motor control, including neuromuscular requirements and motor variability. Using an exploratory approach, this study aimed to evaluate sex differences in neuromuscular responses and motor variability during a repetitive task performed on 3 days.

Methods: Thirty women and 27 men performed the non-fatiguing, repetitive, 1-h screwing task.

Influence of a passive lower-limb exoskeleton during simulated industrial work tasks on physical load, upper body posture, postural control and discomfort.

This study investigated the effect of wearing a passive lower-limb exoskeleton on physical load, kinematics, postural control, and discomfort. 45 healthy males participated and were exposed to three 21-min simulations, including screwing, cable-mounting, and clip-fitting. Each exposure comprised one of three exoskeleton statuses (standing, high and low sitting on exoskeleton) and three working distances (optimal, far, very far).