Biomedical subjects

Danuta Roman-Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Danuta Roman-Liu.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Decrease of force capabilities as an index of upper limb fatigue.

The aim of the study was to assess upper limb fatigue on the basis of the force change index (FCI), which expresses changes in developed force, and to demonstrate that this index differentiates muscle fatigue of the upper limb depending on external load. The study was performed on ten young men in 12 conditions of external load. Ten conditions characterized repetitive work in a two-period cycle, in which both or one of the periods were loaded, and two conditions characterized continuous work with constant load. The participants tried to maintain hand-grip force at an imposed level during a determined time in the standard upper limb posture. Changes in values of recorded force exerted during successive cycles were approximated by a regression function. In most cases there was a strong correlation between the measurement data and the logarithmic regression curve. However, several cases of lower external load showed absence of such correlation. In 75% of the cases, there were statistically significant differences between the values of FCI calculated for individual conditions of external load. That means that FCI not only expresses muscle fatigue quantitatively but also points to the differences in upper limb fatigue resulting from differences in the external load. The study results have shown that the developed index (FCI) can be applied for fatigue assessment and discrimination with a more sophisticated model of a repetitive task than just a simple two-period work and rest model.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The effect of an ergonomic intervention on musculoskeletal, psychosocial, and visual strain of VDT data entry work: the Polish part of the international study.

A group of routine data entry operators (female) was included in the Polish MEPS (musculoskeletal--eyestrain--psychosocial--stress) study. Before the intervention, ergonomic assessment revealed improper working conditions such as inadequate lighting, uncomfortable chairs, and lack of forearm and wrist support while medical examination revealed that trapezius muscle load along with upper arm, head and back angles were higher than advisable. Subjects complained about neck and shoulder pain, visual problems, and psychosocial conditions. The ergonomic intervention included installation of new luminaires and Venetian blinds, new chairs, repair of ventilators, and optometric corrections. The results after the intervention showed mainly improvement in chair comfort, lighting conditions, visual strain, and sitting posture. However, financial limitations did not allow satisfactory completion of the intervention leading to a mixed interpretation of the results.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Upper limb load as a function of repetitive task parameters: part 1--a model of upper limb load.

The aim of the study was to develop a theoretical indicator of upper limb musculoskeletal load based on repetitive task parameters. As such the dimensionless parameter, Integrated Cycle Load (ICL) was accepted. It expresses upper limb load which occurs during 1 cycle. The indicator is based on a model of a repetitive task, which consists of a model of the upper limb, a model of basic types of upper limb forces and a model of parameters of a repetitive task such as length of the cycle, length of periods of the cycle and external force exerted during each of the periods of the cycle. Calculations of the ICL parameter were performed for 12 different variants of external load characterised by different values of repetitive task parameters. A comparison of ICL, which expresses external load with a physiological indicator of upper limb load, is presented in Part 2 of the paper.

Arm↗

PubMed2005

Upper limb load as a function of repetitive task parameters: part 2--an experimental study.

The aim of the study was to compare the theoretical indicator of upper limb load with the physiological indicator of musculoskeletal load, which is present while performing a repetitive task (a normalized electromyography [EMG] amplitude recorded from the muscles of the upper limb involved in the performed task). In an experimental study of a repetitive task, the EMG signal from 5 main muscles of the shoulder girdle, arm and forearm was registered: extensor carpi radialis longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, deltoideus anterior, biceps brachii caput breve and trapezius descendent. The results of the study showed a strong correlation between the theoretical indicator (Integrated Cycle Load) and the physiological indicator (root mean square of a normalized EMG amplitude from the 5 muscles). This proves that the developed theoretical indicator can be accepted as an indicator of upper limb musculoskeletal load during a work task.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Quantitative assessment of upper limb muscle fatigue depending on the conditions of repetitive task load.

The aim of this study was to discriminate fatigue of upper limb muscles depending on the external load, through the development and analysis of a muscle fatigue index. Muscle fatigue is expressed by a fatigue index based on an amplitude parameter (calculated in the time domain) and a fatigue index based on a frequency parameter (a parameter calculated in the frequency domain). The fatigue index involves a regression function that describes changes in the EMG signal parameter, time elapsing before muscle fatigue and the probability of specific trends in changes in EMG parameters for the population under study. The experimental study covered a group of 10 young men. During the study, they exerted force at a specific level and for a specific time in 12 load variants. During the study, EMG signals from four muscles of the upper limb were recorded (trapezius pars descendents, biceps brachii caput breve, extensor carpi radialis brevis, flexor carpi ulnaris). For each variant and for each examined muscles, the value of the fatigue index was calculated. Values of that index quantitatively expressed fatigue of a specific muscle in a specific load variant. A statistical analysis indicated variation in the fatigue of the biceps brachii caput breve, extensor carpi radialis brevis, and flexor carpi ulnaris muscles depending on the external load (load variant) according to the task performed with the upper limb. The study demonstrated usefulness of the fatigue index in expressing quantitatively muscle fatigue and in discriminating muscle fatigue depending on the external load.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Maximum handgrip force in relation to upper limb posture--a meta-analysis.

It is essential to establish normative values of handgrip force in relation to factors influencing the force. This study developed a predictive equation that expresses the maximum force of the handgrip in relation to upper limb posture and gender. To create the equation, data from published studies on experimental results of maximum handgrip force in different upper limb postures were used. Selected were only those studies that describe upper limb posture during experiments clearly enough so that it could be transferred according to the Seven Degrees of Freedom Model, which unambiguously defines upper limb posture with values of seven angles. A predictive equation for male maximum handgrip force in relation to angles of wrist flexion/extension, wrist adduction/abduction, forearm pronation/supination, elbow flexion, shoulder flexion/extension, shoulder horizontal adduction/abduction, and arm medial/lateral rotation along the long axis was developed. Also developed was a mathematical formula that expresses maximum handgrip force for men in relation to maximum handgrip force for women. The equation is general and can be used for calculating norm values. It can also be applied to a specific population by performing an experimental study for one upper limb posture and assessing maximum force on the basis of the predictive equation for others.

Adult↗