Biomedical subjects

Eva Bernmark

Publications and source records attributed to Eva Bernmark.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Bicycle messengers: energy expenditure and exposure to air pollution.

The purpose of the study was to determine the level of energy expenditure and exposure to air pollution for bicycle messengers. Relationships between heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake, and between HR and pulmonary ventilation (VE) for each participant were established in laboratory tests. Air pollution and HR were measured during one working day. The total oxygen uptake was then described as the total energy expenditure in Joule (J) and in multiples of the energy expenditure at rest (MET). The mean energy expenditure during a working day (8 h) was 12 MJ, (4.8 MET). The level of air pollution exposure when cycling seemed to be comparable with the levels of exposure when sitting inside a vehicle. The VE during cycling was four times higher than resting value. Increased VE led to increased exposure to air pollution.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Awkward work postures: association with occupational gender segregation.

BACKGROUND: Segregation of men and women into different jobs is often cited as one of the most plausible explanations for gender differences in exposure and musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: Direct measurements of sitting, arm, and trunk postures were taken with two different technical instruments on 156 subjects (78 matched pairs of one female and one male worker) over one full workday in diverse labor markets. RESULTS: Exposure differences between workers were strongly associated with vertical occupational segregation (measured as level of status/authority). The results showed that this association was strongest for female-dominated jobs. Workers in female-dominated jobs with a low status/authority experienced longer duration in standing posture (P = 0.001), and higher frequency of arm elevation (P = 0.028 and 0.040 for the dominant and the non-dominant arm, respectively). They also had longer duration of work with bent trunk compared to corresponding workers with high status/authority (P = 0.035). The association was less pronounced for male-dominated jobs, and no such association was found for gender-integrated jobs. CONCLUSION: The findings have implications for prevention as well as for future research.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

A triaxial accelerometer for measuring arm movements.

A triaxial accelerometer used as an inclinometer (INC) (Logger Technology, Sweden) needed to be evaluated for field measurements of arm postures and movements. INC consists of one portable data logger and up to four sensors. Each sensor measures the inclination to the vertical line. The sampling frequency is 20 Hz and, the logger can collect data for up to 12 h. The aim of the present study was to compare INC measurements with those from an optoelectronic measuring system- the Mac Reflex system (OPT) (Qualisys AB, Sweden). For all movements with normal to high velocities INC measured the degree of arm elevation with very high precision. At very high velocities and, especially when the direction of the velocity was perpendicular to the vertical line the largest differences between INC and OPT were found. In field studies INC has proved to be very safe and useful in assessment of arm movements. INC was easy to handle and easy to wear for the researcher and the subject, respectively.

Acceleration↗