Campus Units
Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
4-2021
Journal or Book Title
Applied Ergonomics
Volume
92
First Page
103311
Research Focus Area(s)
Ergonomics and Human Factors
DOI
10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103311
Abstract
Sustained non-neutral postures of the head/neck are related to transient neck discomfort and longer-term disorders of the neck. Periodic breaks can help but the ideal length and frequency of breaks are yet to be determined. The current study aimed to quantify the effects of three work-rest strategies on fatigue development. Participants maintained a 45-degree neck flexion posture for a total of 60 min and were provided 3 min of rest distributed in different ways throughout the experiment [LONG (one, 3-min break), MEDIUM (two, 1.5-min breaks), or SHORT (five, 36-s breaks)]. Surface electromyography data were collected from the bilateral neck extensors and trapezius. Subjective discomfort/fatigue ratings were also gathered. Results of the analysis of the EMG data revealed that the SHORT condition did not show increased EMG activity, while LONG [21%] and MEDIUM [10%] did (p < 0.05), providing objective data supporting the guidance of short, frequent breaks to alleviate fatigue.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Copyright Owner
Elsevier Ltd.
Copyright Date
2020
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Sarker, Pramiti; Norasi, Hamid; Koenig, Jordyn; Hallbeck, M. Susan; and Mirka, Gary, "Effects of break scheduling strategies on subjective and objective measures of neck and shoulder muscle fatigue in asymptomatic adults performing a standing task requiring static neck flexion" (2021). Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Publications. 257.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/imse_pubs/257
Comments
This is a manuscript of an article published as Sarker, Pramiti, Hamid Norasi, Jordyn Koenig, M. Susan Hallbeck, and Gary Mirka. "Effects of break scheduling strategies on subjective and objective measures of neck and shoulder muscle fatigue in asymptomatic adults performing a standing task requiring static neck flexion." Applied Ergonomics 92 (2020): 103311. DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103311. Posted with permission.