Matching physical work load with functional capacity in healthy workers.

Hollak, N. (2012) Matching physical work load with functional capacity in healthy workers. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.

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Abstract

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine whether physical work load and functional capacity can be matched and to determine at which percentile the normative values of the Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) are valid. Design: Cross-sectional study design. Setting: Work place and rehabilitation centre. Participants: 40 Healthy working subjects (28 males, 12 females), between 26 and 60 years of age, working in 36 different occupations. Interventions: Subjects occupations were categorized into four physical work demand categories (sedentary, light, moderate and heavy). The functional capacity of the subject was determined by the use of a 12-item FCE. Normative values of the functional capacity, which were categorized into the four physical work demands categories, and the individual functional capacity of the subjects were determined in a former study of Soer et al (2009). 12 The physical work load of the subjects was determined by the use of the PalmTRAC method and by heart rate data which were collected in a 4 hour work place assessment (WP A). Main outcome measures: In the WP A, the peak and total physical work load of the FCE activities lifting high, lifting low, carrying, forward bending, overhead working and energetic load were determined. Loads were expressed in kilograms, seconds and/or in metabolic equivalents (METS). The physical work load of the subjects was compared with the functional capacity which was obtained in the individual FCE. For every work demand category, a match with a percentile of the normative values were determined. A sensitivity of95% was used to determine whether a percentile of the NV of the FCE is a valid cut of point to match with physical work load. Results: 85% of the subjects scored higher in their FCE than in the WPA in all activities. When performing sedentary or light work, 98% of all subjects had a match at the tenth percentile of the NV for all activities. 75% of the subjects had a match at the thirtieth percentile of the normative values when performing moderate or heavy work. Conclusion: Functional capacity and physical work load can be matched in most instances but exceptions should be kept in mind especially for the domain 'material handling' in combination with moderate or heavy physical work demands. Normative values can be matched with the tenth percentile 1 of the NV for sedentary and light work. For moderate and heavy work, a moderate match of 75% is found at the thirtieth percentile of the NV. Key words: Functional Capacity Evaluations and physical work load.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Deijs M. and Reneman M.F. and University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen and Sciences, Groningen
Supervisor name:	Soer R. and Reneman M.F.
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:48
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:48
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/900

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