Effect of gloves on prehensile forces during lifting and holding tasks (original) (raw)
Related papers
Glove Attributes and Their Contribution to Force Decrement and Increased Effort in Power Grip
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2009
To determine the contribution of the loss of tactile sensitivity, glove flexibility, glove thickness, and changes in finger geometry to force decrement and increased effort during gloved power grip. Background: Gloved work has been shown to increase the effort required to perform manual tasks. Method: A battery of maximal and submaximal gripping tasks was performed while grip force and surface electromyography of seven forearm muscles were recorded. Participants performed power grips while wearing three different thicknesses of rubber gloves (differing only in thickness; maximum 3.1 mm), wearing interdigital spacers between the fingers (matched to the glove thicknesses), and with a bare hand. Results: Decreases in maximum grip force compared with the bare hand were observed for the thickest glove (-31.0 ± 6.8%, p < .05) and for the thickest interdigital spacers (-9.7 ± 5.9 %, p < .05). Participants increased their grip force with increasing glove thickness for a submaximal object-lifting task (p < .01). To maintain an unloaded grip posture and to create a fixed submaximal force, participants increased muscle activation (p < .05) for all muscles with increasing glove thickness. Conclusion: Decreases in maximal grip force and increased effort in submaximal tasks could be attributed to a combination of reduced tactile sensitivity, the effort to bend the gloves, and interdigital separation. Application: Although the values obtained are specific to the rubber gloves tested, the results give insights into factors important in the design and selection of gloves.
The effects of latex gloves on the kinetics of grasping
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2001
This study investigated the effect of the use of latex gloves on motor performance. In the first experiment ten participants performed sensory discrimination tests (a two-point discrimination and a Von Frey hair test) to assess the impact that varying layers of latex gloves (no glove, one, two or three layers of latex gloves) had on the tactile sensitivity of the index finger and thumb. Results showed that multiple layers of gloves impaired haptic sensitivity. To determine if impaired sensation affected motor control, in a second experiment participants picked up various masses (100, 150, 200 g) with their index finger and thumb in the same four glove conditions. Grip and load forces were recorded using a force transducer implanted in the target object. Results showed that more grip and load force was generated when participants were wearing multiple glove layers. However, it was also demonstrated that the gloves were more slippery than bare skin, suggesting that the increased grip forces observed when wearing gloves may have been related to lower friction between the object and glove surfaces.
Muscular responses to handle perturbation with different glove condition
Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 2014
The effect of wearing gloves on timely muscle reaction to stabilize handle perturbation was investigated. Thirteen adults gripped a horizontal overhead handle to which an upward force was applied at a random time. Muscle reaction time, integrated EMGs for eight muscles, and handle displacement were compared among three glove conditions affecting the coefficient of friction (COF=0.32, 0.50, and 0.74 for a polyester glove, a bare hand, and a latex glove, respectively). A lower COF increased the integrated EMGs and handle displacement until the perturbed handle was stabilized. The low-friction glove resulted in a 16% greater muscular effort (p = 0.01) and a 20% greater handle displacement (p = 0.002), compared with the high-friction glove. The muscle reaction time was not influenced by the glove condition. Spinal reflex eliciting forearm muscle activity in response to the change in pressure at the hand appears to depend on somatosensation. The spinal reflex with a short latency time may play an important role in the initial response to a perturbation. The latissimus dorsi muscles as well as the forearm muscles show a large activity level compared with other shoulder and upper arm muscles and may play a major role in the later stabilization of the perturbed handle. Therefore, low-friction gloves, sensory dysfunction, and weakened forearm and latissimus dorsi muscles may jeopardize persons' ability to stabilize a grip of a handle after perturbation.
Jurnal Ilmiah Teknik Industri
Assembly is a common activity in manufacturing companies. The use of handtools during assembly creates pressure on the palms surface which can lead to injury. To reduce the risk of injury, operators need to use gloves as personal protective equipment. Regardless of the general function of the glove, the type of glove tends to be chosen specifically for each task. But there is no specific method to determine the right gloves for certain activities. It is important to know the effect of using gloves on the palms surface during work activities. So this study aims to design a measuring instrument that can determine the pressure on the palm surface during activities by wearing gloves. This is done in order to be able to choose the right gloves for assembly. The result shown that during assembly the areas on the palms receive different pressure. Areas of the palms that receive the greatest pressure are the distal phalanx, and proximal phalanx on the index, middle, ring and little fingers....
Glove Attributes and Their Contribution to Force Decrement and Increased Effort in
2010
Lowery, Madeleine M., Nikolay S. Stoykov, and Todd A. Kuiken. A simulation study to examine the use of crosscorrelation as an estimate of surface EMG cross talk. between surface electromyogram (EMG) signals is commonly used as a means of quantifying EMG cross talk during voluntary activation. To examine the reliability of this method, the relationship between cross talk and the crosscorrelation between surface EMG signals was examined by using model simulation. The simulation results illustrate an increase in cross talk with increasing subcutaneous fat thickness. The results also indicate that the cross-correlation function decays more rapidly with increasing distance from the active fibers than cross talk, which was defined as the normalized EMG amplitude during activation of a single muscle. The influence of common drive and short-term motor unit synchronization on the cross-correlation between surface EMG signals was also examined. While common drive did not alter the maximum value of the cross-correlation function, the correlation increased with increasing motor unit synchronization. It is concluded that cross-correlation analysis is not a suitable means of quantifying cross talk or of distinguishing between cross talk and coactivation during voluntary contraction. Furthermore, it is possible that a high correlation between surface EMG signals may reflect an association between motor unit firing times, for example due to motor unit synchronization.
Design options for improving protective gloves for industrial assembly work
Applied Ergonomics, 2014
The study investigated the effects of wearing two new designs of cotton glove on several hand performance capabilities and compared them against the effects of barehanded, single-layered and double cotton glove conditions when working with hand tools (screwdriver and pliers). The new glove designs were based on the findings of subjective hand discomfort assessments for this type of work and aimed to match the glove thickness to the localised pressure and sensitivity in different areas of the hand as well as to provide adequate dexterity for fine manipulative tasks. The results showed that the first prototype glove and the barehanded condition were comparable and provided better dexterity and higher handgrip strength than double thickness gloves. The results support the hypothesis that selective thickness in different areas of the hand could be applied by glove manufacturers to improve the glove design, so that it can protect the hands from the environment and at the same time allow optimal hand performance capabilities. (I. Dianat), christine.haslegrave@nottingham.ac.uk (C.M. Haslegrave), alex.stedmon@coventry. ac.uk (A.W. Stedmon).
Applied Ergonomics, 2012
The present study investigated the effects of wearing typical industrial gloves on hand performance capabilities (muscle activity, wrist posture, touch sensitivity, hand grip and forearm torque strength) and subjective assessments for an extended duration of performing a common assembly task, wire tying with pliers, which requires a combination of manipulation and force exertion. Three commercially available gloves (cotton, nylon and nitrile gloves) were tested and compared with a bare hand condition while participants performed the simulated assembly task for 2 h. The results showed that wearing gloves significantly increased the muscle activity, wrist deviation, and discomfort whilst reducing hand grip strength, forearm torque strength and touch sensitivity. The combined results showed that the length of time for which gloves are worn does affect hand performance capability and that gloves need to be evaluated in a realistic working context. The results are discussed in terms of selection of gloves for industrial assembly tasks involving pliers. (I. Dianat), christine.haslegrave@ nottingham.ac.uk (C.M. Haslegrave), alex.stedmon@nottingham.ac.uk (A.W. Stedmon). 1 Tel.: þ44 115 951 4068; fax: þ44 115 8466771.
Decrements Encountered when Wearing Hazardous Materials Gloves
The Ergonomics Open Journal, 2009
Hazardous materials gloves (HAZMAT) are frequently worn when performing clinical technical skills, but it is unclear how sensory and motor performance is affected in these circumstances. In Experiment 1, two timed standardized manual dexterity tests, and a test of sensory function were administered. Glove use resulted in a decreased ability to manipulate small objects and a decreased sensitivity to light touch. However, the ability to manipulate objects with a tool was unaffected by the glove. In Experiment 2, the objects were instrumented with a force/torque sensor and the coefficient of friction between the digits and the object was estimated. An elevation of grasping forces and an increased slipperiness between the digits and the object were observed. In Experiment 3, fingertip placement was quantified with pressure sensitive sheets and revealed a misalignment of the digits. Collectively these results suggest that impairments to motor performance when wearing a glove might be related to misalignment of the digits, associated with sensory decrement. These results can be used in the formulation of protocols for professionals wearing HAZMAT gloves and in the design of tools and HAZ-MAT garments.