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- Original Article Risk Factor Assessment Using Surface Electromyography and Electrogoniometer among Automobile Part Manufacturers
- Dongmug Kang, Cheol Ho Yee, Yong Chul Shin, Eun A Kim, Ji Hoon Woo, Byung Mann Cho, Su Ill Lee
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2005.17.4.267
Published online: December 31, 2005
1Department of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine, Pusan National University. 
2Department of Occupational Medicine, Masan Samsung Hospital. hoonji2@hanmail.net
3Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Inje University.
4Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute.
2Department of Occupational Medicine, Masan Samsung Hospital. hoonji2@hanmail.net
3Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Inje University.
4Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
As automobile part manufacturing is characterized by high speed and high repetition, observation methods which are usually utilized for static posture are inappropriate to evaluate musculoskeleatal risk factors. This study quantified the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders on the forearm and suggested exposure limits by estimating the risk factors using surface electromyography (EMG) and electrogoniometer.
METHODS
Ten percent of the total workers at 3 automobile part manufacturing factories were randomly selected, and 99 male workers were recruited as study subjects. The study was conducted during May 2003 to September 2004. The workers were equipped with electrogoniometers on the wrist and the elbow, surface EMGs on the skin of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscles, and the heart beat recorder during work as indicators of joint movement, local muscle tension and physical work load, respectively.
RESULTS
After controlling for age, body mass index and job stress, wrist flexion maximum angle, FDS relative activity (RA) and ECR RA were significantly associated with forearm musculoskeletal symptoms. The odds ratios of the forearm were 5.0(95% CI: 1.1-22.7), 14.0(95% CI: 1.5-128.8) and 7.3(95% CI: 1.1-49.4) for wrist flexion maximum angle more than 76 degrees, FDS RA more than 2.8%, and ECR RA more than 3.5%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Joint angle and focal muscle activity were associated with forearm musculoskeletal symptoms. To reduce forearm musculoskeletal symptoms among automobile part manufacturers, the wrist flexion angle, and FDS and ECR activity need to be reduced below the guidelines recommended in this study.
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