Search

With the rapid expansion of online socializing, social media fatigue has become increasingly common among users. Envy and admiration are very common emotions in online social interactions. We usually consider envy a negative emotion and admiration a positive emotion. Nevertheless, does envy inevitably increase social media fatigue? Does admiration always alleviate social media fatigue? To answer these questions, this paper explores the impacts of two forms of envy (i.e., benign envy and malicious envy) and two forms of admiration (i.e., elevation and skill admiration) on social media fatigue through the mediators of social media loneliness and social media anxiety. The data were collected from 581 WeChat users, and the results showed that benign envy aggravated social media fatigue through the mediator of social media anxiety, while malicious envy aggravated social media fatigue through the mediators of both social media loneliness and anxiety. However, although admiration is often considered a positive emotion, it does not always have a positive effect. Elevation relieved social media fatigue through the mediator of social media loneliness, while skill admiration aggravated social media fatigue through the mediator of social media anxiety. Overall, the findings offer useful implications for alleviating social media fatigue., Author(s): Qiang Yan [sup.1] , Yepeng Chen [sup.1] , Yuxian Jiang [sup.2] , Hejie Chen [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.31880.32, 0000 0000 8780 1230, School of Economics and Management, Beijing [...]

COVID-19 is a major public health event affecting the people worldwide. Nurses are still under immense psychological pressure. This study aimed to explore the relationship between mental fatigue and negative emotions among frontline medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted in August 2020, which included 419 medical staff between 17 to 28 years. The Fatigue Scale, Multidimensional Mental Flexibility Questionnaire, Cognitive Fusion Scale, and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Brief Version Scale were used. During the data collection period, the pandemic was under control in China and continued worldwide. The results indicated that 27.7% of the medical staff experienced depression, and 32.3% of them feel stressed. Specifically, first, correlation analyses showed significant positive pairwise correlations between mental fatigue, psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion, and negative emotions among nurses. Second, mediation model tests showed statistically significant mediating effects of psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion between mental fatigue on nurses' negative emotions, and statistically, significant chain mediating effects of psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion. Mental fatigue indirectly affects nurses' negative effects through the mediating effects of psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion, and the chain mediating effects of psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion, respectively. the negative effects of mental fatigue come from impairment of cognitive functioning, and interventions using acceptance and commitment therapy for mental fatigue and negative emotions are more effective since both psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion are important components of the therapy., Author(s): Difan Wang [sup.1] [sup.2] , Xinjie Xie [sup.1] , Huiyi Tian [sup.1] , Tong Wu [sup.1] , Chenjie Liu [sup.3] , Ke Huang [sup.4] , Rufang Gong [sup.5] , [...]

Background/Objectives Iron deficiency is common in older patients. We investigated whether iron deficiency is an independent risk factor for functional impairment, low muscle function, fatigue, and rehabilitation progress in older hospitalized patients. Subjects/Methods Two hundred twenty-four patients (age range 65-95 years; 67% females) who were consecutively admitted to a geriatric acute care ward participated in this prospective longitudinal observational study. Ferritin, iron, transferrin in serum, and blood hemoglobin were measured and current iron supplementation was recorded. Fatigue and comorbidity were measured using the fatigue severity scale and Charlson Comorbidity Index, respectively. Barthel Index, handgrip strength, and isometric knee extension strength were conducted at the time of hospital admission and before discharge. Results Ninety-one (41%) patients had iron deficiency in which the majority had functional iron deficiency (78/91, 86%). Absolute iron deficiency with and without anemia was diagnosed in 12 (13%) and one patients, respectively. Barthel Index and handgrip and knee extension strength significantly improved during hospitalization in iron deficiency and non-iron deficiency groups. Knee extension strength showed better improvement in iron-deficient patients receiving iron supplementation and iron supplementation during hospital stay was the main predictor for improvement in knee extension strength. Comorbidity, iron deficiency, and changes in handgrip strength were the major independent risk factors for poor improvement in Barthel Index during hospitalization. There were significant associations between patients' fatigue and iron deficiency, comorbidity, and female gender. Conclusion Iron deficiency is an independent risk factor for fatigue and poor functional recovery among older hospitalized patients. Iron supplementation seems to be capable of improving functional performance., Author(s): Sophia Neidlein [sup.1] , Rainer Wirth [sup.1] , Maryam Pourhassan [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Geriatric Medicine, Marien Hospital Herne, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Herne, Germany Introduction Iron deficiency is [...]

This mixed-methods study investigated factors associated with fatigue, disability and school attendance in young people with severe CFS/ME. Participants' illness experiences were also explored. Questionnaires were completed at baseline (T1) and approximately 5 months later (T2). There were 51 participants aged between 12 and 25, with a mean age of 18.8 years (SD 3.4). At T1, participants reported severe fatigue and poor social adjustment. Stronger fear avoidance beliefs at T1 were associated with higher fatigue at T2, and with worse social adjustment at T1 and T2. Female gender was associated with lower work/school attendance at T1 and T2 but not with higher fatigue or worse social adjustment. Having accessed treatment was associated with reporting lower levels of work/school attendance at T1 and T2. Multivariate analyses of key outcomes identified significant associations between stronger fear avoidance beliefs and worse social adjustment at T2, and between female gender and lower work/school attendance at T2. It was clear from the qualitative data that severe CFS/ME negatively impacted on many aspects of young people's lives. Fearful beliefs about activity could be targeted using cognitive-behavioural interventions., Author(s): Sheila Ali [sup.1] , Lucy Adamczyk [sup.2] , Mary Burgess [sup.1] , Trudie Chalder [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0000 9439 0839, grid.37640.36, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation [...]

Background: There is growing support in the literature that patient outcomes are adversely affected by physician fatigue in operator-dependent cognitive and technical tasks. Recent increases in total joint arthroplasty caseloads have resulted in longer operative days and increased surgeon fatigue. We sought to determine if time of day predicts perioperative complications and outcomes in total joint arthroplasty. Methods: The records of all total hip and knee arthroplasties (THA; TKA) performed for primary osteoarthritis in one calendar year at one large university hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, surgery start time and duration, intraoperative complications, radiographic component alignment and functional outcome scores (SF-12 and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) were collected and analyzed using linear and nonparametric rank correlation statistics. Data were corrected for sex, body mass index, surgeon and postcall operating days. Results: In the THA cohort (n = 341), a later surgery start time was significantly related to duration of surgery (p = 0.004, mean difference -7.1 min). There was a trend toward significance between a later surgery start time and intraoperative femur fracture (p = 0.05). Postoperative complications, component alignment and functional outcome scores were not significantly affected by surgery start time. There were no significant findings for any of the intraoperative or postoperative outcomes in the TKA cohort (n = 292). Conclusion: Duration of surgery and incidence of intraoperative complications for THA may increase with later surgery start time; however, the relatively small statistical differences observed imply that they likely are not clinically significant. Contexte: On reconnait de plus en plus dans les publications scientifiques que dans l'execution de taches cognitives et techniques tributaires de l'intervenant, la fatigue des medecins a un effet indesirable sur les resultats des patients. Des augmentations recentes du nombre de cas d'arthroplastie totale d'une articulation ont allonge les journees en salle d'operation et aggrave la fatigue des chirurgiens. Nous avons cherche a determiner si l'heure du jour est un predicteur de complications peroperatoires et des resultats d'une arthroplastie totale d'une articulation. Methodes: Nous avons effectue une analyse retrospective des dossiers de toutes les arthroplasties de la hanche et du genou (ATH; ATG) pratiquees a cause d'une arthrose primitive au cours d'une annee civile dans un grand hopital universitaire. Nous avons recueilli les donnees demographiques, l'heure du debut de l'intervention chirurgicale et sa duree, les complications intraoperatoires, l'alignement radiographique des pieces et les resultats fonctionnels (SF-12 et les donnees sur l'indice de l'arthrose des universites Western Ontario et McMaster) et nous les avons analysees en etablissant des statistiques de correlation lineaire et non parametrique. Nous avons corrige les donnees en fonction du sexe, de l'indice de masse corporelle, du chirurgien et du nombre de jours de chirugie apres l'appel. Resultats: Dans la cohorte des ATH (n = 341), on a etabli un lien important entre l'heure plus tardive du debut de l'intervention chirurgicale et sa duree (p = 0,004, difference moyenne -7,1 min). On a constate une tendance a l'importance du lien entre le debut de l'intervention chirurgicale a une heure plus tardive et une fracture intraoperatoire du femur (p = 0,05). L'heure du debut de la chirurgie n'a pas eu d'effet significatif sur les complications postoperatoires, l'alignement des pieces et le resultat fonctionnel. Il n'y a eu aucune constatation significative dans le cas d'aucun des resultats intraoperatoires ou postoperatoires dans la cohorte des ATG (n = 292). Conclusion: La duree de l'intervention chirurgicale et l'incidence de complications intraoperatoires dans les cas d'ATH peuvent augmenter en fonction de l'heure plus tardive du debut de l'intervention chirurgicale. Les differences statistiques relativement faibles observees indiquent toutefois qu'elles ne sont probablement pas cliniquement significatives., In an effort to reduce wait times associated with joint replacement surgery, the overall arthroplasty caseload in the province in Ontario has increased by more than 50% in the past [...]

One proposed explanation for the V[O.sub.2] slow component is that lower-threshold motor units may fatigue and develop little or no tension but continue to use [O.sub.2], thereby resulting in a dissociation of cellular respiration from force generation. The present study used intact isolated single myocytes with differing fatigue resistance profiles to investigate the relationship between fatigue, tension development, and aerobic metabolism. Single Xenopus skeletal muscle myofibers were allocated to a fast-fatiguing (FF) or a slow-fatiguing (SF) group, based on the contraction frequency required to elicit a fall in tension to 60% of peak. Phosphorescence quenching of a porphyrin compound was used to determine [DELTA] intracellular [MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII]; a proxy for V[O.sub.2]), and developed isometric tension was monitored to allow calculation of the time-integrated tension (TxT). Although peak [MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII]: was not different between groups (P = 0.36), peak tension was lower (P < 0.05) in SF vs. FF (1.97 [+ or -] 0. 17 V vs. 2.73 [+ or -] 0.30 V, respectively) and time to 60% of peak tension was significantly longer in SF vs. FF (242 [+ or -] 10 s vs. 203 [+ or -] l0 s, respectively). Before fatigue, both[MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] and TxT rose proportionally with contraction frequency in SF and FF, resulting in [MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII]/TxT being identical between groups. At fatigue, TxT fell dramatically in both groups, but [MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] decreased proportionately only in the FF group, resulting in an increase in [MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII]/TxT in the SF group relative to the prefatigue condition. These data show that more fatigue-resistant fibers maintain aerobic metabolism as they fatigue, resulting in an increased [O.sub.2] cost of contractions that could contribute to the Vo2 slow component seen in whole body exercise. oxidative phosphorylation; skeletal muscle; fiber type; oxygen uptake doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00715.2009.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a tennis training session on the balance performance of young tennis players. The study was conducted on 36 elite tennis players (age 14 [+ or -] 2 years; body mass 55 [+ or -] 6 kg; body height 165 [+ or -] 6 cm; mean [+ or -] SD) participating in the national young tennis championship. Balance performance was assessed before and immediately after a tennis training session (pre-training and post-training, respectively). The balance assessment was performed with 2 different balance boards and the Biodex Stability System. In addition, dynamometric measurements of peak isokinetic moment in the knee flexors and extensors were performed pre and post tennis training session, to quantify the degree of muscle fatigue induced by the tennis training session. One-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to test for differences in balance performance and in isokinetic performance between pre and post tennis training session. The data analysis revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in balance performance, whereas there were significant differences in knee joint moment production between pre and post tennis training measures. Although the tennis training session of the present study had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on any of the balance performance indicators examined, there was a decline in balance performance, which suggests that different level of fatigue for an extended period (games) will have greater effect on balance performance. It is suggested that a tennis-specific balance exercise program should be included in the tennis training session. KEY WORDS elite tennis players, coordination, training fatigue

The primary aim for this research was to explore the overlap and differences between the concepts related to secondary traumatization: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), secondary traumatic stress (STS), compassion fatigue (CF), and burnout (BRN). A secondary aim for this research was to examine the impact of secondary traumatization and some of the personal and professional elements that affect how pediatric healthcare providers experience PTSD, STS, CF, and BRN. An online survey was sent via e-mail to numerous list serves for healthcare providers who had worked on PICU, NICU, or PEDS units within the last year. The analyses revealed that a significant overlap existed between the terms of STS, PTSD, BRN, CS, and CF for PICU, NICU, and PEDS providers. However, a hierarchical linear regression revealed a significant amount of unique contributions to the variance in CF based on each of the measured concepts. Despite previous literature that indicates that the terms STS and CF can be used interchangeably, the two most prominent measures utilized in the assessment of CF and STS are actually capturing at least some unique elements. Given these results, future researchers should examine and conceptualize the difference in etiology, prevalence, symptoms, and treatment efficacy for CF and STS as separate but related entities and then return their focus to understanding secondary traumatization in healthcare providers. doi: 10.2190/OM.60.2.a

Skeletal muscle fatigue is most often studied in vitro at room temperature and is classically defined as a decline in maximum force production or power output, exclusively linked to repeated isometric contractions. However, most muscles shorten during normal use, and we propose that both the functional correlate of fatigue, as well as the fatigue mechanism, will be different during dynamic contractions compared with static contractions. Under isoflurane anesthesia, fatigue was induced in rat soleus muscles in situ by isotonic shortening contractions at 37[degrees]C. Muscles were stimulated repeatedly for 1 s at 30 Hz every 2 s for a total of 15 min. The muscles were allowed to shorten isotonically against a load corresponding to one-third of maximal isometric force. Maximal unloaded shortening velocity ([V.sub.0]), maximum force production ([F.sub.max]), and isometric relaxation rate (-dF/dt) was reduced after 100 s but returned to almost initial values at the end of the stimulation protocol. Likewise, ATP and creatine phosphate (CrP) were reduced after 100 s, but the level of CrP was partially restored to initial values after 15 min. The rate of isometric force development, the velocity of shortening, and isotonic shortening were also reduced at 100 s, but in striking contrast, did not recover during the remainder of the stimulation protocol. The regulatory myosin light chain (MLC2s) was dephosphorylated after 100 s and did not recover. Although metabolic changes may account for the changes of [F.sub.max], -dF/dt, and [V.sub.0], dephosphorylation of MLC2s may be involved in the fatigue seen as sustained slower contraction velocities and decreased muscle shortening. MLC phosphorylation; oxidative metabolism; isotonic contractions; work; aerobic exercise; cross-bridge

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2009.01.003 Byline: Yu-Ting Lin (a), Po-Hung Lin (a), Sheue-Ling Hwang (a), Shie-Chang Jeng (b), Chi-Chang Liao (b) Abstract: This study employs simulated electronic paper to investigate critical issues and focuses on improving legibility of display and reducing users' visual fatigue. Three critical factors - choice of surface treatment, ambient illumination, and bending curvature - are evaluated through the method of a letter-search task. The results show that subjects performed better on legibility and felt less visual fatigue with an anti-glare treatment. Choosing the better anti-glare treatment instead of the anti-reflection series can save significant cost for manufacturers. In addition, ambient lighting of 1500lux is more appropriate for reading on electronic paper than an environment with extreme illumination (e.g., 8000lux). The present study also found that curvature had no impact on legibility or visual fatigue. These evaluations of simulated electronic paper may provide manufacturers useful information in fulfilling ergonomic requirements for product design. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan (b) Electronics and Optoelectronics Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, 195, Section 4, Chung-Hsing Road, Chutung, Hsinchu, Taiwan Article History: Received 21 May 2007; Accepted 7 January 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a field-based injury prevention exercise on eccentric hamstring strength during simulated soccer match play. Sixteen semiprofessional soccer players (age 21.3 [+ or -] 2.9 years; height 185.0 [+ or -] 8.7 cm; body mass 81.6 [+ or -] 6.7 kg) completed the Soccer-specific Aerobic Field Test ([SAFT.sup.90]), a multidirectional 90-minute exercise protocol representative of soccer match play. Subjects performed 3 maximal dominant-limb isekinetic contractions at 120[degrees] x [s.sup.-1] for concentric knee extensors (conQ) and flexors (conH), and eccentric knee flexors (eccH) before [SAFT.sup.90] ([t.sub.o]), at half-time ([t.sub.45]), and immediately after the [SAFT.sup.90] ([t.sub.105]). After baseline testing, subjects were divided into 2 groups, either performing Nordic hamstring eccentric strengthening exercises during the cool-down (CD) or warm-up (WU) of twice-weekly training sessions. After an 8-week intervention program, the baseline testing was repeated. The WU group displayed a significant increase postintervention in eccH gravity-corrected peak torque (PT) and the functional eccH:conQ ratio at to (p < 0.01), a significantly greater improvement compared with CD group (p < 0.05). Conversely, the CD group displayed a significant increase in both eccH PT and the functional eccH:conQ ratio postintervention at [t.sub.45] (p < 0.05) and at [t.sub.105] (p < 0.05), which were significantly greater increases compared with the WU group (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the training intervention had a time-dependent beneficial effect on eccentric hamstring strength and that strength training conducted posttraining significantly reduced the negative influence of fatigue. KEY WORDS fatigue, injury prevention, muscle strain

Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating complaints of HIV-positive individuals, potentially leading to important functional limitations. We recruited 128 HIV-positive individuals (fatigued and nonfatigued) between March 2005 and May 2006; 66% were male, 66% were African American, 45% had greater than a high school education, 67% were unemployed, and ages ranged from 26-66 (median, 44). Every 3 months for 15 months, participants completed a 56-item self-report fatigue scale developed and validated by the authors. Participants were classified as fatigued or not fatigued at each assessment and received scores for fatigue intensity and impact of fatigue on functioning. We used linear mixed-effects models to assess longitudinal variation in fatigue scores and generalized estimating equations for binary outcomes to model predictors of fatigue remission among those fatigued at baseline. At baseline, 88% of the sample was fatigued. Fatigue measures were highly correlated across time points (p 0.63-0.85 [intensity], 0.63-0.80 [functioning]) and showed no evidence of overall improvement, deterioration, or convergence over time. Predictors of lower fatigue scores included higher income, employment, longer time since HIV diagnosis, and antiretroviral therapy use. Those employed at baseline were likely to show improvements in fatigue while those unemployed were not. Of those fatigued at baseline, 11% experienced remission during follow-up; remission was associated with Caucasian race and employment. In summary, fatigue intensity and related functional limitations were persistent, stable, and unlikely to remit over 15 months of follow-up in this sample of patients with established HIV infection.

A field study was conducted to highlight the occupational risk factors related to building construction activities in India among female workers. These workers were engaged in eight different types of activities and related work parameters were studied in detail. From field environmental parameters, the calculated WBGT was obtained as 30.26 [+ or -] 1.52 [degrees]C, indicated that these workers worked under a positive heat load condition. Whole day work study was conducted oil 11 adult female workers performing concreting operation. They were having age of 28-32 years with 5-7 years of work experience. These workers were mainly performing two types of operations in the field: (A) asymmetric lifting during concreting a boundary wall formwork of a lift unit and (B) carrying the concrete mixture. During asymmetric lifting, the average field working heart rate (HR) was calculated as 124.1 [+ or -] 12.5 beats [min.sup.-1], equivalent to 45.03 [+ or -] 6.93% of [VO.sub.2] max level. These working heart rates (HRs) were significantly (p [less than or equal to] 0.005) correlated with pause time (P.T.) and lifting frequency, but not with lifting time. A method was proposed to determine the average steady P.T. from fluctuating working HR and the lifting frequency was calculated as 6.1 lifts [min.sup.-1]. This type of load handling task showed lower work efficiency and higher relative HR (%RHR). The required resting time was calculated as 61.47%, whereas the actual rest time (R.T.) in the field was 23.56 [+ or -] 10.28%. Using Neibel and Frivalds equation, the rest allowance (RA) due to muscular fatigue and environmental load were calculated as 50.46% and 45.02 min/h, respectively. These results showed that the workers were not getting sufficient rest in the field. With work parameter modification, in optimum condition, the RWL value could be achieved as 7.19 kg, which was much lesser than the actual lifted load of 12.02 kg. Therefore, modification of workplace and work methods was suggested to compensate the health hazard conditions. Keywords: Work rest schedule; Workload assessment; Relative heart rate; Indian building construction workers

The article describes the case of a 43-year-old man who presented to the neuro-oncology clinic with fatigue and lesions in the pituitary and cerebellum. The diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease and its management are discussed.

Muscle fatigue is associated with a number of clinical diseases, including chronic pain conditions. Decreases in extracellular pH activates acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3), depolarizes muscle, protects against fatigue, and produces pain. We examined whether ASIC3-/- mice were more fatigable than ASIC3 +/+ mice in a task-dependent manner. We developed two exercise protocols to measure exercise-induced muscle fatigue: (fatigue task 1, three 1-h runs; fatigue task 2, three 30-min runs). In fatigue task I, male ASIC3 +/+ mice muscle showed less fatigue than male ASIC3-/- mice and female ASIC3 |/+ mice. No differences in fatigue were observed in fatigue task 2. We then tested whether the development of muscle fatigue was dependent on sex and modulated by testosterone. Female ASIC3 +/+ mice that were ovariectomized and administered testosterone developed less muscle fatigue than female ASIC3 +/+ mice and behaved similarly to male ASIC3 +/+ mice. However, testosterone was unable to rescue the muscle fatigue responses in ovariectomized ASIC3-/- mice. Plasma levels of testosterone from male ASIC3-/- mice were significantly lower than in male ASIC3 +/+ mice and were similar to female ASIC3 +/+ mice. Muscle fiber types, measured by counting ATPase-stained whole muscle sections, were similar in calf muscles from male and female ASIC3 +/+ mice. These data suggest that both ASIC3 and testosterone are necessary to protect against muscle fatigue in a task-dependent manner. Also, differences in expression of ASIC3 and the development of exercise-induced fatigue could explain the female predominance in clinical syndromes of pain that include muscle fatigue. proton; exercise; pain; gender; sex; testosterone; estrogen

In various workplaces, gloves are commonly employed to protect the hands with the design rationale of 'the thicker the gloves, the better the protection'. Therefore, the present paper investigated the effects of glove thickness on hand performance and fatigue during two infrequent high-intensity gripping tasks, such as 5-s and sustained tasks. The hand performance was evaluated by maximum volitional contraction (MVC) and its associated time needed to reach the MVC ([T.sub.MVC]), and the total force generation (TFG) during the sustained task. The hand fatigue was assessed by MVC degeneration ([DELTA]MVC), the shift in time needed to reach the MVC ([DELTA][T.sub.MVC]), and the maximal endurance time (MET) associated with the sustained task. Ten female subjects took part in the experiment voluntarily. The four-gloved conditions included bare hand, wearing one layer (Cotton-1), wearing two layers of cotton gloves (Cotton-2), and covering the handle with two layers of cotton glove and exerting with the bare hand (Covered-2). The results indicates that wearing gloves decreased the grip MVC, and the thicker the gloves, the less the grip MVC, but the wearing style did not change the MVC (Cotton-2 MVC was indifferent from Covered-2 MVC). As to muscular fatigue, on the other hand, wearing gloves did not affect [DELTA]MVC, MET, [T.sub.MVC], or [DELTA][T.sub.MVC]. Due to the greater bare-hand MVC and indifferent MET, bare-hand TFG was better than those conditions with gloves. Finally, the load specified here did not alter [T.sub.MVC] or [DELTA][T.sub.MVC], but the greater the load, the more strength degeneration ([DELTA]MVC) was induced. Keywords: Glove thickness; Fatigue; Grip; Maximal endurance time; Strength degeneration; The time needed to reach the MVC

Wearable computers enable workers to interact with computer equipment in situations where previously they were unable. Attaching a computer to the body though has an unknown physical effect. This paper reports a methodology for addressing this, by assessing postural effects and the effect of added weight. Using the example of arm-mounted computers (AMCs), the paper shows that adopting a posture to interact with an AMC generates fatiguing levels of stress and a load of 0.54 kg results in increased level of stress and increased rate of fatigue. The paper shows that, due to poor postures adopted when wearing and interacting with computers and the weight of the device attached to the body, one possible outcome for prolonged exposure is the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Keywords: Arm-mounted computer; Ergonomics; Fatigue; Musculoskeletal disorders; EMG; Posture; Perceived exertion; Pain; Discomfort