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Vibrotactile feedback training may be used as a complementary strategy to reduce time in demanding postures in manual handling. This study evaluated the short- and medium-term effects of concurrent posture-correction vibrotactile feedback training on trunk inclination exposure in real manual sorting work. Fifteen warehouse workers completed the training and the follow-up sessions. Trunk inclination angles were recorded using the ambulatory Smart Workwear System. Questionnaires were used for assessing system usability, perceived physical exertion, and work ability. The results showed reduced time in trunk inclination >30°, >45°, and >60°, and reductions in the 90th, 95th, and 99th percentile trunk inclination angles, when receiving feedback and immediately after feedback withdrawal. No significant reduction was retained after one and three weeks. The wearer's comfort was scored high, and the feedback did not increase the perceived cognitive demands. No significant effects attributed to changed trunk inclination exposure were observed for perceived physical exertion or work ability. The training program has the potential of contributing to reduced trunk inclination exposure in the short term. Future studies are needed to evaluate if improvements in the feedback training can transfer the short-term results to retained median- and long-term effects. Practitioner summary: A two-day training program with concurrent posture-correction vibrotactile feedback can contribute to reduced exposure of trunk inclination in real manual sorting work in the short term. More research is needed on how to design the feedback training programs in order to be effective in the long term., QC 20230322

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among surgeons, and its prevalence varies among surgical modalities. There are conflicting results concerning the correlation between adverse work exposures and MSD prevalence in different surgical modalities. The progress of rationalization in health care may lead to job intensification for surgeons, but the literature is scarce regarding to what extent such intensification influences the physical workload in surgery. The objectives of this study were to quantify the physical workload in open surgery and compare it to that in (1) nonsurgical tasks and (2) two surgeon roles in robot-assisted surgery (RAS). Methods: The physical workload of 22 surgeons (12 performing open surgery and 10 RAS) was measured during surgical workdays, which includes trapezius muscle activity from electromyography, and posture and movement of the head, upper arms and trunk from inertial measurement units. The physical workload of surgeons in open surgery was compared to that in nonsurgical tasks, and to the chief and assistant surgeons in RAS, and to the corresponding proposed action levels. Mixed-effects models were used to analyze the differences. Results: Open surgery constituted more than half of a surgical workday. It was associated with more awkward postures of the head and trunk than nonsurgical tasks. It was also associated with higher trapezius muscle activity levels, less muscle rest time and a higher proportion of sustained low muscle activity than nonsurgical tasks and the two roles in RAS. The head inclination and trapezius activity in open surgery exceeded the proposed action levels. Conclusions: The physical workload of surgeons in open surgery, which exceeded the proposed action levels, was higher than that in RAS and that in nonsurgical tasks. Demands of increased operation time may result in higher physical workload for open surgeons, which poses an increased risk of MSDs. Risk-reducing measures are, therefore, neede, QC 20230227

Recent demographic developments in Europe have increased the demand for home care. Working in other people’s home environment is challenging. Home care personnel’s musculoskeletal disorders are common, and care personnel overall often have sleep disturbances. In this study, associations between occupational physical and psychosocial factors and possible sleep-related problems among home care personnel were explored using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to 19 workplaces in Stockholm County in 2017–2019, and 665 home care personnel answered. Several factors, including job contentment, physical burden of care, client-related burnout, quantitative demands, and pain, were significantly associated with sleep-related problems. The results highlight the need for implementing measures to improve psychosocial and organizational working conditions in home care service.

Distance laboratory training in ergonomics with a flipped-classroom approach and smartphone applications as a tool was designed, implemented, and evaluated at two Swedish universities. Most students (10/13) were satisfied with the laboratory training. In this small-scale study, sufficient preparation time, tailored instructions and timely support during the pre-lab work were identified as factors that may improve students’ learning. This case study points to that distance laboratory training can be a feasible method in future ergonomics education. The findings also contribute to better understanding on the design of distance laboratory training in the future., Part of proceedings: ISBN 978-3-030-74604-9QC 20220309

Emergent diseases may result in population declines by inducing mortality directly or through sublethal effects on host reproduction. Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging threat to biodiversity, but the sublethal impacts of disease on host fitness are poorly characterized. The cryptic nature of most snakes makes direct assessment of the fitness consequences of SFD challenging. In such contexts, measurement of sex steroids that correlate positively with seasonal reproductive investment may be useful in inferring the scope of disease impacts. To test the hypothesis that SFD is associated with reproductive suppression, we measured testosterone and estradiol in free-ranging pygmy rattlesnakes with varying clinical signs of SFD. We also used real-time PCR to validate the relationship between clinical signs and Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo) DNA presence on the skin. Infected males had lower testosterone compared to uninfected males during summer spermatogenesis and the fall breeding season. Infected females were less likely to have elevated estradiol compared to uninfected females during spring vitellogenesis. Approximately 85% of individuals with clinical signs were positive for Oo DNA. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that coping with SFD comes at a cost to the reproductive success of afflicted individuals, and that seasonal sex steroids may be valuable early indicators of sublethal effects.

Emergent diseases may result in population declines by inducing mortality directly or through sublethal effects on host reproduction. Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging threat to biodiversity, but the sublethal impacts of disease on host fitness are poorly characterized. The cryptic nature of most snakes makes direct assessment of the fitness consequences of SFD challenging. In such contexts, measurement of sex steroids that correlate positively with seasonal reproductive investment may be useful in inferring the scope of disease impacts. To test the hypothesis that SFD is associated with reproductive suppression, we measured testosterone and estradiol in free-ranging pygmy rattlesnakes with varying clinical signs of SFD. We also used real-time PCR to validate the relationship between clinical signs and Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo) DNA presence on the skin. Infected males had lower testosterone compared to uninfected males during summer spermatogenesis and the fall breeding season. Infected females were less likely to have elevated estradiol compared to uninfected females during spring vitellogenesis. Approximately 85% of individuals with clinical signs were positive for Oo DNA. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that coping with SFD comes at a cost to the reproductive success of afflicted individuals, and that seasonal sex steroids may be valuable early indicators of sublethal effects.