| 1. |
- Halder, Amitava, et al.
(författare)
-
Muscle Cooling and Performance: A Review
- 2014
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Sports Medicine. - 1792-4979. ; 2:1, s. 39-48
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Skeletal muscle performance is determined by muscle temperature. This paperpresents a review of the research literature to contribute to a better understanding of thephysiological mechanisms of muscle fatigue and performance in cold exposure and in repetitiveor sustained physical exertion in terms of isometric maximal force production,electromyographic activities, and gait ground reaction forces.Materials and Methods: The PubMed and MEDLINE databases were searched for relevantarticles in English. The titles and abstracts of all identified studies were initially screened bythe first author to determine whether they could be included. Relevant articles were consideredfor full text analysis. The reference lists of the relevant studies were also checked.Results: The review showed that different cooling methods have been used in the researchsettings. Current applications are reported of cold exposure to assess muscle strength throughmaximum voluntary contraction and functional activities, manual work of the upper limbs,gait and balance, fall risks, and mobility of the lower limbs. The review also showed thatneuromuscular functions are impaired at 0° to 25°C of cold water immersion for 10 to 40 minwhere loss of strength and fatigue occurred in the limb muscles. Although some of the findingsin previous studies about isometric force production in cooled muscles and joints arecontroversial, this review found that impeded strength is relatively well-established.Conclusions: Cooling in cold water at certain temperatures can influence our maximum muscleperformance but may not impact daily activities.
|
|
| 2. |
- Kuklane, Kalev, et al.
(författare)
-
Systematisk kunskapsöversikt 10. Occupational Heat Stress
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Arbete och hälsa. - 0346-7821. ; 51:7
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present review covers a wide scope of occupational heat stress related issues. The problematics related to climate change have placed heat exposure on the agenda. As a result, the research on heat effects has increased in recent years and a considerable amount of new material has become available. The literature includes general and specific reviews that focus on various heat-related aspects in detail. The aim of the current review is to compile the most relevant information, both past and present, that primarily covers knowledge on how one can carry out simple evaluations of heat stress in occupational settings. Very specialised information is described in full in the specific papers. The present review covers basic information on exposure to heat, descriptions of climatic factors and how they are measured. The review takes up human thermoregulation, heat exchange with the environment, and responses to heat. Several common hot environment evaluation methods along with heat assessment and management strategies are discussed. Sample industries are described.
|
|
| 3. |
- Morris, Nathan B., et al.
(författare)
-
Sustainable solutions to mitigate occupational heat strain - an umbrella review of physiological effects and global health perspectives
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Environmental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-069X. ; 19:1
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Climate change is set to exacerbate occupational heat strain, the combined effect of environmental and internal heat stress on the body, threatening human health and wellbeing. Therefore, identifying effective, affordable, feasible and sustainable solutions to mitigate the negative effects on worker health and productivity, is an increasingly urgent need. OBJECTIVES: To systematically identify and evaluate methods that mitigate occupational heat strain in order to provide scientific-based guidance for practitioners. METHODS: An umbrella review was conducted in biomedical databases employing the following eligibility criteria: 1) ambient temperatures > 28 °C or hypohydrated participants, 2) healthy adults, 3) reported psychophysiological (thermal comfort, heart rate or core temperature) and/or performance (physical or cognitive) outcomes, 4) written in English, and 5) published before November 6, 2019. A second search for original research articles was performed to identify interventions of relevance but lacking systematic reviews. All identified interventions were independently evaluated by all co-authors on four point scales for effectiveness, cost, feasibility and environmental impact. RESULTS: Following screening, 36 systematic reviews fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The most effective solutions at mitigating occupational heat strain were wearing specialized cooling garments, (physiological) heat acclimation, improving aerobic fitness, cold water immersion, and applying ventilation. Although air-conditioning and cooling garments in ideal settings provide best scores for effectiveness, the limited applicability in certain industrial settings, high economic cost and high environmental impact are drawbacks for these solutions. However, (physiological) acclimatization, planned breaks, shading and optimized clothing properties are attractive alternative solutions when economic and ecological sustainability aspects are included in the overall evaluation. DISCUSSION: Choosing the most effective solution or combinations of methods to mitigate occupational heat strain will be scenario-specific. However, this paper provides a framework for integrating effectiveness, cost, feasibility (indoors and outdoor) and ecologic sustainability to provide occupational health and safety professionals with evidence-based guidelines.
|
|
