Physical capacity in relation to present and past physical load at work: A study of 484 men and women aged 41 to 58 years

Abstract

Background A negative association has previously been reported between long‐lasting physically heavy work and some measures of physical capacity. This relationship was further investigated in a 24‐year follow‐up study of 484 middle‐aged men and women from the general population. Methods A questionnaire was administered in 1993 concerning retrospective recall of physical work loads and physical training in the time span between 1970 and 1993. Laboratory tests performed in 1993 included tests of muscle function (maximal isometric strength and dynamic endurance) and aerobic power (submaximal ergometer test). Results Consistent with the hypothesis, but mainly among the women, associations between long‐lasting physically heavy demands and low trunk flexion strength, squatting endurance, and aerobic power were observed. In contrast, low isometric hand grip strength and low weight lifting endurance were seldom seen among those with high physical work loads, indicating a possible maintaining or training effect on the hand/arm/shoulder muscle groups. Conclusions Physically heavy work seems to have a different impact on different parts of the musculoskeletal system, an effect that is also different between men and women. Am. J. Ind. Med. 36:388–400, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Effects of sedentary work on physical fitness and serum cholesterol profile in middle-aged male workers

“…Some studies have reported bene®cial health eects of PAW on serum lipids (Nagaya et al 1991;Stender et al 1993), but others have not (Kristal-Boneh et al 2000;Salonen et al 1988). Contrary to our results, heavy workload may be related to low VO 2 max (NygaÊ rd et al 1994;Torge n et al 1999). These very confusing results are probably due to many confounding factors, de®ni-tions and classi®cations of PAW and PAHE, socioeconomic factors including occupations, other lifestyles, long-term vs. short-term health eects etc.…”

Physical demands in working life and individual physical capacity

“…Furthermore, most of the ''cases'' were also found to have low muscle endurance (which correlates to aerobic capacity), as well as poor balance and coordination. Earlier studies have shown a negative relationship between capacity (both aerobic and muscular strength) and long-lasting physical activity at work (Nyga˚rd et al 1987(Nyga˚rd et al , 1988Era 1992;Torge´n et al 1999). Females in the highest quartile of TWA-MET work had, however, lower muscle endurance in their abdomen and legs and worse coordination than subjects in the lowest quartile of TWA-MET work .…”

“…It is not possible to generalize these results without further prospective studies. Earlier studies show that, rather than having a training effect, physically demanding jobs have a deleterious effect on physical capacity (de Zwart et al 1995;Torge´n et al 1999). Schibye and co-authors (2001) found, however, no deteriorating effect on muscle strength among elderly waste collectors compared to young waste collectors.…”

“…Physical fitness was low among both men and women and this is proposed to reflect the situation of the general population (Torge´n et al 1999). Since some physical demands in working life today still are high, this is reflected in a mismatch between the individual's physical capacity and the physical demands of the work for a quarter of the population.…”

Individual factors and physical work load in relation to sensory thresholds in a middle-aged general population sample

“…In this study a PWL score for the last 15 years (1979)(1980)(1981)(1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993) was calculated as the average of single year PWL scores during that period. Details about the factor analyses are described elsewhere (Torge´n et al 1999a).…”