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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Measuring Muscle Fatigue in Relation to the Workload of Health Care Workers

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Abstract Number of work related musculoskeletal disorders due to ergonomics risks among workers in Europe, including Latvia, is growing. Employees in health care professions admit physical load and discomfort in various body parts after the shift. According to Eurostat statistical data 60% of total work related diseases are attributed to musculoskeletal disorders in Latvia. The aim of this study was to determine the muscle fatigue caused by physical load for surgeons, anaesthetists and geneticists in one of the largest Hospitals in Latvia. The research involved 9 surgeons, 9 anaesthetists and 7 geneticists with chronic pain (for four months or more) in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands and legs. All of them agreed to take part in myotonometric measurements. The main results included NMQ-E inquiry data analysis and proved that all participants most frequently complain of feeling discomfort after work, particularly, fatigue or muscle pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands and legs. Myotonometric measurement results show that geneticists’ muscle tone at the end of the working week has increased in the shoulder region muscles and slightly in wrist/hands muscles (m. extensor digitorum; m. flexor carpi radialis). Muscle tone of the surgeons increased in wrist, hand and shoulder region, as well as in legs at the end of the working week: m. flexor carpi radialis; m. tibialis anterior; m. gastrocnemius (caput mediale), but anaesthetists’ muscle tone increased in shoulder region and in legs. Hence research participants (surgeons, anaesthetists, geneticists) are subjected to long and intensive work in compulsory work positions, which has impact on fatigue of various muscle groups.