Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 18, 2025
Design and Use of an Apparatus for Quantifying Bivalve Suspension Feeding at Sea
Published on: September 5, 2018
Functional health and perceived exertion in artisanal fishermen working offshore
Emanuela da Silva Souza1, Maria Inês Rodrigues de Figueiró1, Taís Sparremberger Justo1,2
1Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Faculdade de Fisioterapia, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
Introduction:
Fishing is a common means of obtaining raw materials for the food industry and drives a large economic market.
Objectives:
This field study aimed to evaluate functional health and work overload in artisanal fishermen.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 42 workers from Zone 18 fishing community in Passo de Torres, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The collected data included presence of pain and its location on a Corlett body diagram, pain severity measured with a visual analog scale, perceived exertion measured with a Borg scale, and grip and lumbar strength measured with dynamometers.
Results:
Forty percent of fishermen had low back pain and 26% had low back muscle weakness. Perceived exertion was greater in the activity of pulling out the fishing net.
Discussion:
This professional category requires greater attention with health policies that consider the actual context of their job.
