Hand-grip force in lumberjacks: two-year follow-up

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Neurology

Background:

• Occupational exposure to vibration is common in industries like logging.
• Vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) is a recognized condition affecting hand health.
• The impact of prolonged vibration on muscle force in professional lumberjacks requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the change in hand-grip muscle force over a two-year period in professional lumberjacks.
• To investigate the relationship between vibration exposure, hand-arm symptoms (VWF), and muscle force decline.
• To determine if subjective perceptions of muscle force correlate with objective measurements.

Main Methods:

• Hand-grip force was measured in 63 professional lumberjacks in 1978 and again in 1980.
• Participants were categorized based on the presence of vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) and subjective hand muscle force.
• Muscle force changes were analyzed over the two-year follow-up period.

Main Results:

• Lumberjacks diagnosed with vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) exhibited a significant 21% loss in muscle force.
• Lumberjacks without hand-arm symptoms showed a smaller muscle force reduction of 5% over the same period.
• Individuals reporting diminished hand muscle force experienced a slight increase in measured muscle force.

Conclusions:

• Long-term occupational exposure to vibration demonstrably decreases hand-grip muscle force.
• Vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) is associated with substantial muscle force deficits.
• Objective muscle force measurements are crucial for assessing the impact of vibration exposure.