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Perceived physical exertion in senior workers performing heavy manual tasks
Albin Stjernbrandt1, Pontus Öhrner2, Andreas Tornevi1
1Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
Annals of Work Exposures and Health
|July 7, 2026
Summary
Senior workers in manual jobs find their work moderately exerting. Physical strain is linked to heart rate, poor sleep quality, and high psychological stress, not age or fitness.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Ergonomics
- Gerontology
Background:
- The aging workforce necessitates understanding physical strain in demanding occupations.
- Perceived exertion factors and their correlation with physiological strain are not fully understood.
- Self-rated exertion may not align with objective measures like heart rate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify physical strain in senior manual workers using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale.
- To explore the relationship between RPE and variables like heart rate, age, and physical fitness.
- To identify factors influencing perceived exertion in older adults in manual labor.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 126 workers aged 50+ in manual occupations (construction, kitchen, cleaning, nursing).
- Collected data via questionnaires, physical exams, field heart rate monitoring (first 6 hours), and daily RPE scale ratings (6-20).
- Analyzed correlations using Spearman's rank and associations using a linear mixed model.
Main Results:
- Mean RPE rating was 12.1 (2.1), indicating 'somewhat hard' exertion.
- Significant correlation found between RPE and mean heart rate (r=0.14, P=0.025).
- Linear mixed model showed mean heart rate, poor sleep quality, and high psychological stress significantly predicted higher RPE ratings (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Senior workers in manual occupations perceive their work as moderately physically demanding.
- Heart rate, sleep quality, and psychological stress are key factors associated with perceived exertion.
- Age, BMI, and fitness levels were not significantly associated with RPE in this cohort.
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