Association between objective and subjective measurements of comfort and discomfort in hand tools

Association between objective and subjective measurements of comfort and discomfort in hand tools

Kuijt-Evers, L.F.M.
Bosch, T.
Huysmans, M.A.
De Looze, M.P.
Vink, P.

Industrial Design Engineering

Industrial Design

2006-05-15

In the current study the relationship between objective measurements and subjective experienced comfort and discomfort in using hand saws was examined. 12 carpenters evaluated five different hand saws. Objective measures of contact pressure (average pressure, pressure area and P-t integral) in static and dynamic conditions, muscle activity (EMG) of five muscles of the upper extremity, and productivity were obtained during a sawing task. Subjective comfort and discomfort were assessed using the Comfort Questionnaire for Hand tools and a scale for Local Perceived Discomfort (LPD). We did not find any relationship between muscle activity and comfort or discomfort. The P-t integral during the static measurement (beta=–0.24, p<.01) was the best predictor of comfort and the pressure area during static measurement was the best predictor of local perceived discomfort (beta=0.45, p<.01). Additionally, productivity was highly correlated to comfort (beta=0.31, p<.01) and discomfort (beta=–0.49, p<.01).

comfort/discomfort
hand tools
objective measurements

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:e15c0e90-c03f-4b39-b6a2-2f8071fa1391

Elsevier

Applied Ergonomics, 38 (5), 2007, p. 643-654 (authors version)

Institutional Repository

journal article

(c) 2007 Kuijt-Evers, L.F.M. ; Bosch, T. ; Huysmans, M.A. ; De Looze, M.P. ; Vink, P.