EFFECTS OF GLOVES ON MAXIMUM FORCE AND THE RATE OF FORCE DEVELOPMENT IN PINCH, WRIST FLEXION AND GRIP

Gloves are used in many industrial tasks and among the most common of those tasks are finger/thumb pinch, grip, and torque production with w rist flexion. The objective of this study was to investigate these tas ks by creating force development profiles and by finding the effect of gloves on maximum force and the rate of force development. The result s showed that - in the particular experimental teak - wearing leather gloves did not affect pinching performance despite having to overcome the pliability of tl-le gloves and loss of tactile information. Grip f orce was negatively affected by gloves, both in its maximum value, and in the rare of its development (especially in the late phases of exer tion). The highest rate of force development occurred in the period of 30-70% of maximum force. There was no effect of gloves on maximum tor que production (contradicting findings from other studies) or the rate of its development. Relevance to industry Gloves are widely used in i ndustry and affect the mechanics of force and torque production. Under standing the mechanics of gripping, pinching and wrist flexion is nece ssary in order to reduce the incidence of cumulative trauma disorders (CTD). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.