N. Tsaousidis et A. Freivalds, EFFECTS OF GLOVES ON MAXIMUM FORCE AND THE RATE OF FORCE DEVELOPMENT IN PINCH, WRIST FLEXION AND GRIP, International journal of industrial ergonomics, 21(5), 1998, pp. 353-360
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.