Aerobic power and muscle strength among young and elderly workers with andwithout physically demanding work tasks

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of waste collection on t he physical capacity of the workers. A total of 19 young and 28 elderly mal e waste collectors and two age-matched control groups participated. The aerobic power was estimated. The maximal isometric muscle strength was measured for back extension and flexion, shoulder elevation and abduction, and handgrip. The aerobic power was lower among the elderly workers compare d with the young workers of both groups. No differences were found between waste collectors and control groups. A general tendency to larger muscle st rength was found for both young and elderly waste collectors compared with the control groups. Waste collectors generally have a higher physical capacity than the control groups which is an indication of an early selection of the young waste col lectors. With respect to the elderly waste collectors, the job seems to hav e a training effect especially for the shoulder muscles. No training effect is found for the aerobic power, and a discrepancy between work demand and individual aerobic capacity may occur among elderly workers resulting in a negative health effect unless the work task is evaluated according to age d ependent criteria. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.