Power absorption in women and men exposed to hand-arm vibration.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine whether there are gender differences as regards the quantity of absorbed power, i.e., vibration absorption per unit of time, during exposure to vibration from a specially constructed handle.


METHODS
The study was conducted on 24 subjects (12 female and 12 male). The experiments were performed with exposure in two vibration directions, X(h), and Z(h), and with two vibration levels, 3 and 6 m/s(2).


RESULTS
The male subjects had significantly higher power absorption during exposure to vibrations in the Z(h) direction at the vibration level of 6 m/s(2) than did the female subjects. When adjusted for anthropometrical measurements the difference did not remain significant. Higher vibration levels resulted in significantly higher absorption of power for both X(h) and Z(h) directions. The absorption was significantly higher in the Z(h) direction than in the X(h) direction.


CONCLUSIONS
No gender difference in power absorption was shown.
Bylund
Sonya H
SH
National Institute for Working Life, Box 7654, 907 13 Umeå, Sweden. sonya.hbylund@niwl.se
Burström
Lage
L
D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*