title: Prediction of work metabolism from heart rate measurements in forest work: some practical methodological issues.
abstract: Individual heart rate (HR) to workload relationships were determined using 93 submaximal step-tests administered to 26 healthy participants attending physical activities in a university training centre (laboratory study) and 41 experienced forest workers (field study). Predicted maximum aerobic capacity (MAC) was compared to measured MAC from a maximal treadmill test (laboratory study) to test the effect of two age-predicted maximum HR Equations (220-age and 207-0.7 × age) and two clothing insulation levels (0.4 and 0.91 clo) during the step-test. Work metabolism (WM) estimated from forest work HR was compared against concurrent work V̇O2 measurements while taking into account the HR thermal component. Results show that MAC and WM can be accurately predicted from work HR measurements and simple regression models developed in this study (1% group mean prediction bias and up to 25% expected prediction bias for a single individual). Clothing insulation had no impact on predicted MAC nor age-predicted maximum HR equations. Practitioner summary: This study sheds light on four practical methodological issues faced by practitioners regarding the use of HR methodology to assess WM in actual work environments. More specifically, the effect of wearing work clothes and the use of two different maximum HR prediction equations on the ability of a submaximal step-test to assess MAC are examined, as well as the accuracy of using an individual's step-test HR to workload relationship to predict WM from HR data collected during actual work in the presence of thermal stress.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematics , Polytechnique Montréal , C.P. 6079, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal , Québec , Canada H3C 3A7.
authors.forename: Philippe-Antoine
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dubé
authors.affiliation: a Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematics , Polytechnique Montréal , C.P. 6079, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal , Québec , Canada H3C 3A7.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Imbeau
authors.affiliation: b Direction de la recherche forestière , Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs , 2700, rue Einstein, Québec (Québec) , Canada H3C 3A7.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dubeau
authors.affiliation: b Direction de la recherche forestière , Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs , 2700, rue Einstein, Québec (Québec) , Canada H3C 3A7.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Auger
authors.affiliation: c Département des Sciences de la santé , Université du Québec à Chicoutimi , 555, Boulevard de l'Université, Chicoutimi , Québec , Canada G7H 2B1.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005080:Exercise Test; D016468:Forestry; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: forest work; heart rate; maximum aerobic capacity; prediction bias; work metabolism