title: The influence of a real job on upper limb performance in motor skill tests: which abilities are transferred?
abstract: To investigate whether the specificities of real jobs create distinctions in the performance of workers in different motor tests for the upper limbs, 24 participants were divided into two groups according to their specific job: fine and repetitive tasks and general tasks. Both groups reproduced tasks related to aiming movements, handling and strength of the upper limbs. There were no significant differences between groups in the dexterity and performance of aiming movements. However, the general tasks group had higher grip strength than the repetitive tasks group, demonstrating differences according to job specificity. The results suggest that a particular motor skill in a specific job cannot improve performance in other tasks with the same motor requirements. The transfer of the fine and gross motor skills from previous experience in a job-specific task is the basis for allocating training and guidance to workers.
authors.affiliation: a Universidade Cidade de São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian Farahte
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Giangiardi
authors.affiliation: a Universidade Cidade de São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Regina
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Alouche
authors.affiliation: a Universidade Cidade de São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Maria Sbeghen Ferreira
authors.initials: SMSF
authors.lastname: de Freitas
authors.affiliation: a Universidade Cidade de São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Simoni
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: a Universidade Cidade de São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosimeire Simprini
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Padula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: health and safety; injury risks; motor learning; skill acquisition