Fatigue and perceived comfort of occupational footwear
Fatigue musculoskeletal pain and perceived comfort during prolonged standing and physical work using different footwear options: A randomised controlled trial
Steel Blue/Footwear Industries Pty Ltd
18 participants
Jul 2, 2018
Interventional
Conditions
Summary
The purpose of the current study is to compare three currently-available work boots for comfort as well as their effects on fatigue, musculoskeletal pain and both physical and cognitive performances.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria2
- Male or female, aged 18 – 40 years, healthy, BMI 18-35 kg/m2, low-moderate physical activity level, not completing prescribed athletic training programs, no current musculoskeletal injury
- All participants must complete a medical health questionnaire to ensure their safe participation in any study.
Exclusion Criteria15
- Contraindication to exercise according to the medical health questionnaire, and in agreement with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines
- Currently perform large amounts of structured physical activity, either as part of sports or occupational participation (level of exclusion to be determined for each study)
- Alcohol > 14 drinks per week (average)
- Smoking (or only having stopped smoking within the last 2 years)
- T-score bone mineral density (BMD) at either the hip or lumbar spine < -2.5
- Have any fixations (i.e. spine or femoral rods, hip replacements)
- Planning to become pregnant or currently breastfeeding
- Anti-inflammatory use (including aspirin, ibuprofen, omega 3)
- Use of beta blockers or ACE inhibitors
- Metabolic bone disease (including osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteogenesis imperfect and Paget’s disease)
- Endocrine disorders (including hyper- or hypo-thyroidism, parathyroid disease, diabetes mellitus and Cushing’s syndrome)
- Cancer (including cervical, ovarian, uterine, breast, liver and of the gastrointestinal system)
- Any chronic muscle disease, disorder or injury, and particularly any recent history of low back pain
- Asthma that is not controlled or other respiratory diseases
- Self-reported personal or family history of deep vein thrombosis or similar clotting disorders
Interested in this trial?
Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.
Interventions
The participants will be required to stand on both feet within a confined area of 900 mm / 600 m at a work bench for 4 h. During each 1-hour period the participants will perform three other activities intermittently (every 10-min) as part of the intervention (See below for intervention activities). At the end of each 1-hour interval a test battery will be conduced assessing muscle activity (EMG) during standing, perceived boot comfort, walk gait, balance, muscle stiffness, plantar flexor force production and muscle function (excitation-contraction coupling efficiency). The intervention activities consist: Standing – stand on two feet within 900 m / 600 mm area whilst completing non-physical work such as watching movies on computer/tablet, surfing the internet or studying. 1-min step-ups – 1 min of step ups at frequency of 88 bpm onto 40 cm box using alternate legs to step up and then down (i.e. simulate stair walking and other tasks requiring leg work). 6 x lift load from floor – lift load (2 x 5-kg dumbbells for men and 2 x 2.5-kg dumbbells for women) from floor using safe lifting technique to a standing position then replace load on floor at a rate of one lift-and-replace every 5 s (total time = 30 s). 300 m walk – walk at self-selected speed for 300 m; speed during first walk will be recorded and repeated for each individual on every walk occasion. Participants will drink 300 ml of water in each of the first and second 2-hour periods of the intervention, and a standard, small meal will be given after the completion of the test battery performed at the 2-hour mark of the intervention. Each participant will partake in three testing sessions each separated by a minimum of 72 h. In each individual session a different pair of steel cap work boots will be worn. Either the Steel Blue Argyle (model 312102), Steel Blue Southern Cross Zip (312661) or Blacksmith Sparky (804-80733). All sessions will be conducted by an experienced sport science researcher with 4 years experience.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ANZCTR
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
ACTRN12618001403224