Joint posture, volumetric and temperature changes during repetitive hand movements

The study assessed finger and wrist joint motion, temperature and volumetric measurements and reports a qualitative assessment resulting from repetitive industrial hand movements. Participants mimicked a series of industrial repetitive tasks incorporating the following hand movements: wrist flexion/extension task, repetitive grasp/release task; and pinch task. Each task was performed for a period of 5 minutes. Hand temperature and volumetric measurements were reported. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were performed. Power analysis was performed to determine sample size (0.8) and significance was set at p=0.05. The results indicate that an increase in hand volume is accompanied by an increase in final temperature of the hand. Of the three tasks mimicking an industrial repetitive activity, the repetitive grasp/release task produced the most range of motion (RoM), followed by the wrist flexion/extension task and then the pinch task. From the subjects' perception the wrist flexion/extension task was considered to be the most stressful task.