The effects of gloves on muscle activation while moving small containerized plants

• Main Author: Langlois, Scott Allan
• Other Authors: Lesley Strawderman
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: MSSTATE 2015
• Subjects: Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Online Access: http://sun.library.msstate.edu/ETD-db/theses/available/etd-03312015-101054/

<p>A study involving the movement of small-sized nursery plant containers was conducted using surface electromyography (EMG) to assess the effect that glove type has on forearm and shoulder muscle activation. A total of 24 participants were asked to move weighted nursery containers simultaneously with both left and right hands (one onegallon, two one-gallon and one three-gallon) from a floor location to a table located twenty feet away while wearing one of four glove treatments (1. No Glove; 2. Thick Leather; 3. Grip Assist Mechanics; 4. Thin Nitrile). Muscle activation was evaluated as a percentage of the participants maximum voluntary exertion (MVE). The results show no glove effect difference for the smaller pot configuration. With the larger container treatments, muscle activity was affected by glove treatment, specifically for the left and right flexor and extensor radialis muscles.</p>