Evaluation of Physical and Cognitive Industrial Workload

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The main aim of the project is to evaluate a novel upper body exoskeleton during simulated industrial work. In this stage of the project, a study analysing the physical and mental load during occupational work will be carried out. High risk tasks will be identified in the field and simulated in lab-setting to analyse physical and mental load using physiological and biomechanical data.These will include, but will not be limited to, non-ergonomic postures, for example performing operations above the head or reaching in front of, to the side of, or behind the body; flexing the arms for extended periods of time; and bending or twisting the torso to lift an object from low or distant locations. Important items to assess in this task are the frequency and duration of tasks and activities, lifting characteristics, perceived physical effort and work-induced fatigue.

Official Title
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Evaluation of Mental and Physical Load During Lab-simulated Industrial Work

Conditions
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Work-Related Condition, Physical Stress, Mental Fatigue

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Industrial work
* Behavioral: Physical load
* Behavioral: Cognitive load


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: male 18 - 65 yrs old Exclusion Criteria: injury

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: industrial-physical-cognitive<br> | Behavioral: Industrial work<br>* Subjects perform simulated industrial work in lab setting. The industrial task exists of a physical component and a cognitive component. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task before and after the trial.<br>Behavioral: Physical load<br>* The physical load of an industrial task will be simulated during this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>Behavioral: Cognitive load<br>* The cognitive load of an industrial task will be simulated in this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>|
| Experimental: industrial- cognitive-physical<br> | Behavioral: Industrial work<br>* Subjects perform simulated industrial work in lab setting. The industrial task exists of a physical component and a cognitive component. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task before and after the trial.<br>Behavioral: Physical load<br>* The physical load of an industrial task will be simulated during this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>Behavioral: Cognitive load<br>* The cognitive load of an industrial task will be simulated in this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>|
| Experimental: physical- industrial- cognitive<br> | Behavioral: Industrial work<br>* Subjects perform simulated industrial work in lab setting. The industrial task exists of a physical component and a cognitive component. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task before and after the trial.<br>Behavioral: Physical load<br>* The physical load of an industrial task will be simulated during this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>Behavioral: Cognitive load<br>* The cognitive load of an industrial task will be simulated in this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>|
| Experimental: physical-cognitive- industrial<br> | Behavioral: Industrial work<br>* Subjects perform simulated industrial work in lab setting. The industrial task exists of a physical component and a cognitive component. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task before and after the trial.<br>Behavioral: Physical load<br>* The physical load of an industrial task will be simulated during this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>Behavioral: Cognitive load<br>* The cognitive load of an industrial task will be simulated in this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>|
| Experimental: cognitive- industrial-physical<br> | Behavioral: Industrial work<br>* Subjects perform simulated industrial work in lab setting. The industrial task exists of a physical component and a cognitive component. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task before and after the trial.<br>Behavioral: Physical load<br>* The physical load of an industrial task will be simulated during this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>Behavioral: Cognitive load<br>* The cognitive load of an industrial task will be simulated in this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>|
| Experimental: cognitive-physical-industrial<br> | Behavioral: Industrial work<br>* Subjects perform simulated industrial work in lab setting. The industrial task exists of a physical component and a cognitive component. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task before and after the trial.<br>Behavioral: Physical load<br>* The physical load of an industrial task will be simulated during this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>Behavioral: Cognitive load<br>* The cognitive load of an industrial task will be simulated in this intervention. Physical load is measured by questionnaires and basic physiological measurements (e.g. heart rate). Before and after the trial, mental fatigue will be determined by questionnaires and a cognitive stroop task (10 min)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EEG: change in power spectral density (change in mental fatigue: physiological component) | The power of different frequency bands during a cognitive Stroop task will be compared PRE vs POST 90 minute task and differences between different tasks will be analysed. | Measuring EEG during Stroop tasks (10 minutes) before and after each 90 minute task | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EEG: changes in event related potentials during cognitive Stroop task (change in mental fatigue: physiological component) | Event related potentials during cognitive Stroop task will be compared PRE vs POST 90 minute task and differences between different tasks will be analysed. | Measuring EEG during Stroop tasks (10 minutes) before and after each 90 minute task | 
| Change in mental fatigue (behavioral component: part 1) | Reaction time during cognitive stroop task | Measuring reaction time during Stroop tasks (10 minutes) before and after each 90 minute task | 
| Change in mental fatigue (behavioral component: part 2) | Accuracy time during cognitive stroop task | Measuring accuracy during Stroop tasks (10 minutes) before and after each 90 minute task | 
| Change in mental fatigue (subjective component) | Questionnaire (sRPE) before and after performing each 90 min task | Before and after each 90 minute task subjective questionnaire will be filled out | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Fatigue Mental, Fatigue Signs and Symptoms, Behavioral Symptoms, Industrial work, physical effort, mental effort, questionnaires, ergonomic evaluation