#0042 Exercise training reduces workload, improves physical performance, and promotes overall health in welders
Improving the Health and Performance of Professional Welders through Exercise
Each workplace is unique and has its own set of hazards. For professional welders in the heavy industries, who are engaged in demanding physical labor in set postures for long hours, one hazard looms in the form of musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain, joint disorders, and muscle fatigue. These lead to poor performance and high illness-related absenteeism.
Physical exercises for building endurance and strength are known to help reduce muscular stress, increase physical capacity, and reduce pain. Therefore, we expected that facilitating adequate physical training for welders could improve their lives at work.
To test our hypothesis, we conducted a 24-week exercise training program for 77 professional welders in the steel industry. Our aim was to check whether such a training program can improve the workload on the back muscles, the workers’ physical performance, and their overall health.
For the program, we divided our welders into groups in which they either received endurance training, strength training, or no training. Before and after the program, we had them perform an experimental welding task, during which we evaluated the workload on their muscles via electromyography; measured their heart rate, blood pressure, body fat, muscle mass, and stamina; and asked them about their perceived pain after finishing the task.
We found that after completing either type of training, the welders’ strength and stamina increased, and body fat percentage decreased. Further, the workload on the upper back muscles was lowered, as was the perceived pain. The duration for which the workers could keep at their tasks without giving up also increased.
The associations between physical fitness and improved health and performance are clarified by these findings. The steel industry must encourage and enable their welders to attend physical fitness programs, if they’re to ensure their wellbeing.
Link to the original journal article:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/1348-9585.12122
Title of the paper:
Exercise training reduces workload, improves physical performance, and promotes overall health in welders
Authors:
Christopher Weyh, Christian Pilat, Torsten Frech, Karsten Krüger, Thomas Reichel, Frank-Christoph Mooren
