Direct-measurement-based methods for assessing workloads of the hand or elbow in the field are rare. Aim of the study was to develop such a method based on the Threshold Limit Value for Hand Activity Level (TLV for HAL). Hence, HAL was quantified using kinematic data (mean power frequencies, angular velocities and micro-pauses) and combined with electromyographic data (root-mean-square values) in order to generate a measurement-based TLV for HAL (mTLV for HAL). The multi-sensor system CUELA including inertial sensors, potentiometers and a 4-channel surface electromyography module was used. For wrist and elbow regions, associations between mTLV for HAL and disorders/complaints (quantified by odds ratios (OR [95%-confidence interval])) were tested exploratively within a cross-sectional field study with 500 participants. Higher workloads were frequently significantly associated with arthrosis of distal joints (9.23 [3.29–25.87]), wrist complaints (2.89 [1.63–5.11]) or elbow complaints (1.99 [1.08–3.67]). The new method could extend previous application possibilities.

用于评估现场手或肘部工作负荷的基于直接测量的方法很少见。该研究的目的是开发一种基于手部活动水平阈值限值（HAL 的 TLV）的方法。因此，使用运动学数据（平均功率频率、角速度和微停顿）量化 HAL，并结合肌电图数据（均方根值）以生成基于测量的 HAL TLV（HAL 的 mTLV）。使用了多传感器系统 CUELA，包括惯性传感器、电位计和 4 通道表面肌电模块。对于腕部和肘部区域，在一项有 500 名参与者的横断面实地研究中探索性地测试了 HAL 的 mTLV 与疾病/投诉（通过比值比（OR [95% 置信区间]）量化）之间的关联。较高的工作量通常与远端关节的关节病 (9.23 [3.29–25.87])、腕部不适 (2.89 [1.63-5.11]) 或肘部不适 (1.99 [1.08-3.67]) 显着相关。新方法可以扩展以前的应用可能性。