WORK PHYSIOLOGY

Copyright Catherine M.
Burns

Physiology vs. Work

Physiology
Physiology
The study of the functions of the body parts. ie.
How the body parts work.
Work Physiology
The study, description, evaluation, and
explanation of the physiological changes in
the human body resulting from either a single
or repeated series of exposure to work
stresses.
2

Physiology
Work Physiology

Making sure that individuals are not taking

part in tasks that exceed the energy
requirements of the body.
Involved in setting standards for acceptable
physical work rate and load.
Looks into the nutritional aspect of the
individuals

Environmental Physiology

Deals with the impact of physical working

conditions and sets optimum requirements

Thermal
Noise
Vibration
Lighting

Systems Most Relevant To

Work Physiology
Muscular (blood pressure, body temperature,
latic acid content)
Respiratory (sweating rate, oxygen
consumption)
Cardiovascular (heart rate)
Nervous

Work Physiology
more a discussion of the energy side of
using muscles
rather than the mechanics/force side you
see in biomechanics
extends to metabolism, energy restrictions on
work and fatigue

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

How Do We USE Work Physiology?

To enhance EFFICIENCY To monitor
energy expenditure and avoid excess fatigue
To ensure SAFETY - do not push people
beyond their physical limitations.

Muscle Structure
Wickens Figure 12.1
Muscle, muscle fibre, myofibril, sarcomere
sarcomere
muscle

muscle fiber

myofibril

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

Sarcomere Construction
Two types of proteins actin (thin) and
myosin (thick)
Actin filaments slide over myosin filaments
to produce the contraction
Sliding filament theory of muscle contraction
long
Short (contracted)

z-line
actin

myosin

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

Aerobic and Anaerobic

Metabolism
Aerobic (Oxidative Phosphorylation)
nutrients

energy

ATP

muscles/work

OP

CO2

oxygen

Anaerobic (Anaerobic Glycolysis)

glucose

AG

energy

ATP

muscles/work

lactic acid
Copyright Catherine M. Burns

10

Anaerobic Metabolism
Lactic acid causes muscle pain and fatigue
Anaerobic processes occur

at the start of work (first 1-3 minutes)

during heavy work

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

11

12

Muscle Efficiency
Muscle efficiency is only about 20%
The rest is lost as heat
Increases body temperature
Problems in working in hot environments

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

13

Circulatory System
blood delivers nutrients
and oxygen to the muscles
carries away carbon
dioxide and waste products
heart - pressure generating
blood pump
lungs - site of oxygen and
CO2 exchange
Copyright Catherine M. Burns

14

Heart

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

15

Heart Parameters
change with work, heat, stress
Major measures

cardiac output (Q): flow rate of blood through

the heart
5L/min resting
15L/min moderate work
25L/min heavy work

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

16

Heart Measures
Cardiac Output

function of heart rate (HR) x stroke volume (SV)

Q=HRxSV
Heart rate: beats per minute
Stroke
volume: litres of blood per beat

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

17

Heart Rate Cycle

(Grandjean,1986)

18

Heart Measures
Menggunakan alat cardio tachometer dan
pulse meter
Diukur secara manual dengan meraba
denyutan pada arteri radialis kemudian
dihitung dg rumus:
Denyut
Denyut / menit
x60
Waktu _ perhitunga n
Copyright Catherine M. Burns

19

Blood Flow Distribution

Changes with work
increases to muscles
more to skin in hot environments

Resting muscles 15-20%

Heavy work 70-75%

Also note temperature effect 40% of blood to skin

in the moderate work at 38 degree level

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

20

21

Respiratory System
Air exchange system
Measures

tidal volume: amount of air breathed per breath

minute ventilation: amount of air per minute

0.5L resting
2L heavy work
tidal volume x frequency

Body increases tidal volume first, then breathing

frequency
Copyright Catherine M. Burns

22

Total Lung Capacity

Residual Volume
(always there)
Residual Volume
(always there)

Vital Capacity (Maximum

Breathe in)
Tidal Volume (normal
breathe in, not max)

Expiratory Reserve
Volume

Inspiratory Reserve
Volume

Tidal volume ranges from 0.5L to 2L

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

23

Energy Cost of Work

Basal metabolic rate: lowest level of energy
expenditure needed to maintain life
1600-1800 kcal/day

1 kilocalori (kcal) = 4,2 kilojoule (kJ)

1 watt = 1 joule/sec

1 l Oxygen 4.8 kcal energy 20 KJ

varies with gender, age, weight
24

 Working metabolism: the increase in

metabolism from resting to working level
Metabolic rate during work: sum of basal
metabolic rate and working metabolic rate
Men (70 kg)
: 1700 kcal / 24 h
1.2 Kcal/minutes
The woman (60 kg)
: 1400 kcal / 24 h
1.0 Kcal/minutes
range: 1.6 to 16 kcal/min
sitting 1.6 kcal/min, walking 2.8 kcal/min
heavy work 5kcal and up

25

Measuring Physical Work

oxygen consumption rate
heart rate
linear relation between heart rate and energy
expenditure
see Figure 12.5

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

26

Physical Work Capacity

short term work capacity

also called aerobic capacity

about 15kcal/min men 10 kcal/min women

long term work capacity

suggested not over 1/3 of short term for 8 hrs

higher than this causes fatigue

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

27

Fatigue

28

Fatigue

29

Fatigue

30

Fatigue
in this sense, body exceeds what can be
provided by aerobic metabolism
anaerobic metabolism meets energy needs
decreased blood glucose
increased lactic acid
also psychological and health factors

Copyright Catherine M. Burns

31

Energy Cost of Work

Equation consumption of energy
Garg (1976) mengestimasi pengeluaran
energi pada pekerjaan pengangkatan beban
Astuti (1985) pengeluaran energy dengan
kecepatan denyut jantung
Rakhmaniar (2007) regresi hubungan
energi dengan kecepatan denyut jantung
32

Garg (1976)
Angkatan membungkuk (stoop lift )
E = 0,0109 BW (0,0012 BW + 0,0052 L + 0,0028 S x L)f
Angkatan Jongkok (squat lift )
E = 0,0109 BW + (0,0019 BW + 0,0081 L + 0,0023 S x L)f
Angkatan dengan tangan (arm lift )
E = 0,0109 BW + (0,0002 BW + 0,0103 L 0,0017 S x L)f

dengan :
E = pengeluaran energi (kkal/menit)
BW = berat badan (lbs)
L = berat angkatan (lbs)
S = jenis kelamin (pria = 1,wanita = 0)
F = frekuensi angkatan (angkatan/menit)
33

Astuti (1985)
Y 1,80411 0,0229038X 4,71733.10 X
-4

dengan :
Y = energi expenditure (Kkal/menit)
X = kecepatan denyut jantung/menit

34

Rakhmaniar (2007)
Y = 0.014 HR + 0.017 B 1.706
dengan :
Y = Konsumsi oksigen (liter/menit)
HR = Denyut jantung (denyut/menit), dan
B = Berat badan (kg)
1 liter/menit O2 = 4.8 kcal/menit energi.
Setelah dikonversi:
KE = Et Ei
Dengan :
KE = Konsumsi energi (kilokalori)
Et = Pengeluaran energi setelah kerja (kilokalori)
Ei = Pengeluaran energi saat istirahat (kilokalori)
35

Waktu Istirahat
Lamanya waktu istirahat diharapkan cukup untuk menghasilkan
cadangan energi
Diasumsikan bahwa selama istirahat jumlah energi adalah 1,5 kcal/menit
Untuk mengestimasikan jumlah waktu untuk istirahat, dapat
diformulasikan sebagai berikut:

T (K S )
R
(menit )
K 1.5

R
T

K
S

= waktu istirahat yang diperlukan (menit)

= Total waktu kerja (menit)
= Rata-rata energi yang dikonsumsikan untuk kerja (KCal./Menit)
= Standart beban kerja normal yang diaplikasikan (Kcal/menit)
36

Waktu kerja

Dengan:
Tw : waktu kerja (working time) (menit)
E : konsumsi energi selama pekerjaan berlangsung
(kcal/menit)

37

Tugas Kelompok
Penelitian terhadap sebuah pekerjaan fisik.
Hitunglah denyut jantung sebelum dan sesudah bekerja.
Hitung energy expenditure dengan 3 persamaan (Garg,
Astuti dan Rakhmaniar)
Hitung waktu kerja dan waktu istirahat yang seharusnya
diberikan.
Klasifikasi beban kerja
Analisis dan pembahasan.

38