Hi David
Can't help you on this one, but there's lots of
information about "exercise on the job" (so to speak) for injury
prevention (VDT workers and so on).
See, for example:
Guo, L., Genaidy, A.M., Warm, J.,
Karwowski, W., and Hidalgo, J. 1992. Effects of jobsimulated
flexibility and strength=flexibility
training protocols on maintenance
employees engaged in manual handling
operations. Ergonomics, 35: 1103–1117.
Lee, K. et al. 1992. a review of physical
exercises recommneded for VDU workers. Applied Ergonomics:22:117-123
Robert JJ et al. 1995. Effect of a
work hardening programme on cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength. Spine,
20:1187-1193
Some general principles for sedentary workers in
static postures are:
Chronically
shortened and tense muscles must be stretched and relaxed
The spine
must be mobilised to reeuce compressive stress
Chronically
stretched or relaxed muscles must be contracted or strengthened to maintain
posture
Exercises
must involve the lower limbs to promote venous return
Bob
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:22
AM
Subject: Exercise Work-Breaks
Dear All,
In his book "Secrets of Soviet Sports Fitness and
Training" (1987) Yessis
claimed that in much of the USSR exercise breaks
replaced coffee breaks (p
22). He said that the Soviets believed that
exercise work-breaks
could "improve productivity while enhancing physical
and mental health" (ibid,
p 25). For a seamstress the exercise program was
designed specifically to
reduce fatigue in the parts of the body used in the
job and to move those
body parts that "remain completely inactive" during
work. Similarly specific
programs were designed for secretaries, assembly
workers and welders.
Unfortunately Yessis did not provide any references
or further details about
the format of these Soviet "exercise work-breaks".
Does anyone know
anything about them?
Regards,
David McFarlane
MAppSc (Ergonomics)
Ergonomist, WorkCover NSW
Reference
Yessis,
M, (1987), "Secrets of Soviet Sports Fitness and Training", [Arbor
House,
NY], pp 22-25.
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