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Biomedical subjects

K Kjellberg

Publications and source records attributed to K Kjellberg.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Gender differences in lifting technique.

The importance of different motion patterns in the assessment of work technique is rarely addressed in the literature and even less information can be found regarding gender differences. In this study the possible gender differences in lifting technique from lifting experiments on 12 female and 10 male participants were examined. The participants performed squat and stoop lifts of a box. Movements were measured by means of opto-electronic measurement systems. Kinematic data derived from the measurements revealed some differences between the men and the women, e.g. in trunk motion and knee angle ranges. The hip-knee interjoint coordination was more synchronized for women than for men in terms of the relative phase angle. It is concluded that so far gender differences in motion patterns have not been sufficiently explored and that men and women need to be considered separately in the evaluation of work technique in manual handling tasks. Advantages and disadvantages of different coordination patterns need to be further investigated.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effect of eyelid botulinum toxin injection on lacrimal drainage.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of eyelid botulinum toxin injection on the lacrimal drainage and to assess the use of botulinum toxin in dry eye conditions. METHODS: Prospectively, three test groups were examined and one lacrimal system investigated in each person in each group. Botulinum toxin A (3.75 IU) was injected into the medial part of 13 lower eyelids of 13 normal test subjects and the medial part of nine lower eyelids in nine patients with dry eyes. A dose of 2.5 IU was injected into the medial part of 10 lower eyelids and the medial part of 10 upper eyelids of 10 patients with dry eyes. The drop test was used to determine the lacrimal drainage capacity and the blink output, before and after the injection. The subjective effect of the botulinum toxin injection on eye comfort was investigated. RESULTS: Three weeks after lower eyelid botulinum toxin injection, the mean blink output was reduced to 64% (1.19 of 1.87; P <.001) and 70% (0.94 of 1.35; P <.001) of the baseline values in the groups of normal subjects and patients, respectively. After injection in both the upper and lower eyelid, the mean blink output was reduced to 38% (0.54 of 1.41; P <.001) of the baseline value. The patients with dry eyes reported an improved eye comfort in six of nine cases after injection in the lower eyelid and in seven of 10 cases after injection in both the upper and lower eyelid. Adverse effects included one case of increased discomfort for 3 weeks after injection. CONCLUSION: Injection of botulinum toxin into the medial part of the eyelids decreased the lacrimal drainage, suggesting a new way to treat dry eye conditions. Further studies are required to assess the clinical value of this treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

An observation instrument for assessment of work technique in patient transfer tasks.

The aim of the study was to construct an observation instrument for description and assessment of nursing personnel's work technique in patient transfer tasks with regard to musculoskeletal health and safety, and to evaluate the validity and reliability of the instrument. The instrument consists of 24 items arranged in three phases of a transfer: the preparation phase, the starting position and the actual performance. Observations are made from video recordings. A detailed description of the individual's work technique, including actions taken to prepare the transfer, the interaction with the patient and any assistant co-worker, and the motor performance of the nurse, is provided. An attempt was made to quantify the assessments, by calculating an overall score of the work technique with regard to the level of musculoskeletal hazard and safety. The validity and reliability of the instrument were evaluated on 35 video-recorded patient transfers from hospital wards. The validity and reliability were mostly satisfactory, both when evaluating the agreements between the observations of each item (i.e. kappa values > 0.40), and when evaluating the agreements between the overall scores (i.e. intraclass correlation coefficients 0.71-0.90). Further improvements to enhance the agreements are suggested.

Back Injuries↗
PubMed1998

Method and performance: two elements of work technique.

In the present study work technique was viewed in two basic elements: the method of carrying out a work task and the individual performance of the work task. The aim was to investigate how eight selected kinematic, kinetic, electromyographic and psychophysical variables can characterize the two elements of work technique. Twelve female subjects lifted a box using two methods, back and leg lifts, and two different simulated performances, fast and slow lifts. Motions, ground reaction forces, muscle activity in the lower back and perceived exertion were measured. A dynamic biomechanical model was applied. The trunk angular displacement and velocity clearly separated the lift methods. The trunk angular velocities and accelerations, the L5/S1 moments and the EMG variables were closely related to the performances. The work technique varied between the subjects to a greater extent than the individual variability over repetitions of a lift task. A larger inter-individual variability for kinematic variables was mostly shown in leg lifts compared with back lifts. The EMG patterns displayed differences in muscle activation that were not revealed by the kinematic or kinetic patterns. The results imply that separate variables should be used for descriptions of work methods and task performances; for method descriptions ranges of motion seem to be appropriate, for performance descriptions displacement time derivatives and load variables seem to be more useful. Moreover, the inter-individual differences suggest that work technique should be evaluated on an individual level.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Telephone advisory service, visits to district nurses and home visits made by district nurses at a Swedish primary health care district.

All contacts with the district nurses were registered during a three-week period, daytime Monday to Friday, in a defined primary health care district (Vänersborg, Sweden): 855 incoming telephone calls, 1,016 visits to the district nurses (visits to child welfare unit excluded), and 380 home visits made by the district nurses. The telephone consultations comprised 38% of the total number of contacts and 14% of the time was devoted to this activity, visits to the district nurses at their reception units 45% of all contacts and 39% of the time, and home visits 17% and 47%, respectively. Symptoms from the upper respiratory tract and from the skin were the most common reasons for telephone consultations, while wounds and leg ulcers were the most common reasons for visits to the reception unit and for home visits. A great deal of the district nurse's work was requested by health centres and hospitals.

Adolescent↗