Physical Work Tasks Research Articles

Workplace Energy Culture Framework: A Mixed Methods Study Examining Differences in Energy Use and Behaviours within an Industrial Workplace

One way to achieve energy efficiency in the workplace is to change employee behaviour. Research in this area is limited, and significant gaps remain in understanding differences in how energy is used within workplaces and the suitability of existing frameworks for application in workplace settings. This paper addresses these gaps by applying and further developing the interdisciplinary energy culture framework (ECF) to examine employee energy use in an industrial workplace with an office and manufacturing areas. A mixed methods approach consisting of surveys, a focus group and interviews is applied. Results show significant differences in the office and manufacturing areas, with office areas having a more energy-efficient energy culture. Qualitative results show differences exist due to organizational behaviours, such as the effectiveness of business communications methods, varying levels of investment, the physical environment and work tasks. Results also show external influences, such as government budgets, business structure, and wider organisational cultures, impact energy cultures and how energy is used. This paper proposes modifications to the ECF, which acknowledges the multi-scalar nature of workplace energy cultures. This paper demonstrates how the ECF can be applied to workplace settings, allowing further understanding of how energy is used, and identifying wider organizational, occupational, and individual psychological influences on energy use.

TRENDS IN EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES IN THE LABOR MARKET OF KAZAKHSTAN

Purpose of the research – To determine trends in employment and wages in the labor market of Kazakhstan, depending on the level of qualification.Methodology – The study was carried out by the desk method and consisted of two stages. At the first stage of the study, general indicators of employment and wages were analyzed, at the second - depending on the level of qualification. The source base was the statistical data of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. A limitation of the study was the lack of data on employment by age and region, as well as the studied statistical data for a certain period of time. The main research methods were comparison, economic and statistical analysis, horizontal and vertical analysis.Originality / value of the research – The study of employment and wages is especially relevant in the post-pandemic period, since the pandemic and the acceleration of digital transformation associated with it had a noticeable impact on the labor market development. This study is aimed at filling a research gap in the study of employment and wages in Kazakhstan’s labor market, depending on the level of qualification.Findings - The following trends can be distinguished in the labor market of Kazakhstan: an increase in employment in the tertiary sector of the economy, an increase in employment in the sectors of highly qualified services, an increase in the share of highly qualified and highly educated employees in the total number of employees, an increase in employment among women, a decrease in employment in professions and specialties related to routine physical work and repetitive learning tasks, rapid wage growth for skilled workers, gender segregation, wage inequality, including gender.

Three out of four working-age patients have fulfilled expectations towards paid employment six months after total hip or knee arthroplasty: a multicentre cohort study

To investigate factors associated with fulfilment of expectations towards paid employment after total hip/knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). Cohort study including preoperatively employed patients aged 18–64 scheduled for THA/TKA. Expectations were collected preoperatively, and 6 and 12 months postoperatively with the paid employment item of the Hospital-for-Special-Surgery Expectations Surveys (back-to-normal = 1; large improvement = 2; moderate improvement = 3; slight improvement = 4; not applicable = 5). Patients scoring not applicable were excluded. Fulfilment was calculated by subtracting preoperative from postoperative scores (< 0: unfulfilled; ≥ 0: fulfilled). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for THA/TKA at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Six months postoperatively, 75% of THA patients (n = 237/n = 316) and 72% of TKA patients (n = 211/n = 294) had fulfilled expectations. Older age (TKA:OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.15) and better postoperative physical functioning (THA:OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06–1.14; TKA:OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.06) increased the likelihood of fulfilment. Physical work tasks (THA:OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03–0.44), preoperative sick leave (TKA:OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.17–0.65), and difficulties at work (THA:OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.03–0.35; TKA:OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.17–0.98) decreased the likelihood of fulfilment. Twelve months postoperatively similar risk factors were found. Three out of four working-age THA/TKA patients had fulfilled expectations towards paid employment at 6 months postoperatively. Preoperative factors associated with fulfilment were older age, mental work tasks, no sick leave, postoperative factors were better physical functioning, and no perceived difficulties at work.

Fatigue, Stress, and Performance during Alternating Physical and Cognitive Tasks-Effects of the Temporal Pattern of Alternations.

In occupational life, performing cognitive work tasks in between fatiguing physical work tasks may allow recovery and reduce stress without losing productive working time. The temporal pattern of such alternations is likely a determinant of the recovery effect, influencing both stress and fatigue; the difficulty of the cognitive task (CT) would also be a likely determinant. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the temporal pattern of alternations between a repetitive physical task and a CT of different difficulties influenced perceived fatigability, performance fatigability, stress-related outcomes, and performance. Fifteen women performed four work sessions comprising 110 min of repeated bouts of a repetitive physical task (pipetting), alternating with a CT (n-back). Sessions differed in bout cycle time (short: 7 + 3 min versus long: 14 + 6 min) and CT difficulty (CTdiff; easy versus difficult). Fatigue was assessed from recordings of maximal voluntary contraction force in shoulder elevations and handgrip pre- and post-work, electromyography (EMG) from the right trapezius and right forearm extensors during work, and repeated self-ratings of fatigue and pain throughout the session. Stress was assessed using electrocardiography (heart rate variability), salivary alpha-amylase, and self-reports. Perceived fatigue increased significantly over time for all protocols and more in long-cycle than short-cycle conditions. EMG activity did not increase markedly over time in any condition. Neither objective nor subjective indicators suggested that stress increased over time, regardless of the temporal pattern. Pipetting performance remained stable in all conditions. Cognitive performance, measured by the proportions of correct positive and false positive answers, differed between CTdiff levels but remained stable over time, with no significant difference between temporal patterns. In summary, temporal patterns of alternating tasks influenced fatigue to some extent but had no obvious influence on stress indicators or performance. Thus, designing job rotation with alternating physical and cognitive work should consider the temporal patterns of alternations to minimize fatigue.

Stress-Related Responses to Alternations between Repetitive Physical Work and Cognitive Tasks of Different Difficulties.

Alternating between physical and cognitive tasks has been proposed as an alternative in job rotation, allowing workers to recover from the physical work while still being productive. However, effects of such alternations on stress have not been investigated. This controlled experiment aimed at determining the extent to which stress-related responses develop during alternating physical and cognitive work, and to determine the extent to which cognitive task (CT) difficulty influences these responses. Fifteen women performed three sessions of 10 consecutive work bouts each including a seven-minute repetitive physical task (pipetting) and a three-minute CT (n-back) at one of three difficulty levels. Stress was assessed in terms of changes in heart rate variability, blood pressure, salivary alpha-amylase, salivary cortisol, perceived stress, and cognitive performance. The work session did not result in any marked stress response, and CT difficulty did not significantly influence stress, apart from alpha-amylase being higher at the easiest CT (F = 5.34, p = 0.02). Thus, according to our results, alternating between repetitive physical tasks and cognitive tasks may be a feasible alternative to classic job rotation between physical tasks only, even if the cognitive task is quite difficult. Future studies should address possible effects of the temporal pattern of alternations, and combine even other occupationally relevant tasks, preferably for extended periods of time.

Physical symptoms and components of labor tasks associated with upper limb disability among working breast cancer survivors.

Each year, the number of breast cancer (BC) cases increases in Brazil and worldwide. In addition, BC affects women of working age who need to resume their jobs after treatments. This is an observational, cross-sectional study that investigated the association of physical symptoms and work tasks with upper limb disability and return to work in BC survivors. Sociodemographic, labor, clinical and surgical aspects, and physical incapacity of the upper limbs of 62 women diagnosed with BC were evaluated through a questionnaire of our own and the disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire. The data were analyzed by the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS version 20.0 and a significance of p < 0.05 was adopted. Logistic regression and odds ratio were used to verify the level of association between work tasks and pain with return to work, and multiple linear regression verified the association of physical symptoms with upper limb functionality. The work tasks associated with non-return to work were raising objects above the head (OR 3.64, 95% CI 1.26-10.51), lifting objects of more than 5kg (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.02-8.13), and loading objects of more than 5kg (OR 3.93; 95% CI 1.14-10.07). The pain in the upper quadrant homologous to the surgery explained 64% of the variance in physical incapacity of the upper limbs. There is an association of labor tasks that require upper limb strength and range of motion with non-return to work, and also pain in the upper quadrant homologous to the BC with reduction in the functionality of the upper limbs.

Effectiveness of workplace interventions in rehabilitating musculoskeletal disorders and preventing its consequences among workers with physical and sedentary employment: systematic review protocol

BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the leading cause of work disability and sickness absence worldwide. The prevalence of MSDs increases with age, consequently challenging sustainable employability among the growing ageing workforce. Knowledge of feasible and efficient workplace-based interventions to rehabilitate MSD or prevent its consequences is therefore warranted. This systematic review will evaluate the effectiveness of workplace-based interventions on MSDs and its consequences among adult workers with physical and sedentary work tasks, respectively.MethodsWe will search the following bibliographic databases: PubMed (including the database ‘MEDLINE’) and Web of Science Core Collection (including the databases ‘Science Citation Index Expanded’, ‘Social Sciences Citation Index’ and ‘Arts & Humanities Citation Index’). Manual searches will also be performed. We will include randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs reported in English in which (1) participants are adult workers with MSD, (2) interventions are aiming at rehabilitating pain symptoms of MSD or preventing the consequences of MSD and (3) interventions are initiated and/or carried out at the workplace. The review will adhere to the ‘Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses’ (PRISMA) guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) guidelines for workplace-based interventions. For the primary evaluation of the review, the quality assessment and evidence synthesis will conform to the IWH guidelines. Secondary evaluation will include a meta-analysis (unless the included studies do not allow this due to heterogeneity) and employ the risk of bias domains recommended by Cochrane along with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach on the studies with pain intensity as an outcome.DiscussionThis systematic review will provide knowledge on effective workplace-based interventions among physical and sedentary workers with MSD. RCTs are considered the most powerful experimental design in clinical trials, but solely including these may be too restrictive to understand effective workplace-based interventions where randomised and carefully controlled trials (RCTs) are not always possible. In order to maximize practical relevance, the selection process will, therefore, include both RCTs and non-RCTs and the quality assessment and evidence synthesis will conform to IWH guidelines focusing on developing practical guidelines for stakeholders. The result of this work will form the basis for industry-specific evidence-based recommendations on effective workplace-based interventions for rehabilitation of MSDs and its consequences that will later be operationalised into concrete and user-friendly practical tools for workplaces.Systematic review registrationInternational Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) number CRD42018116752.

Politicians, Pollution and Performance in the Workplace: The Effect of PMs on MPs

Applying methods of textual and stylometric analysis to all 119,225 speeches made in the Canadian House of Commons between 2006 and 2011, we establish that air pollution reduces the speech quality of Canadian Members of Parliament (MPs). Exposure to fine particulate matter concentrations exceeding 15 μg/m3 causes a 3.1 percent reduction in the quality of MPs speech (equivalent to a 3.6 months of education). For more difficult communication tasks the decrement in quality is equivalent to the loss of 6.5 months of schooling. Our design accounts for the potential endogeneity of exposure and controls for many potential confounders including individual fixed effects. Politicians are professional communicators and as such the analysis provides further evidence of the detrimental impact of air pollution on workplace performance, with an effect size around half that established in recent research for workers engaged in physical work tasks. Insofar as the changed speech patterns reflect diminished mental acuity the results make plausible substantial effects of air pollution on productivity not just in communication-intensive but a wider set of creative and cognitively-intensive work settings.

The effects of age to meet the standard production rate.

This study evaluated the energy expenditure of workers in physical work tasks in order to determine if people of different ages and gender carry out repetitive activities according to the recommended limits of energy at work. Exploring whether age is a significant factor to achieve industrial production rates and determine its possible consequences. A laboratory experiment was conducted with people age 20 to 58 years split by gender into four age groups. Oxygen consumption and heart rate were measured as variables of response to the physical workloads. When carrying out repetitive moderate load operations, women aged over 30 years exceeded the recommended energy expenditure (95% CI). For heavy activities, only men in the age groups 20-39 and 30-40 years could perform these tasks without exceeding the recommended oxygen consumption (95% CI). The industrial predetermined motion time systems do not take into account the effects of age and gender difference on energy production when obtaining cycle times in activities with significant aerobic loads. Manufacturing processes have specific standard times that might be inappropriate if they are performed by individuals who do not meet the standard energy production capacity.

Sleep restriction during simulated wildfire suppression: effect on physical task performance.

ObjectivesTo examine the effects of sleep restriction on firefighters’ physical task performance during simulated wildfire suppression.MethodsThirty-five firefighters were matched and randomly allocated to either a control condition (8-hour sleep opportunity, n = 18) or a sleep restricted condition (4-hour sleep opportunity, n = 17). Performance on physical work tasks was evaluated across three days. In addition, heart rate, core temperature, and worker activity were measured continuously. Rate of perceived and exertion and effort sensation were evaluated during the physical work periods.ResultsThere were no differences between the sleep-restricted and control groups in firefighters’ task performance, heart rate, core temperature, or perceptual responses during self-paced simulated firefighting work tasks. However, the sleep-restricted group were less active during periods of non-physical work compared to the control group.ConclusionsUnder self-paced work conditions, 4 h of sleep restriction did not adversely affect firefighters’ performance on physical work tasks. However, the sleep-restricted group were less physically active throughout the simulation. This may indicate that sleep-restricted participants adapted their behaviour to conserve effort during rest periods, to subsequently ensure they were able to maintain performance during the firefighter work tasks. This work contributes new knowledge to inform fire agencies of firefighters’ operational capabilities when their sleep is restricted during multi-day wildfire events. The work also highlights the need for further research to explore how sleep restriction affects physical performance during tasks of varying duration, intensity, and complexity.

How to approximate users’ values while preserving privacy: experiences with using attitudes towards work tasks as proxies for personal value elicitation

Software users have different sets of personal values, such as benevolence, self-direction, and tradition. Among other factors, these personal values influence users' emotions, preferences, motivations, and ways of performing tasks--and hence, information needs. Studies of user acceptance indicate that personal traits like values and related soft issues are important for the user's approval of software. If a user's dominant personal value were known, software could automatically show an interface variant which offers information and functionality that best matches his or her dominant value. A user's dominant personal value is the one that most strongly influences his or her attitudes and behaviors. However, existing methods for measuring a user's values are work intensive and/or interfere with the user's privacy needs. If interface tailoring for very large groups of users is planned, value approximation has to be achieved on a large scale to assign individualized software to all users of the software. Our work focuses on approximating the dominant values of a user with less effort and less impact on privacy. Instead of probing for a user's values directly, we explore the potential of approximating these values based on the user's preferences for key tasks. Producing tailored versions of software is a separate topic not in the focus here. In this paper we rather describe a method to identify user values from task preferences and an empirical study of applying parts of this method. We are proposing the method in this paper for the first time except for a preliminary version orally presented at a workshop. The method consists of a research process and an application process. In the research process a researcher has to identify key tasks occurring in a context under investigation which have a relationship to personal values. These key tasks can be used in the application process to approximate the dominant values of new users in a similar context. In this empirical study we show that the research process of our method allows us to determine key tasks which approximate values in the shared context of nursing. The majority of the nurses were found to have one of the three following dominant values: benevolence, self-direction, or hedonism. Data confirmed common expectations: that nurses with the value of benevolence, when compared to all other nurses, had a higher preference for tasks which helped people immediately or improved their circumstances of the treatment. In relation to all other nurses, participants with self-direction disliked tasks which affected their personal freedom, and users with hedonism had a lower preference for tasks which involved physical work and preferred tasks which promised gratification. Our findings advance measurement of personal values in large user groups by asking questions with less privacy concern. However, the method requires substantial efforts during the initial research process to prepare such measurements. Future work includes replicating our method in other contexts and identifying value-dependent tasks for users with other values than the three values our empirical study mainly focused on.

Weight Loss Surgery Among Obese Women: Employment Expectations and Outcomes

This study utilized the Weight Loss Surgery and Work Expectations (WLSWE) questionnaire to examine the pre surgery expectations and post surgery outcomes for 80 women following WLS surgery. In comparing pre and post WLS expectations and results, improvement was found in increased confidence and relationships at work. Using paired samples t-tests, results demonstrated that women who had WLS reported improvement in ease of getting hired, work performance, work motivation, work discrimination by others, social activities with coworkers, ease of promotion, and completing physical work tasks.

Factors predicting work status 3 months after injury: results from the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study

ObjectiveFew studies examine predictors of work status following injury beyond injuries presenting to a hospital or emergency department. This paper examines the combined influences of socio-demographic, occupational, injury and pre-existing...

The working shoulder: assessing demands, identifying risks, and promoting healthy occupational performance

Background: Occupational shoulder injuries are a concern for society and clinicians. To best treat and assess the influence of physical work tasks on shoulder health, it is necessary to first understand shoulder function and dysfunction, common occupational pathologies, and existing methods to assess and prevent work-related shoulder injuries.Objectives: The objectives of this paper are to present fundamental shoulder biomechanics, discuss known occupational risk factors for shoulder injury, review assessment and prevention techniques for shoulder injuries, and describe the range of tools available to evaluate work tasks for potential physical shoulder stressors.Major findings: The complex shoulder mechanism has a unique role for performing work. Recognition of the delicate balance between creating arm mobility and maintaining joint stability is crucial to understanding how the region can be injured during work. Tools exist to aid clinicians in thinking critically about occupational shoulder injury, and can provide information about both specific and general physical exposures.Conclusions: The shoulder is a complicated assembly of many neuromusculoskeletal elements, and these tissues can be injured in a variety of ways. This paper provides background on the nature of these injuries and discusses preventative strategies available to pragmatically assist clinicians.

The Role of Past and Current Strenuous Physical Work in the Association Between Professional Car Driving and Chronic Low-Back Syndromes

Population-based cross-sectional study of clinically assessed low back syndromes. To investigate whether exposure to professional car driving, either alone or in combination with strenuous physical work is associated with clinically defined sciatica or other clinically diagnosed chronic low back syndromes. Several studies have found an association between professional driving and back disorders, but drivers' histories of heavy physical work tasks has rarely been taken into account. The nationally representative sample comprised of 2323 men aged 30 to 64 (the Health 2000 Survey). The diagnoses of sciatica and chronic low back syndromes were based on a standardized clinical examination by specially trained physicians. Life-long exposure to professional car driving and to physically demanding work was assessed retrospectively via interviews. Logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of clinical chronic low back syndromes related to these exposures, and the risks were presented with odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The prevalence of physician-diagnosed sciatica was 5.4% and that of other chronic low back syndromes 4.0%. Professional car driving in general was associated with sciatica at an OR of 1.42 (95% CI 0.92-2.18) and with other chronic low back syndromes at an OR of 1.31 (0.80-2.16), after adjustment of covariates and strenuous physical work. Exposure to driving without exposure to physical work was not associated with the outcomes, whereas driving in combination with strenuous physical work increased the risk for sciatica threefold (3.22; 1.86-5.59), and that of low back syndromes twofold (2.08; 1.12-3.87). The increased risk of low back disorders related to professional car driving is more likely due to strenuous work tasks rather than to driving itself.

Physical and psychosocial risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in New Zealand nurses, postal workers and office workers

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of physical and psychosocial risk factors with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in New Zealand nurses, postal workers and office workers.DesignA cross-sectional postal survey asking about demographic, physical...

Living with head and neck cancer: a profile of captivity

björklund m, sarvimäki a &amp; berg a (2010) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness2, 22–31 Living with head and neck cancer: a profile of captivityAim. To illuminate what it means to live with head and neck cancer.Background. Patients could experience head and neck cancer as more emotionally traumatic than other cancers because of visible disfigurement and its life‐threatening impact on vital functions. This long‐term illness often leads to lifestyle changes such as to physical function, work and everyday tasks, interpersonal relationships and social functioning.Design. This study used a qualitative and explorative longitudinal and prospective design with semi‐structured interviews and open‐ended questions. Twenty‐one interviews were conducted with six participants with newly diagnosed or newly recurrent head and neck cancer. The analysis was descriptive and interpretive.Findings. The participants were living ‘in captivity’ in the sense that their symptoms were constant reminders of the disease. Our findings also revealed existential loneliness and spiritual growth, as interpreted within six themes: altered sense of affiliation; hostage of health care; locked up in a broken body, but with a free spirit; confined in a rogue body, forced dependency on others, and caught up in a permanent illness trajectory.Conclusions. Living with head and neck cancer involves emotional and existential vulnerability. The participants and their next of kin experienced insufficient support from health services and inadequate coordination between phases of their lengthy illness trajectory. These findings call for changes in oncological rehabilitation and management. Patient care must take a holistic view of everyone involved, centring on the individual and the promotion of health. A care coordinator could navigate between the individual patient needs and appropriate health services, hopefully with results that lessen the individual’s emotional and existential confinement.

The assessment of functional work capacity in the South African mining industry

Overall physical work fitness is a prerequisite in numerous industries. Apart from improved productivity, it remains fundamental with regards to the maintenance of good health and safety. To address worker fitness in the mining industry, AngloGold Ashanti and Anglo Platinum Mining Houses developed a Functional Work Capacity (FWC) test battery. The FWC test battery consists of 19 work simulations representing the required functional work capacity to cope with all types of physical work tasks and work environments in the mining industry. This assessment tool is not only used to evaluate injured or medically affected workers for alternative placement but also to ensure that the new employee is placed in a job matching his physical capacity. This paper reviews the design process and application of the FWC test battery in the mining industry.

Worker Productivity Loss Associated with Arthritis

This study at a major financial services corporation sought to investigate the association of arthritis with on-the-job productivity, also termed "presenteeism." Using a modified version of the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) incorporated into a Health Risk Appraisal (HRA), 17,685 employees responded to the survey in 2002. Of the 16,651 respondents meeting inclusion criteria, 2,469 (14.8%) reported having arthritis, and 986 (39.9% of those with arthritis) also reported that they were under medical care and/or taking medication for arthritis. Employees with arthritis were older, predominantly female, and reported a higher number of comorbidities. Although all four domains of the WLQ (physical, time, mental, and output) were impacted by arthritis, the greatest productivity effect, as expected, was on physical work tasks. Health risks also play a role in the relationship between arthritis and presenteeism, with high-risk individuals reporting 7%-10% additional loss of productivity compared to lowrisk individuals. In addition, those who reported receiving medication and/or treatment for arthritis had a 2.5% excess productivity loss independently attributed to their arthritis, which equals approximately 1,250 US dollars per employee per year, or 5.4 million US dollars to the corporation. This arthritis effect was discernible in those with low and moderate levels of health risk, but was not as evident in those with high health risks; in that group, health-associated decrements in productivity were much larger. Arthritis is associated with work productivity loss. Disease management programs should focus on pain management and arthritis-associated health risks and comorbidities in order to significantly decrease arthritis-related losses in on-the-job productivity.

Cardiovascular responses to dynamic and static effort soon after myocardial infarction. Application to occupational work assessment.

Static and dynamic work involving the arms and the legs was performed by 40 men seven weeks after myocardial infarction. Leg ergometry produced a significantly higher peak work load, systolic blood pressure (BPs), heart rate (HR), and HR X BPs X 10(-2) product (DP) than did arm ergometry: 842 +/- 178 vs 546 +/- 135 kg-m/min, 176 +/- 24 vs 154 +/- 19 mm Hg and 256 +/- 54 vs 219 +/- 48 (SD). Peak heart rates were 145 and 142. Endpoints were primarily muscular and generalized fatigue and dyspnea. Ischemic abnormalities and ventricular ectopy were more frequent with leg ergometry. Sustained forearm lifting elicited higher HR, PBs and DP responses than sustained handgrip contraction: 95 +/- 16 vs 91 +/- 16 beats/min, 162 +/- 18 vs 152 +/- 17 mm Hg and 154 +/- 33 vs 139 +/- 33 (SD). Ischemic ST segment depression and significant ventricuar arrhythmias were infrequent with static effort. Dynamic leg testing is superior to dynamic or static arm testing in assessing the capacity of patients to perform physical work tasks after myocardial infarction.