Strength and Perceived Effort in Repetitive Upper-Limb Tasks: An OCRA Method Analysis of 900 Workers
Main Article Content
Keywords
Musculoskeletal disorders, Risk assessment, OCRA, Handgrip, Ergonomics
Abstract
Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders pose a significant burden on the population. The OCRA method plays a key role in assessing the risk associated with repetitive actions of the upper limbs. In this method, muscular force is evaluated based on the rate of perceived effort (RPE) reported by the worker, which can introduce subjective bias into the assessment. This study aims to determine whether testing the worker’s handgrip strength can improve the accuracy of the force assessment in the OCRA method. Methods: Handgrip strength was measured during the risk assessment process following the OCRA method. Data were divided into specific percentile ranks based on age, gender, height, and handedness. Results: 903 workers from 43 different Italian companies were surveyed. There was a significant difference in handgrip strength percentiles stratified by report of an RPE > 2 and those without (p = 0.047). Additionally, significant differences were found in perceived effort rates (based on the OCRA method) among workers with different levels of stratified handgrip strength (dominant hand: p = 0.04, non-dominant hand: p = 0.02). Conclusions: Workers performing repetitive upper limb actions at various strength levels experience different perceived effort rates during tasks. These findings suggest that measuring handgrip strength is a crucial component of risk assessments using the OCRA method. To date, this study's sample size is among the largest for this evaluation method; we believe these results could be a significant step forward in improving the risk assessment process for biomechanical overload
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15. Soysal P, Hurst C, Demurtas J, et al. Handgrip strength and health outcomes: Umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies. J Sport Health Sci. 2021;10(3):290-295. Doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2020.06.009
16. Kiruthika S, Mahesh R, Indhu R. A Correlation Study to Analyze the Relationship Between Neck Pain, Level of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Risk and Handgrip Strength in Desktop Workers. Int J Health Sci Res. 2024;14(8):37-46. Doi: 10.52403/ijhsr.20240806
17. Alperovitch-Najenson D, Carmeli E, Coleman R, Ring H. Handgrip Strength as a Diagnostic Tool in Work-Related Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Women. The Scientific World JOURNAL. 2004;4:111-117. Doi: 10.1100/tsw.2004.12
18. Spruit MA, Sillen MJH, Groenen MTJ, Wouters EFM, Franssen FME. New Normative Values for Handgrip Strength: Results From the UK Biobank. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14(10):775.e5-775.e11. Doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2013.06.013
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Published
04-08-2025
Article Details
How to Cite
1.
Gobbo S, Bullo V, Favro F, Pavan D, Doro B, Bortoletto A, et al. Strength and Perceived Effort in Repetitive Upper-Limb Tasks: An OCRA Method Analysis of 900 Workers. Med Lav [Internet]. 2025 Aug. 4 [cited 2025 Oct. 24];116(4):16856. Available from: https://mail.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/lamedicinadellavoro/article/view/16856
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Author Biographies
Stefano Gobbo, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy; Gymhub S.r.l., Spin-off of the University of Padova, Via Nona Strada 4 – 35129 Padova, Italy.
Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy;
Gymhub S.r.l., Spin-off of the University of Padova, Via Nona Strada 4 – 35129 Padova, Italy.
Valentina Bullo, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy
Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy.
Francesco Favro, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy
Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy
Davide Pavan, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy
Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy.
Beatrice Doro, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy
Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy.
Alessandro Bortoletto, Gymhub S.r.l., Spin-off of the University of Padova, Via Nona Strada 4 – 35129 Padova, Italy.
Gymhub S.r.l., Spin-off of the University of Padova, Via Nona Strada 4 – 35129 Padova, Italy.
Giuseppe De Palma, Occupational Health Unit – DSMC, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Prevention Unit, University Hospital ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Occupational Health Unit – DSMC, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy;
Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Prevention Unit, University Hospital ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Emma Sala, Occupational Health Unit – DSMC, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Prevention Unit, University Hospital ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Occupational Health Unit – DSMC, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy;
Occupational Health, Hygiene, Toxicology and Prevention Unit, University Hospital ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Stefano Mattioli, Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Andrea Di Blasio, Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
Department of Medicine and Sciences of Aging, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
Marco Bergamin, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy; Gymhub S.r.l., Spin-off of the University of Padova, Via Nona Strada 4 – 35129 Padova, Italy.
Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 - 35128 Padova, Italy;
Gymhub S.r.l., Spin-off of the University of Padova, Via Nona Strada 4 – 35129 Padova, Italy.
How to Cite
1.
Gobbo S, Bullo V, Favro F, Pavan D, Doro B, Bortoletto A, et al. Strength and Perceived Effort in Repetitive Upper-Limb Tasks: An OCRA Method Analysis of 900 Workers. Med Lav [Internet]. 2025 Aug. 4 [cited 2025 Oct. 24];116(4):16856. Available from: https://mail.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/lamedicinadellavoro/article/view/16856
