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Distributed vibration isolation and manual dexterity of anti-vibration gloves: Is there a correlation?

Ergonomics. 2020 Apr 06;:1-37

Authors: Yao Y, Rakheja S, Marcotte P

Abstract

This study focuses on the integrated performance of anti-vibration (AV) gloves in terms of manual dexterity and distributed palm and fingers' vibration transmissibility. Experiments were designed to measure vibration transmission and manual dexterity performance of 10 different gloves using 15 subjects. The results showed all gloves impeded manual dexterity, while five gloves satisfied the AV glove screening criteria (ISO 10819, 2013). Glove type yielded a significant effect on manual dexterity (p?<?0.001) and vibration transmissibility (p?=?0.001). Manual dexterity decreased nearly linearly with increase in glove thickness (p?<?0.05), while palm and fingers' vibration transmissibility in high-frequency range was negatively correlated with glove thickness (R2>0.70). A strong correlation was evident between glove material stiffness and the H- frequency range palm vibration transmissibility (R2 =0.8). While the vibration isolation of a glove is strongly related to material properties at the palm, the dexterity performance is dependent on design factors such as thickness and bulkiness.Practitioner Summary: Anti-vibration gloves are used to isolate hand from power tools vibration, while these may adversely affect manual dexterity. Vibration isolation was correlated with material properties and thickness, while dexterity was correlated with thickness alone. Glove thickness is a vital parameter for realizing a compromise between vibration isolation and manual dexterity.

PMID: 32250726 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]