The Effect of Different Road Types on Timber Truck Drivers by Assessing the Load Environment of Drivers by Monitoring Changes in Muscle Tension

Our research aimed to quantify stress load in drivers by monitoring the load on the radial extensor carpi radialis (musculus extensor carpi radialis) on different types of forest and other categories of roads. We observed changes in the electrical potential of skeletal muscles using electromyographi...

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Main Authors: Pavel Škvor, Martin Jankovský, Pavel Natov, Jiří Dvořák, Karel Zlatuška
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/10/1565
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author Pavel Škvor
Martin Jankovský
Pavel Natov
Jiří Dvořák
Karel Zlatuška
author_facet Pavel Škvor
Martin Jankovský
Pavel Natov
Jiří Dvořák
Karel Zlatuška
author_sort Pavel Škvor
collection DOAJ
description Our research aimed to quantify stress load in drivers by monitoring the load on the radial extensor carpi radialis (musculus extensor carpi radialis) on different types of forest and other categories of roads. We observed changes in the electrical potential of skeletal muscles using electromyographic measurements and changes in heart rate using a Biofeedback<sup>2000 x-pert</sup> recorder. We measured the loading of drivers during the normal operation of timber trucks and timber trucks with trailers, while the reference measurements took place in a passenger car. We obtained descriptive statistics from the individual measurements and evaluated the normality of the measured data. Differences in muscle load increased when driving on lower-grade roads. The muscle load increased significantly, especially when passing through villages, inversely proportional to the width of the roads and the radius of their bends. Experiments revealed that the drivers of loaded vehicles who drove on lower-grade roads were under higher stress. Muscle load of drivers a loaded timber truck with a trailer was more difficult on roads of lower grades than on roads of grade I by 41.3%. Driving a timber truck is 21.9% more difficult on lower grade roads than on grade I roads. For preventive health and safety reasons, it is optimal to alternate trucking with a different type of work, thus minimizing the chance of occurrence of health disabilities.
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spelling doaj.art-14e4ce262f184667ab47114f65246e0e2023-11-24T00:09:16ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-09-011310156510.3390/f13101565The Effect of Different Road Types on Timber Truck Drivers by Assessing the Load Environment of Drivers by Monitoring Changes in Muscle TensionPavel Škvor0Martin Jankovský1Pavel Natov2Jiří Dvořák3Karel Zlatuška4Department of Forestry Technologies and Construction, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Forestry Technologies and Construction, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Forestry Technologies and Construction, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Forestry Technologies and Construction, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Forestry Technologies and Construction, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague, Czech RepublicOur research aimed to quantify stress load in drivers by monitoring the load on the radial extensor carpi radialis (musculus extensor carpi radialis) on different types of forest and other categories of roads. We observed changes in the electrical potential of skeletal muscles using electromyographic measurements and changes in heart rate using a Biofeedback<sup>2000 x-pert</sup> recorder. We measured the loading of drivers during the normal operation of timber trucks and timber trucks with trailers, while the reference measurements took place in a passenger car. We obtained descriptive statistics from the individual measurements and evaluated the normality of the measured data. Differences in muscle load increased when driving on lower-grade roads. The muscle load increased significantly, especially when passing through villages, inversely proportional to the width of the roads and the radius of their bends. Experiments revealed that the drivers of loaded vehicles who drove on lower-grade roads were under higher stress. Muscle load of drivers a loaded timber truck with a trailer was more difficult on roads of lower grades than on roads of grade I by 41.3%. Driving a timber truck is 21.9% more difficult on lower grade roads than on grade I roads. For preventive health and safety reasons, it is optimal to alternate trucking with a different type of work, thus minimizing the chance of occurrence of health disabilities.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/10/1565biofeedbackdriverelectromyographyphysical exertiontruckroad
spellingShingle Pavel Škvor
Martin Jankovský
Pavel Natov
Jiří Dvořák
Karel Zlatuška
The Effect of Different Road Types on Timber Truck Drivers by Assessing the Load Environment of Drivers by Monitoring Changes in Muscle Tension
Forests
biofeedback
driver
electromyography
physical exertion
truck
road
title The Effect of Different Road Types on Timber Truck Drivers by Assessing the Load Environment of Drivers by Monitoring Changes in Muscle Tension
title_full The Effect of Different Road Types on Timber Truck Drivers by Assessing the Load Environment of Drivers by Monitoring Changes in Muscle Tension
title_fullStr The Effect of Different Road Types on Timber Truck Drivers by Assessing the Load Environment of Drivers by Monitoring Changes in Muscle Tension
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of Different Road Types on Timber Truck Drivers by Assessing the Load Environment of Drivers by Monitoring Changes in Muscle Tension
title_short The Effect of Different Road Types on Timber Truck Drivers by Assessing the Load Environment of Drivers by Monitoring Changes in Muscle Tension
title_sort effect of different road types on timber truck drivers by assessing the load environment of drivers by monitoring changes in muscle tension
topic biofeedback
driver
electromyography
physical exertion
truck
road
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/10/1565
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