Characterization of the biomechanical constraints caused by the use of protective gloves. Phase II: Validation of a method for measuring the flexibility of gloves based on surface electromyography

Project IRSST

Characterization of the biomechanical constraints caused by the use of protective gloves. Phase II: Validation of a method for measuring the flexibility of gloves based on surface electromyographyToan Vu-Khanh / Université de Sherbrooke
Jaime Lara, Christian Larivière / IRSST
Sylvie Nadeau, Said Jazouli / École de technologie supérieure

IRSST publications Scientific publications and communications

0099-3760 : Completed

Protective gloves help reduce the number and severity of hand injuries, but they often hinder task execution and require increased muscular effort, which explains the reticence of workers to wear them.

An initial biomechanical test was developed in a previous study (R-372) and the results obtained demonstrated some potential for characterizing glove flexibility. However, modifications were required in order to refine the method. A more exhaustive evaluation, including additional gloves, would also be necessary to assess the enhanced sensitivity of this potential tool.

A mechanical method, the free deforming multidirectional double curvature test, was also developed in the context of this study, and the results obtained for 28 gloves with a wide range of flexibilities were compared, among other things, to the measurements carried out with the improved biomechanical test, and to a psychophysical evaluation.

The results show that it is possible to predict the effects of a rigid glove on muscle function based on the new mechanical double curvature test. This is the first test to validate mechanical tests for protective glove flexibility using criteria obtained with human subjects. In addition to providing essentially the same information as tests carried out on human subjects, the mechanical double curvature test is much simpler, requires fewer resources, is less costly, is less subject to variation, and is more sensitive to subtle differences in flexibility.

IRSST publications
Vu-Khanh, Toan; Dolez, Patricia; Harrabi, Lotfi; Lara, Jaime; Larivière, Christian; Tremblay, Guy; Nadeau, Sylvie
Caractérisation de la souplesse des gants de protection par des méthodes mécaniques et biomécaniques (Characterization of the flexibility of protective gloves by mechanical and biomechanical methods)
Études et recherches / Rapport R-506, Montréal, IRSST, 2007, 90 pages. Free download More Info

Scientific publications and communicationsDurand M. J., Larivière C., Lemaire J., Hong Q., Vachon B., Ngomo S.

Validity of the physical work performance evaluation (PWPE) for workers with low back pain
in IX International Forum on Primary Care Research on Low Back Pain, (9th : October 4-6, 2007 : Palma de Mallorca, Spain), 2007, p. 97.

Harrabi L., Dolez P., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J., Tremblay G., Nadeau S., Larivière C.

Characterization of protective gloves stiffness: Development of a multidirectional deformation test method
Safety Science, vol. 46, no 7, 2008, p. 1025-1036.

Harrabi L., Dolez P., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.

Evaluation of the flexibility of protective gloves
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, vol. 14, no 1, 2008, p. 61-68.

Harrabi L., Dolez P. I., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.

Optimization in the selection of protective gloves for resistance to mechanical risks
in The Second International Conference of Applied Research on Textile / CIRAT-2 (2nd : November 30 - December 2, 2006 : Monastir, Tunisia), 2006 .

Harrabi L., Dolez P. I., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.

Methods for the characterization of protective glove flexibility
in The Second International Conference of Applied Research on Textile / CIRAT-2 (2nd : November 30 - December 2, 2006 : Monastir, Tunisia), 2006.

Harrabi L., Dolez P. I., Vu-Khanh T.

Caractérisation de la souplesse des gants de protection
in Le savoir, trame de modernité : 74e congrès de l'Association francophone pour le savoir / ACFAS, (74e : 15-19 mai, 2006 : Montréal, Canada), 2006.

Harrabi L., Dolez P. I., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.

Evaluation of the flexibility of protective gloves
in 3rd European Conference on Protective Clothing (ECPC) and NOKOBETEF 8 (3rd : May 10-12, 2006 : Gdynia, Poland), CD-ROM, 2006, 7 p.

Larivière C., Tremblay G., Nadeau S., Harrabi L., Dolez P., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.

Do mechanical tests of glove stiffness provide relevant information relative to their effects on the musculoskeletal system? A comparison with surface electromyography and psychophysical methods
Applied Ergonomics, vol. 41, no 2, 2010, p. 326-334.

Tremblay G., Larivière C., Nadeau S., Harrabi L., Dolez P., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.

Caractérisation de la souplesse des gants de protection par une méthode biomécanique basée sur l’électromyographie de surface : étude de validation
in Premier congrès international sur l'ingénierie des risques industriels / CIRI 2007 (1er : 17-19 décembre, 2007 : Montréal, Canada), 2007.