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 Abstract 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. Produced Under this Project Scientific Reports Characterization of the flexibility of protective gloves by mechanical and biomechanical methods Research Report: R-506 Scientific Publications Evaluation of the flexibility of protective glovesHarrabi L., Dolez P. I., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.Source : in 3rd European Conference on Protective Clothing (ECPC) and NOKOBETEF 8 (3rd : May 10-12, 2006 : Gdynia, Poland), CD-ROM, 2006, 7 pCharacterization of protective gloves stiffness: Development of a multidirectional deformation test methodHarrabi L., Dolez P., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J., Tremblay G., Nadeau S., Christian LarivièreSource : Safety Science, vol. 46, no 7, 2008, p. 1025-1036Evaluation of the flexibility of protective glovesHarrabi L., Dolez P., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.Source : International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, vol. 14, no 1, 2008, p. 61-68Optimization in the selection of protective gloves for resistance to mechanical risksHarrabi L., Dolez P. I., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.Source : in The Second International Conference of Applied Research on Textile / CIRAT-2 (2nd : November 30 - December 2, 2006 : Monastir, Tunisia), 2006 Methods for the characterization of protective glove flexibilityHarrabi L., Dolez P. I., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.Source : in The Second International Conference of Applied Research on Textile / CIRAT-2 (2nd : November 30 - December 2, 2006 : Monastir, Tunisia), 2006Caractérisation de la souplesse des gants de protectionHarrabi L., Dolez P. I., Vu-Khanh T.Source : in Le savoir, trame de modernité : 74e congrès de l'Association francophone pour le savoir / ACFAS, (74e : 15-19 mai, 2006 : Montréal, Canada), 2006Validity of the physical work performance evaluation (PWPE) for workers with low back painDurand M. J., Christian Larivière, Lemaire J., Hong Q., Vachon B., Ngomo S.Source : in IX International Forum on Primary Care Research on Low Back Pain, (9th : October 4-6, 2007 : Palma de Mallorca, Spain), 2007, p. 97Caractérisation de la souplesse des gants de protection par une méthode biomécanique basée sur l’électromyographie de surface : étude de validationTremblay G., Christian Larivière, Nadeau S., Harrabi L., Dolez P., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.Source : in Premier congrès international sur l'ingénierie des risques industriels / CIRI 2007 (1er : 17-19 décembre, 2007 : Montréal, Canada), 2007Do mechanical tests of glove stiffness provide relevant information relative to their effects on the musculoskeletal system? A comparison with surface electromyography and psychophysical methodsChristian Larivière, Tremblay G., Nadeau S., Harrabi L., Dolez P., Vu-Khanh T., Lara J.Source : Applied Ergonomics, vol. 41, no 2, 2010, p. 326-334 Other Project(s) You May be Interested in Evaluating Physiological Response to Wearing Personal Protective Clothing: New Waterproof-Breathable Membrane Technologies for Firefighting Outfits Additional Information Type: Project Number: 0099-3760 Status: Completed Year of completion: 2007 Research Field: Mechanical and Physical Risk Prevention Team: Toan Vu-Khanh (Université de Sherbrooke)Jaime Lara (IRSST)Christian Larivière (IRSST)Sylvie Nadeau (École de technologie supérieure)Said Jazouli (École de technologie supérieure)