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Stjernbrandt A, Pettersson H, Vihlborg P, Höper AC, Aminoff A, Wahlström J, Nilsson T. Raynaud's phenomenon in the feet of Arctic open-pit miners. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2295576. [PMID: 38109321 PMCID: PMC10732197 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2023.2295576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The literature on Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in the feet is scarce, especially in the occupational setting. The primary aim of our study was to investigate the occurrence of RP in the feet of miners. As part of the MineHealth project, written surveys and clinical examinations were completed by 260 Arctic open-pit miners working in northern Sweden and Norway (participation rate 53.6%). Data on RP were collected using standardised colour charts and questionnaire items. Clinical examination included assessing the perception of vibration and pain in both feet. There were eight women and three men who reported RP in the feet. Four also had RP in their hands but none acknowledged any first-degree relatives with the condition. Nine reported exposure to foot-transmitted vibration and one to hand-arm vibration. Seven showed signs of neurosensory injury in the feet. To conclude, the occurrence of RP in the feet of miners was 4.4%. Most cases with RP in the feet did not report the condition in the hands and were exposed to vibration transmitted directly to the feet. There were no reports of a hereditary component. Most cases with RP in the feet also had clinical findings suggestive of peripheral neuropathy in the feet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albin Stjernbrandt
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Hans Pettersson
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Per Vihlborg
- Department of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Anje Christina Höper
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anna Aminoff
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jens Wahlström
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Tohr Nilsson
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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The Effects of Altering the Center of Pressure in Standing Subjects Exposed to Foot-Transmitted Vibration on an Optimized Lumped-Parameter Model of the Foot. VIBRATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/vibration4040050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Many workers are exposed to foot-transmitted vibration, which can lead to the development of vibration-induced white foot: a debilitating condition with neurological, vascular and osteoarticular symptoms. To design effective prevention mechanisms (i.e., boots and insoles) for isolating workers from vibration exposure, continued model development of the foot’s biodynamic response in different positions is necessary. This study uses a previously developed model of the foot–ankle system (FAS) to investigates how altering the center of pressure (COP) location can change the biodynamic response of the FAS to standing vibration exposure. Formerly published experimental responses for apparent mass and transmissibility at five anatomical locations in three COP positions were used to optimize the model. Differences occurred with the Kelvin–Voigt elements used to represent the soft tissues of the foot sole: at the heel, the distal head of the metatarsals and distal phalanges. The stiffness increased wherever the COP was concentrated (i.e., forward over the toes or backward over the heel). The variability of the model parameters was always greatest when the COP was concentrated in the heel. This suggests future FAS models need to more clearly address how the soft tissue of the plantar fat pad is modelled.
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Effect of the Shoe Sole on the Vibration Transmitted from the Supporting Surface to the Feet. VIBRATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/vibration4040041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Vibration transmitted through the foot can lead to vibration white feet, resulting in blanching of the toes and the disruption of blood circulation. Controlled studies identifying industrial boot characteristics effective at attenuating vibration exposure are lacking. This work focused on the evaluation of vibration transmissibility of boot midsole materials and insoles across the range 10–200 Hz at different foot locations. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the comfort of each material. The materials were less effective at attenuating vibration transmitted to the toe region of the foot than the heel. Between 10 and 20 Hz, all midsole materials reduced the average vibration transmitted to the foot. The average transmissibility at the toes above 100 Hz was larger than 1, evidencing that none of the tested material protects the worker from vibration-related risks. There was a poor correlation between the vibration transmissibility and the subjective evaluation of comfort. Future research is needed to identify materials effective for protecting both the toe and the heel regions of the foot. Specific standards for shoe testing are required as well.
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Goggins KA, Chadefaux D, Tarabini M, Arsenault M, Lievers WB, Eger T. Four degree-of-freedom lumped parameter model of the foot-ankle system exposed to vertical vibration from 10 to 60 Hz with varying centre of pressure conditions. ERGONOMICS 2021; 64:1002-1017. [PMID: 33688787 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2021.1891298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Modelling the foot-ankle system (FAS) while exposed to foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) is essential for designing inhibition methods to prevent the effects of vibration-induced white-foot. K-means analysis was conducted on a data set containing vibration transmissibility from the floor to 24 anatomical locations on the right foot of 21 participants. The K-means analysis found three locations to be sufficient for summarising the FTV response. A three segment, four degrees-of-freedom lumped parameter model of the FAS was designed to model the transmissibility response at three locations when exposed to vertical vibration from 10 to 60 Hz. Reasonable results were found at the ankle, midfoot, and toes in the natural standing position (mean-squared error (ε) = 0.471, 0.089, 0.047) and forward centre of pressure (COP) (ε = 0.539, 0.058, 0.057). However, when the COP is backward, the model does not sufficiently capture the transmissibility response at the ankle (ε = 1.09, 0.219, 0.039). Practitioner summary The vibration transmissibility response of the foot-ankle system (FAS) was modelled with varying centre of pressure (COP) locations. Modelling the FAS using three transmissibility locations and two foot segments (rearfoot and forefoot) demonstrated reasonable results in a natural standing and forward COP position to test future intervention strategies. Abbreviations: COP: centre of pressure; DOF: degrees-of-freedom; FAS: foot-ankle system; FTV: foot-transmitted vibration; HAVS: hand-arm vibration syndrome; LDV: laser Doppler vibrometer; LP: lumped-parameter; VWT: vibration-induced white-toes; WBV: whole-body vibration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie A Goggins
- Bharti School of Engineering, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
- Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
| | - Delphine Chadefaux
- Insitut de Biomecanique Humaine Georges Charpak, Université Paris 13 Nord, Villetaneuse, France
- Department of Mechanics, Politecnico di Milano, Lecco, Italy
| | - Marco Tarabini
- Department of Mechanics, Politecnico di Milano, Lecco, Italy
| | - Marc Arsenault
- Bharti School of Engineering, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
| | - W Brent Lievers
- Bharti School of Engineering, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
- Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
| | - Tammy Eger
- Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
- School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
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Chadefaux D, Moorhead AP, Marzaroli P, Marelli S, Marchetti E, Tarabini M. Vibration transmissibility and apparent mass changes from vertical whole-body vibration exposure during stationary and propelled walking. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2021; 90:103283. [PMID: 33049546 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) is an occupational hazard affecting employees working with transportation, construction or heavy machinery. To minimize vibration-induced pathologies, ISO identified WBV exposure limits based on vibration transmissibility and apparent mass studies. The ISO guidelines do not account for variations in posture or movement. In our study, we measured the transmissibility and apparent mass at the mouth, lower back, and leg of participants during stationary and propelled walking. Stationary walking transmissibility was significantly higher at the lumbar spine and bite bar at 5 and 10 Hz compared to all higher frequencies while the distal tibia was lower at 5 Hz compared to 10 and 15 Hz. Propelled walking transmissibility was significantly higher at the bite bar and knee at 2 Hz than all higher frequencies. These results vary from previously published transmissibility values for static participants, showing that ISO standards should be adjusted for active workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Chadefaux
- Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Milano, via Privata Giuseppe la Masa 1, 20156, Milano, Italy; Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Institut de Biomécanique Humaine Georges Charpak, IBHGC, UR 4494, F-93000, Bobigny, France; Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology, F-75013, Paris, France; Département STAPS, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny, France.
| | - Alex P Moorhead
- Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Milano, via Privata Giuseppe la Masa 1, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - Pietro Marzaroli
- Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Milano, via Privata Giuseppe la Masa 1, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Marelli
- Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Milano, via Privata Giuseppe la Masa 1, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - Enrico Marchetti
- INAIL, Via di fontana candida, 00040, Monte Porzio Catone (Roma), Italy
| | - Marco Tarabini
- Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Milano, via Privata Giuseppe la Masa 1, 20156, Milano, Italy; Laurentian University, Bharty School of Engineering, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
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