Job rotation: Effects on muscular activity variability

• Published in: Applied ergonomics 2017-04, Vol.60, p.83-92
• Main Authors: Rodriguez, Andres C., Barrero, Lope H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Demands rotation; Electromyography; Humans; Job rotation; Muscle activity variability; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Musculoskeletal Diseases - prevention & control; Musculoskeletal disorders; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Workload; Workplace - organization & administration
• ISSN: 0003-6870; 1872-9126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2016.11.005

Job rotation strategies have been used for years as an administrative intervention to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The benefits of job rotation have been hypothesized to occur via changes in muscular activity variability (MAV). However, the effect of job rotation on MAV has not been fully analyzed in a literature review. A wide search was conducted to identify studies testing the effect of different job rotation strategies on MAV. Twenty-six studies of acceptable quality were included. Several studies on different types of tasks supported the view that job rotation can increase muscular activity variability, particularly with strategies such as alternating tasks and pace changes. However, it remains uncertain whether such variability changes immediately translate into benefits for the worker because little evidence was found that showed simultaneous changes in different muscular groups. Additionally, variability was occasionally achieved at the expense of average activity in the assessed muscles. •Evidence on the effect of job rotation strategies on the upper limb using muscle activity variability metrics was reviewed.•Alternating tasks and pace change showed potential to increase muscular activity variability in different tasks settings.•The effects of job rotation on muscle activity variability may depend on the role of it is playing on the job rotation scheme.