Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34228119›Full record

ArticleAnnals of work exposures and health2021

Fatigue, Stress, and Performance during Alternating Physical and Cognitive Tasks-Effects of the Temporal Pattern of Alternations.

Susanna Mixter, Svend Erik Mathiassen, Sofie Bjärntoft, Petra Lindfors, Eugene Lyskov, David M Hallman

Open access · greenAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of work exposures and health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 35% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Susanna MixterDepartment of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-4283-4199
Svend Erik MathiassenDepartment of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden.
Sofie BjärntoftDepartment of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden.
Petra LindforsDivision of Work and Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Frescati Hagväg 8-14, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Eugene LyskovDepartment of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden.
David M HallmanDepartment of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden.
University of Gävle · SEStockholm University · SE

Funding

AFA insurance 120223AFA Insurance 120223
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In occupational life, performing cognitive work tasks in between fatiguing physical work tasks may allow recovery and reduce stress without losing productive working time. The temporal pattern of such alternations is likely a determinant of the recovery effect, influencing both stress and fatigue; the difficulty of the cognitive task (CT) would also be a likely determinant. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the temporal pattern of alternations between a repetitive physical task and a CT of different difficulties influenced perceived fatigability, performance fatigability, stress-related outcomes, and performance. Fifteen women performed four work sessions comprising 110 min of repeated bouts of a repetitive physical task (pipetting), alternating with a CT (n-back). Sessions differed in bout cycle time (short: 7 + 3 min versus long: 14 + 6 min) and CT difficulty (CTdiff; easy versus difficult). Fatigue was assessed from recordings of maximal voluntary contraction force in shoulder elevations and handgrip pre- and post-work, electromyography (EMG) from the right trapezius and right forearm extensors during work, and repeated self-ratings of fatigue and pain throughout the session. Stress was assessed using electrocardiography (heart rate variability), salivary alpha-amylase, and self-reports. Perceived fatigue increased significantly over time for all protocols and more in long-cycle than short-cycle conditions. EMG activity did not increase markedly over time in any condition. Neither objective nor subjective indicators suggested that stress increased over time, regardless of the temporal pattern. Pipetting performance remained stable in all conditions. Cognitive performance, measured by the proportions of correct positive and false positive answers, differed between CTdiff levels but remained stable over time, with no significant difference between temporal patterns. In summary, temporal patterns of alternating tasks influenced fatigue to some extent but had no obvious influence on stress indicators or performance. Thus, designing job rotation with alternating physical and cognitive work should consider the temporal patterns of alternations to minimize fatigue.

Indexed as

Hand StrengthOccupational ExposureCognitionElectromyographyFatigueFemaleHumansfatigabilityjob rotationmental workrecoveryrepetitive work

Identifiers

PMID34228119
PMCPMC8577232
OpenAlexW3112083361

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.