The canon of work design that the two hands (arms) should work together was investigated for several levels of a dynamic task and of a static task. A comparison of one-armed and two-armed work was made in terms of the increase in energy expenditure rate required to accomplish the same external result. The findings showed that only at low levels of the dynamic task does the one-armed method possess an energistic advantage. At higher levels of the dynamic task and at all levels of static task, the increase in energy expenditure rate was lower for the two-armed method.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AsmussenE.HansenE.Uber den Einfluss statischer Muskelarbeit auf Atmung und Kreislauf.Skand. Arch. Physiol.1938,78, 283–303
2.
BarnesR. M.Motion and Time Study.New York: John Wiley & Sons,1937
3.
BarnesR. M.MundelM.MacKenzieJ.Studies of one and two-handed work.University of Iowa Studies in Engineering, Bulletin 21, 1940
4.
BrownJ. S.Slater-HammelA. T.BilodeauE. A.Characteristics of discrete movements in horizontal plane when executed with one and two hands.Office of Naval Research, Special Devices Center, Contract N5-ori-57, Project 2, Report No. 5, 1948
5.
ClarkeD. H.Energy cost of isometric exercise.Res. Quart., 1960,31:3–6
6.
DrillisR.SchneckD.GageH.The theory of striking tools.Human Factors, 1963,5, 467–478
7.
GilbrethF. B.GilbrethL. M.A fourth dimension for measuring skill for obtaining the one best way.Society of industrial Engineering Bulletin, 1923,5(11), 1–7
8.
JohnsonLeV.LauerA. R.A study of the effect of induced manual handicaps on automotive performance in relation to reaction time.J. Appl. Psychol., 1937,21, 85–93
9.
NicholsD. E.AmrineH. T.A physiological appraisal of selected principles of motion economy.J. Ind. Engr., 1959,10, 373–378
10.
RoyceJ.Oxygen intake curves reflecting circulatory factors in static work.Int. Z. angew. Physiol. einschl. Arbeitsphysiol., 1962,19, 222–228
11.
WeirJ. D. deVNew methods for calculating metabolic rate with special reference to protein metabolism.J. Physiol., 1949,109, 1–9
