{"id":{"repo_id":"uoit","oai_identifier":"oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/1957"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uoit/oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/1957","repository":{"repo_id":"uoit","name":"Ontario Institute of Technology","base_url":"https://ontariotechu.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"The effect of extended reach on manual arm strength","abstract":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a concern in occupational settings, particularly in tasks requiring repetitive arm movements, forceful exertions, and prolonged postures. Manual arm strength (MAS) predictions, from ergonomics tools such as the Arm Force Field Method, supports ergonomics analyses by comparing manual force task demands to human capability, particularly between arm lengths less than 80% of maximum reach. Much fewer MAS data exist for when the arm is fully extended or even extended past the natural arm length via scapular movement. This thesis conducted a laboratory study evaluating how extended reach affects MAS across several force directions and shoulder horizontal abduction angles. The main finding was that MAS decreased as reach increased, but the magnitude of this result depended on the direction of force application. These findings provide a framework for estimating strength in these maximum reach postures to hopefully improve strength-based ergonomics assessments.","abstract_html":"Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a concern in occupational settings, particularly in tasks requiring repetitive arm movements, forceful exertions, and prolonged postures. Manual arm strength (MAS) predictions, from ergonomics tools such as the Arm Force Field Method, supports ergonomics analyses by comparing manual force task demands to human capability, particularly between arm lengths less than 80% of maximum reach. Much fewer MAS data exist for when the arm is fully extended or even extended past the natural arm length via scapular movement. This thesis conducted a laboratory study evaluating how extended reach affects MAS across several force directions and shoulder horizontal abduction angles. The main finding was that MAS decreased as reach increased, but the magnitude of this result depended on the direction of force application. These findings provide a framework for estimating strength in these maximum reach postures to hopefully improve strength-based ergonomics assessments.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Auray, William M."],"institution":"University of Ontario Institute of Technology","degree_name":"Master of Health Sciences (MHSc)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Kinesiology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["La Delfa, Nicholas"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-05-01","date_published":"2025-05-01","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:36Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1957","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["La Delfa, Nicholas"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Auray, William M."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-07-21T13:20:28Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-07-21T13:20:28Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-05-01"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Kinesiology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Health Sciences (MHSc)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Ontario Institute of Technology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1957"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a concern in occupational settings, particularly in tasks requiring repetitive arm movements, forceful exertions, and prolonged postures. Manual arm strength (MAS) predictions, from ergonomics tools such as the Arm Force Field Method, supports ergonomics analyses by comparing manual force task demands to human capability, particularly between arm lengths less than 80% of maximum reach. Much fewer MAS data exist for when the arm is fully extended or even extended past the natural arm length via scapular movement. This thesis conducted a laboratory study evaluating how extended reach affects MAS across several force directions and shoulder horizontal abduction angles. The main finding was that MAS decreased as reach increased, but the magnitude of this result depended on the direction of force application. These findings provide a framework for estimating strength in these maximum reach postures to hopefully improve strength-based ergonomics assessments."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The effect of extended reach on manual arm strength"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["La Delfa, Nicholas"],"dc:creator":["Auray, William M."],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-07-21T13:20:28Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-07-21T13:20:28Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-05-01"],"dc:description.abstract":["Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a concern in occupational settings, particularly in tasks requiring repetitive arm movements, forceful exertions, and prolonged postures. Manual arm strength (MAS) predictions, from ergonomics tools such as the Arm Force Field Method, supports ergonomics analyses by comparing manual force task demands to human capability, particularly between arm lengths less than 80% of maximum reach. Much fewer MAS data exist for when the arm is fully extended or even extended past the natural arm length via scapular movement. This thesis conducted a laboratory study evaluating how extended reach affects MAS across several force directions and shoulder horizontal abduction angles. The main finding was that MAS decreased as reach increased, but the magnitude of this result depended on the direction of force application. These findings provide a framework for estimating strength in these maximum reach postures to hopefully improve strength-based ergonomics assessments."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1957"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:title":["The effect of extended reach on manual arm strength"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Kinesiology"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Health Sciences (MHSc)"],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Ontario Institute of Technology"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:36Z"}