Definition - What does Static Muscle Work mean?
Static muscle work refers to the capacity to maintain physical exertion throughout an assigned task, requiring prolonged contraction at the site of a particular muscle group(s) without corresponding relaxation to relieve tension. Static workloads are physically taxing to musculature, ligaments, tendons, and the ambient network of nerves that are prone to damage due to constricted blood flow, thus affecting biomechanical functionality of motor responses.
SureHire explains Static Muscle Work
The upsurge in static workloads has garnered concern over its debilitating health effects that are often the subject of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD), placing economic constraints on employers from decreased productivity and medical expenditure costs. To many employees, static muscle work is a culprit for developing immediate fatigue in the muscles, amplified by other contributing factors such as relative force and awkward postures, compromising overall health and safety in the workplace. Many industrial fields carry job demands that require employees to withstand static positions that limit mobility exclusively to primary muscle group(s) at fixed intervals, drawing on evidence of suspected musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) cases.
Study reports indicate that static muscle work hampers the interplay between oxygenated-rich blood from reaching targeted muscle(s) while, alternately, disposing of lactic acid buildup that triggers episodes of fatigue. Moreover, sustained periods of static load tasks are likely to have comorbid implications of contact stress where employees may use a hard or sharp surface to compensate for the overstraining effort, albeit, inhibiting circulation from the makeshift contact. Ergonomic solutions are available to help mitigate static load overexposure via adaptive fittings for standardized equipment and workstations, which are conducive measures in reducing the incidence rate for future MSD-related situations.
With static muscle work becoming the norm, many companies must coordinate effective strategies where a position with essential job tasks is compatible with the employee’s ability to meet job performance standards.
