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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04721392

Mental Fatigue and Industrial Work Performance

To investigate the effect of mental fatigue on industrial work performance, biomechanical determinants, (electro-)(psycho-) physiological measures and physical ergonomics. Additionally, the current project wants to evaluate whether or not the Laevo exoskeleton influences the aforementioned parameters when mental fatigue is acutely induced.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Fatigue Industrial Work Mental Fatigue Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Robotics Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–64 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Etterbeek, Brussels Capital, 1050, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy
  • Males and Females
  • 18-64 years

Exclusion criteria

  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Neurological disorders
  • Cardiovascular disorders
  • Pregnancy

Treatment and study plan

Mental fatigue (Stroop task)

Other

A modified Stroop task of approximately 60 min will be used in order to induce mental fatigue (MF). This will be based on their performance during the max test that was conducted during the familiarization session. In this task, which will be partitioned in 4 blocks of 468 stimuli, four colored words ("rood", "blauw", "groen" and "geel") will be presented one at a time on a computer screen. The participants will be required to indicate the color of the word, ignoring the meaning of the word itself.

Control (documentary)

Other

In the control task subjects will have to watch a documentary of 60 min on the same computer screen as the one used for the experimental trial. In order to avoid under- and over-arousal the subjects will have the opportunity to choose between several documentaries as proposed by the research team.

Primary outcomes

  1. VICON: Placement accuracy Box

    Time frame: 30 minutes

    Accuracy of placement box during the dual-task will be measured with VICON. VICON-markers will be placed on the box to track its movement during the trial. First, the optimal position of the box for each level (ground or shoulder) will be determined, these will form the reference frames. Next, the accuracy of each relocation will be determined by the offset compared to these reference frames. This will be calculated into a percentage.

  2. Work performance: Percent accuracy Serial Seven Task

    Time frame: 30 minutes

    An audio record of this task will be made to verify made errors posthoc. During the serial seven task participants are given a number between 900 and 950. The given starting number will change each trial. Participants are asked to subsequently subtract seven as fast as possible.The researcher will take note of every answer. If the participant makes an error, he/she may continue to calculate with the wrong number. The ratio of correct answers to the total number of responses will indicate the percent accuracy for each participant.

  3. Ergonomics: EMG-data

    Time frame: 30 minutes

    Muscle activity during the performance of the industrial task of the erector spinae muscle, m. rectus abdominus, both m. obliqui abdominus, all three parts of m. trapezius, all three of m. deltoideus, m. pectoralis major, m. latissimus dorsi, m. biceps brachii, m. triceps brachii,m. flexor- and extensor carpi radials, m. flexor- and extensor carpi ulnaris, m. flexor- and extensor digitorum, m. gluteus maximus and medius, m. rectus femoris, m. biceps femoris. ; measured with Cometa mini wave.

  4. Ergonomics: Joint angles

    Time frame: 30 minutes

    Joint angles will be measured during the performance of the industrial task to evaluate movement variability. 30 VICON markers will be placed bilateral on the body of the participant on anatomical landmarks.

  5. Mental fatigue: EEG-data

    Time frame: 60 minutes

    Alpha, Beta and Theta activity in the electroencephalogram measured with open bci (OpenBci, inc)

  6. Mental fatigue: VAS-score

    Time frame: 60 minutes

    Participants are asked to indicate their subjective feeling on a straight line ranging from "not at all mentally fatigued" to "extreme mentally fatigued"

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Mental Fatigue and Industrial Work Performance: The Influence of the Laevo Exoskeleton

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jan 22, 2021
Registry last updated
Oct 22, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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