Muscle Activity and Fatigue in Occupational Health

Muscle activity and fatigue play a pivotal role in the development of work‐related musculoskeletal disorders, which represent a leading cause of reduced productivity and increased healthcare costs worldwide. Sustained or repetitive muscle contractions, often in awkward postures or under load, can lead to measurable changes in neuromuscular control, altered movement patterns and a progressive decline in force‐generating capacity. These changes not only increase the risk of acute injury but also contribute to chronic pain and disability. Advances in sensor technology and analytical methods now enable more precise quantification of muscle activation and fatigue onset, facilitating targeted ergonomic interventions and personalised workload management. Understanding the interplay between muscle physiology, individual variability and occupational demands is essential for designing safer work environments, promoting long‐term musculoskeletal health and mitigating socioeconomic burdens associated with fatigue‐related disorders.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have explored how variability in muscle activation and movement contributes to endurance in professional performers. Analysis of surface electromyography data demonstrated that individuals with greater neuromotor variability exhibit slower rates of fatigue development during prolonged tasks. In parallel, kinematic assessments revealed that subtle increases in movement variability at proximal joints can act as a protective mechanism, redistributing load and delaying the onset of muscle exhaustion. These findings highlight the adaptive interplay between neural control strategies and biomechanical adjustments in mitigating fatigue during sustained occupational activities.

Muscle Activity and Fatigue in Occupational Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in muscle activity and fatigue in occupational health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electromyography (EMG): Measurement of the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles during contraction.

Inertial measurement unit (IMU): A sensor that records acceleration and angular velocity to track movement kinematics.

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC): The greatest force that a muscle group can exert in a fixed position.

Kinematic variability: The trial‐to‐trial fluctuations in joint angles or movement trajectories during a task.

Neuromotor variability: The natural variations in muscle activation patterns driven by the central nervous system.

Perceived exertion: A subjective rating of effort or fatigue during physical tasks, often gauged on a standardised scale.

References

1. A dataset for fatigue estimation during shoulder internal and external rotation movements using wearables. Scientific Data (2024).
2. Neuromotor variability partially explains different endurance capacities of expert pianists. Scientific Reports (2023).
3. Proximal and distal muscle fatigue differentially affect movement coordination. PLOS ONE (2017).
4. Validity of Wearable Sensors at the Shoulder Joint: Combining Wireless Electromyography Sensors and Inertial Measurement Units to Perform Physical Workplace Assessments. Sensors (2019).