Análisis comparativo entre dos métodos indirectos de estimación de la carga física de trabajo: registro de la frecuencia de pulso y monitoreo de la frecuencia cardiaca mediante cinturón torácico en auxiliares de picking

Abstract

Physical performance capacity depends on several factors, among them psychological, somatic, training, as well as work, external and intrinsic factors. The energy expenditure demanded by a physical activity can be estimated by three mechanisms; observation, decomposition and estimation; measurement of oxygen consumption and estimation of energy expenditure from heart rate. Aerobic capacity is an objective and reproducible measure that can be measured by indirect estimation through the monitoring of heart rate, using a chest belt during the development of activities or in turn with the application of pulse rate. The present investigation proposes the comparison of two indirect methods of estimating the physical workload; in addition to the study of variables such as the relative and absolute cardiac cost and its influence on work experience, distance traveled and the increase in heart rate. In the case of heart rate, a portable device was used for four hours, while pulse rate was tested at the level of the carotid artery, comparing variables such as resting, mean and maximum heart rate by means of the ANOVA statistical tool. The results showed differences between both methodologies, obtaining the influence of the degree of experience in the increase of the heart rate, while the distances covered by the assistants did not clearly influence the absolute cardiac cost index.