Assessment of physical workload: muscular activity vs. resultant external force

Our study compared muscular activity and resultant external force measurements during a clip fitting activity. Clips were inserted with two methods: with bare hands and with a pneumatic tool. Measurements were compared with the thresholds recommanded. The results showed that none of these two clip fitting methods led to lower physical workload. Our results would have been different if only force or muscular activity had been used. Thus, this study highlights the risk of wrong interpretation, when only a single technique is considered.