Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physical workload and the ageing worker: a review of the literature

  • Concepts in occupational and environmental health
  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the coming decades, demographic, economic and social changes will result in an increased proportion of elderly persons in the workforce in most industrialized countries. This trend is causing growing interest in the problems of the ageing worker in current employment. The objective of this particular paper is to provide more insight into the impact of ageing on the balance between physical work capacity and physical workload. To this end, the scientific literature in the field is reviewed and ordered by means of a specific conceptual model of “ageing and physical workload”. A progressive decline in physical work capacity, characterized by diminished aerobic capacity and muscular capacity, has consistently been reported. However, inter-individual differences appear to be considerable. The question of whether there are systematic differences in physical work demands between younger and older workers within occupations has been answered vaguely. Conflicting results in this matter bring into discussion the role of the actual working method as one of the determinants of the physical workload. An agerelated imbalance between physical workload and physical work capacity is suggested to result in a chronic overload, increasing the risk of long-term health effects such as musculoskeletal complaints and disorders. For many ageing workers in physically demanding occupations, extreme physical workloads, increasing the risk of disease or disablement, are still reported. The multiconceptual study of ageing and physical workload in the present paper reveals several possibilities for preventive measures. However, as information is still lacking, additional research is needed, in particular on the onset and development of long-term effects on health in relation to age and work demands.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allen JG (1966) Aerobic capacity and physiological fitness of Australian men. Ergonomics 9:485–494

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Aniansson A, Hedberg M, Henning G-B, Grimby G (1986) Muscle morphology, enzymatic activity, and muscle strength in elderly men: a follow-up study. Muscle Nerve 9:585–591

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Armstrong TJ, Buckle P, Fine LJ, Hagberg M, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, Kuorinka IAA, Silverstein BA, Sjogaard G, Viikari-Juntura ERA (1993) A conceptual model for work-related neck and upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders. Scand J Work Environ Health 19:73–84

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Asmussen E, Heebøll-Nielsen K (1962) Isometric muscle strength in relation to age in men and women. Ergonomics 5:167–169

    Google Scholar 

  5. Åstrand I (1958) The physical work capacity of workers 50–64 years old. Acta Physiol Scand 42:73–86

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Åstrand I (1960) Aerobic work capacity in men and women with special reference to age. Acta Physiol Scand 49 (suppl 169):1–92

    Google Scholar 

  7. Åstrand I, Åstrand P-O, Hallbäck I, Kilbom A (1973) Reduction in maximal oxygen uptake with age. J Appl Physiol 35:649–654

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Åstrand P-O (1968) Physical performance as a function of age. JAMA 205:105–109

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Åstrand P-O, Rodahl K (1986) Textbook of work physiology: physiological bases of exercise. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  10. Atomi Y, Miyashita M (1974) Maximal aerobic power of Japanese active and sedentary adult females of different ages (20–62 years). Med Sci Sports 6:223–225

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Aunola S, Rusko H (1984) Reproducibility of aerobic and anaerobic thresholds in 20–50 year old men. Eur J Appl Physiol 53:260–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Babcock MA, Paterson DH, Cunningham DA (1992) Influence of ageing on aerobic parameters determined from a ramp test. Eur J Appl Physiol 65:138–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bassey EJ, Harries UJ (1993) Normal values for handgrip strength in 920 men and women aged over 65 years, and longitudinal changes over 4 years in 620 survivors. Clin Sci 84:331–337

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Becklake MR, Frank H, Dagenais GR, Ostiguy GL, Guzman CA (1965) Influence of age and sex on exercise cardiac output. J Appl Physiol 20:938–947

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bemben MG, Massey BH, Bemben DA, Misner JE, Boileau JE (1991) Isometric muscle force production as a function of age in healthy 20- to 74-yr-old men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:1302–1310

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Bink B (1962) The physical working capacity in relation to working time and age. Ergonomics 5:25–28

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bongers PM, De Winter CR, Kompier MAJ, Helebrandt VH (1993) Psychosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal disease. Scand J Work Environ Health 19:297–312

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Brody JA, Schneider EL (1986) Diseases and disorders of aging: an hypothesis. J Chron Dis 39:871–876

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bruce RA (1984) Exercise, functional aerobic capacity, and aging-another viewpoint. Med Sci Sports Exerc 16:8–13

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Burdorf A (1992) Sources of variance in exposure to postural load on the back in occupational groups. Scand J Work Environ Health 18:361–367

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Buskirk ER, Hodgson JL (1987) Age and aerobic power: the rate of change in men and women. Fed Proc 46:1824–1829

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Chick TW, Cagle TG, Vegas FA, Poliner JK, Murata GH (1991) The effect of aging on sub-maximal exercise performance and recovery. J Gerontol 46:B34–B38

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dawson PM, Hellebrandt FA (1945) The influence of aging in man upon his capacity for physical work and upon his cardiovascular responses to exercise. Am J Physiol 143:420–427

    Google Scholar 

  24. De Kort WLAM, Fransman LG, Van Dijk FJH (1991) Preemployment medical examinations in a large occupational health service. Scand J Environ Health 17:392–397

    Google Scholar 

  25. De Zwart BCH, Bras VM, Van Dormolen M, Frings-Dresen MHW, Meijman TF (1993) After-effects of night work on physical performance capacity and sleep quality in relation to age. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 65:259–262

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Deep JM, Drury CG (1992) Perceived exertion in isometric muscular contractions related to age, muscle, force level and duration. Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 36th Annual Meeting 1:712–716

    Google Scholar 

  27. Dehn MM, Bruce RA (1972) Longitudinal variations in maximal oxygen intake with age and activity. J Appl Physiol 33:805–807

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Dupuis H, Zerlett G (1987) Whole-body vibration and disorders of the spine. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 59:323–336

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Era P, Lyyra AL, Viitasalo JT, Heikkinen E (1992) Determinants of isometric muscle strength in men of different ages. Eur J Appl Physiol 64:84–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Fisher MB, Birren JE (1947) Age and strength. J Appl Physiol 31:490–497

    Google Scholar 

  31. Fleg JL (1986) Alterations in cardiovascular structure and function with advancing age. Am J Cardiol 57:33C-44C

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Fleg JL, Lakatta EG (1988) Role of muscle loss in the ageassociated reduction in VO2 max. J Appl Physiol 65:1147–1151

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Frings-Dresen MHW, Kemper HGC, Stassen ARA, Crolla IFAM, Markslag AMT (1995) The daily work load of refuse collectors, working with three different collecting methods: a field study. Ergonomics (in press)

  34. Frontera WR, Hughes VA, Lutz KJ, Evans WJ (1991) A crosssectional study of muscle strength and mass in 45- to 78-yr-old men and women. J Appl Physiol 71:644–650

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Fuchi T, Iwaoka K, Higuchi M, Kobayashi S (1989) Cardiovascular changes associated with decreased aerobic capacity and aging in long-distance runners. Eur J Appl Physiol 58:884–889

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hagberg JM (1987) Effect of training on the decline ofVO2max max with aging. Fed Proc 46:1830–1833

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Hagen KB, Vik T, Myhr NE, Opsahl PA, Harms-Ringdahl K (1993) Physical workload, perceived exertion, and output of cut wood as related to age in motor-manual cutting. Ergonomics 5:479–488

    Google Scholar 

  38. Heath GW, Hagberg JM, Ehsani AA, Holloszy JO (1981) A physiological comparison of young and older endurance athletes. J Appl Physiol 51:634–640

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Heikkinen A, Polari J, Louhevaara V (1994) Job demands, strain and work ability of elderly and young construction workers. Proceedings of the 12th Triennial congress of the International Ergonomics Association, Toronto 6:156–157

    Google Scholar 

  40. Hossack KF, Bruce RA (1982) Maximal cardiac function in sedentary normal men and women: comparison of age-related changes. J Appl Physiol 53:799–804

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Ilmarinen J (ed) (1991) The aging worker. Scand J Work Environ Health 17: Suppl 1

  42. Ilmarinen J, Louhevaara V, Korhonen O, Nygard C-H, Hakola T, Suvanto S (1991) Changes in maximal cardiorespiratory capacity among aging municipal employees. Scand J Work Environ Health 17(Suppl 1):99–109

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Ilmarinen J, Rutenfranz J (1980) Occupationally induced stress, strain and peak loads as related to age. Scand J Work Environ Health 6:274–282

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Ilmarinen J, Tuomi K, Eskelinen L, Nygard C-H, Huuhtanen P, Klockars M (1991) Summary and recommendations of a project involving cross-sectional and follow-up studies on the aging worker in Finnish municipal occupations (1981–1985). Scand J Work Environ Health 17(Suppl 1):135–141

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Irving JB, Kusumi F, Bruce RA (1980) Longitudinal variations in maximal oxygen consumption in healthy men. Clin Cardiol 3:134–136

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Jackson AS, Beard EF, Wier LT, Stuteville JE (1992) Multivariate model for defining changes in maximal physical working capacity of men, aged 25 to 70 years. Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 36th Annual Meeting 1:171–174

    Google Scholar 

  47. Johansson JÅ (1994) Psychosocial factors at work and their relation to musculoskeletal symptoms. Dissertation. Department of Psychology, Göteborg University

  48. Jørgensen K (1985) Permissible loads based on energy expenditure measurements. Ergonomics 28:365–369

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Julius S, Amery A, Withlock LS, Conway J (1967) Influence of age on the hemodynamic response to exercise. Circulation 36:222–230

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Kahn JF, Monod H (1989) Fatigue induced by static work. Ergonomics 32:839–846

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Kallman DA, Plato CC, Tobin JD (1990) The role of muscle loss in the age-related decline of grip strength: cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives. J Gerontol 45:M82-M88

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Kamon E, Goldfuss AJ (1978) In-plant evaluation of the muscle strength of workers. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 39:801–807

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Kasch FW (1984) The validity of the Astrand and Sjostrand submaximal tests. The Physician and Sports Medicine 12:47–52

    Google Scholar 

  54. Kemper HCG (1994) Physical work and the physiological consequences for the aging worker. In: Snel J, Cremer R (eds) Work and aging: a European perspective. Taylor & Francis, London

    Google Scholar 

  55. Keren G, Magazanik A, Epstein Y (1980) A comparison of various methods for the determination ofVO2max. Eur J Appl Physiol 45:117–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Kilbom A, Persson J (1987) Work technique and its consequences for musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomics 30:273–279

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Klein C, Cunningham DA, Paterson DH, Taylor AW (1988) Fatigue and recovery contractile properties of young and elderly men. Ear J Appl Physiol 57:684–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Klissouras V (1971) Heritability of adaptive variation. J Appl Physiol 31:338–344

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Laforest S, St-Pierre DMM, Cyr J, Gayton D (1990) Effects of age and regular exercise on muscle strength and endurance. Eur J Appl Physiol 60:104–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Larsson L, Grimby G, Karlsson J (1979) Muscle strength and speed of movement in relation to age and muscle morphology. J Appl Physiol 46:451–456

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Larsson L, Karlsson J (1978) Isometric and dynamic endurance as a function of age and skeletal muscle characteristics. Acta Physiol Scand 104:129–136

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Lusa S, Louhevaara V, Kinnunen K (1994) Are the job demands on physical work capacity equal for young and aging fire fighters? J Occup Med 36:70–74

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Malhotra MS, Ramaswamy SS, Dua GL, Sengupta J (1966) Physical work capacity as influenced by age. Ergonomics 9:305–316

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. McCarter RJM (1990) Age-related changes in skeletal muscle function. Aging 2:27–38

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. McDonough JR, Kusumi F, Bruce RA (1970) Variations in maximal oxygen intake with physical activity in middle-aged men. Circulation 41:743–751

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. McKay GA, Banister EW (1976) A comparison of maximal oxygen uptake determination by bicycle ergometry at various pedaling frequencies and by treadmill running at various speeds. Eur J Appl Physiol 35:191–200

    Google Scholar 

  67. Meijers JMM, Swaen GMH, Volovics A, Lucas LJ, Van Vliet K (1989) Occupational cohort studies: the influence of design characteristics on the healthy worker effect. Int J Epidemiol 18:970–975

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Miettinen M, Louhevaara V (1994) Job demands, physical fitness, work ability, and age of vehicle inspectors. Ind Ergon 13:337–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Montoye HJ, Willis PW, Cunningham DA (1968) Heart rate response to submaximal exercise: relation to age and sex. J Gerontol 23:127–133

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Murray MP, Gore DR, Gardner GM, Mollinger LA (1985) Shoulder motion and muscle strength of normal men and women in two age groups. Clin Orthop 192:268–273

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Nakao M, Inoue Y, Murakami H (1989) Aging process of leg muscle endurance in males and females. Eur J Appl Physiol 59:209–214

    Google Scholar 

  72. Newton JP, Yemm R (1986) Changes in the contractile properties of the human first dorsal interosseus muscle with age. Gerontology 32:98–104

    Google Scholar 

  73. Nygard C-H, Luopajarvi T, Cedercreutz G, Ilmarinen J (1987) Musculoskeletal capacity of employees aged 44 to 58 years in physical, mental and mixed types of work. Eur J Appl Physiol 56:555–561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Nygárd C-H, Luopajärvi T, Ilmarinen J (1991) Musculoskeletal capacity and its changes among aging municipal employees in different work categories. Scand J Work Environ Health 17(Suppl 1):110–117

    Google Scholar 

  75. Oja P, Louhevaara V, Korhonen O (1977) Age and sex as determinants of the relative aerobic strain of nonmotorized mail delivery. Scand J Work Environ Health 3:225–233

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Organization of Economic and Cooperative Development (OECD, 1984) The social and labour market implications of aging populations: working party on social policy 29–31 October 1984, OECD

  77. Overend TJ, Cunningham DA, Paterson DH, Smith WDF (1992) Physiological responses of young and elderly men to prolonged exercise at critical power. Eur J Appl Physiol 64:187–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  78. Paterson DH (1992) Effects of ageing on the cardiorespiratory system. Can J Sport Sci 17:171–177

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Patrick JM, Bassey EJ, Fentem PH (1983) The rising ventilatory cost of bicycle exercise in the seventh decade: a longitudinal study of nine healthy men. Clin Sci 65:521–526

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Paul JA, Van Dijk FJH, Frings-Dresen MHW (1994) Work load and musculoskeletal complaints during pregnancy. Scand J Work Environ Health 20:153–159

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Petrella RJ, Cunningham DA, Vandervoort AA, Paterson DH (1989) Comparison of twitch potentiation in the gastrocnemius of young and elderly men. Eur J Appl Physiol 58:395–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  82. Petrofsky JS, Lind AR (1975) Aging, isometric strength and endurance, and cardiovascular responses to static effort. J App] Physiol 38:91–95

    Google Scholar 

  83. Plowman SA, Drinkwater BL, Horvath SM (1979) Age and aerobic power in women: a longitudinal study. J Gerontol 34:512–520

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Poehlman ET, Berke EM, Joseph JR, Gardner AW, Katzman-Rooks SM, Goran MI (1992) Influence of aerobic capacity, body composition, and thyroid hormones on the age-related decline in resting metabolic rate. Metabolism 41:915–921

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Posner JD, Gorman KM, Klein HS, Cline CJ (1987) Ventilatory threshold: measurement and variation with age. J Appl Physiol 63:1519–1525

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Profant GR, Early RG, Nilson KL, Kusumi F, Hofer V, Bruce RA (1972) Responses to maximal exercise in healthy middleaged women. J Appl Physiol 33:595–599

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Quetelet A (1835) Sur I'homme et le developpement de ses facultés. Bachelier Imprimeur-Libraire, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  88. Quirion A, De Careful D, Laurencelle L, Method D, Vogelaere P, Dulac S (1987) The physiological response to exercise with special reference to age. J Sports Med 26:143–150

    Google Scholar 

  89. Rantanen T, Sipilä S, Suominen H (1993) Muscle strength and history of heavy manual work among elderly trained women and a randomly chosen sample population. Eur J Appl Physiol 66:514–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  90. Robinson S (1938) Experimental studies of physical fitness in relation to age. Arbeitsphysiologie 10:251–323

    Google Scholar 

  91. Robinson S, Dill DB, Robinson RD, Tzankoff SP, Wagner JA (1976) Physiological aging of champion runners. J Appl Physiol 41:46–51

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Robinson S, Dill DB, Tzankoff SP, Wagner JA, Robinson RD (1975) Longitudinal studies of aging in 37 men. J Appl Physiol 38:263–267

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  93. Shephard RJ (1966) World standards of cardiorespiratory performance. Arch Environ Health 13:664–672

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. Shephard RJ (1978) Human physiological work capacity. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  95. Shephard RJ (1987) Human rights and the older worker: changes in work capacity with age. Med Sci Sports Exerc 19:168–173

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. Shephard RJ, Sidney KH (1978) Exercise and aging. In: Hutton RS (ed) Exerc Sport Sci Rev 6:1–57

  97. Shvartz E, Reibold RC (1990) Aerobic fitness norms for males and females aged 6 to 75 years: a review. Aviat Space Environ Med 61:3–11

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  98. Sidney KH, Shephard RJ (1977) Maximum and submaximum exercise tests in men and women in the seventh, eight, and ninth decades of life. J Appl Physiol 43:280–287

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  99. Silverstein BA (1994) New work-related musculoskeletal epidemics: a review. In: Rantanen J, Lehtinen S, Kalimo R, Nordman H, Vainio H, Viikari-Juntura E (eds) New epidemics in occupational health. Proceedings of the International Symposium on New Epidemics in Occupational Health. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  100. Snel J, Cremer R (eds) (1994) Work and aging: a European perspective. Taylor & Francis, London

    Google Scholar 

  101. Stamford BA (1988) Exercise and the elderly. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 16:341–379

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  102. Stanley SN, Taylor NAS (1993) Isokinematic muscle mechanics in four groups of women of increasing age. Eur J Appl Physiol 66:178–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  103. Suurnäkki T, Nygard C-H, Ilmarinen J (1991) Stress and strain of elderly employees in municipal occupations. Scand J Work Environ Health 17(Suppl 1):30–39

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  104. Taylor HL, Buskirk E, Henschel E (1955) Maximal oxygen intake as an objective measure of cardio-respiratory performance. J Appl Pbysiol 8:73–80

    Google Scholar 

  105. Tuomi K, Ilmarinen J, Eskelinen L, Jarvinen E, Toikkanen J, Klockars M (1991) Prevalence and incidence rates of diseases and work ability in different work categories of municipal occupations. Scand J Work Environ Health 17(Suppl 1):67–74

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  106. Tuomi K, Toikkanen J, Eskelinen L, Backman A-L, Ilmarinen J, Jarvinen E, Klockars M (1991) Mortality, disability and changes in occupation among municipal occupations. Scand J Work Environ Health 17(Suppl 1):58–66

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  107. Ufland JM (1933) Einfluss des Lebensalter, Geschlechts, der Konstitution und des Berufs auf die Kraft verschiedener Muskelgruppen. Arbeitsphysiologie 6:653–663

    Google Scholar 

  108. Undeutsch K, Gärtner KH, Luopajävi T, Küpper R, Karvonen MJ, Löwenthal I, Rutenfranz J (1982) Back complaints and findings in transport workers performing physically heavy work. Scand J Work Environ Health 8(Suppl 1):92–96

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  109. Vaitkevicius PV, Fleg JL, Engel JH, O'Connor FC, Wright JG, Lakatta LE, Yin FCP, Lakatta EG (1993) Effects of age and aerobic capacity on arterial stiffness in healthy adults. Circulation 88(Part 1):1456–1462

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  110. Van der Beek AJ, Braam ITJ, Douwes M, Bongers PM, Frings-Dresen MHW, Verbeek JHAM, Luyts S (1994) Validity of a diary estimating exposure to tasks, activities, and postures of the trunk. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 66:173–178

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  111. Van der Beek AJ, Frings-Dresen MHW, Van Dijk FJH, Kemper HGC, Meijman TF (1993) Loading and unloading by lorry drivers and musculoskeletal complaints. Int J Ind Ergon 12:13–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  112. Van der Beek AJ, Oort-Marburger D, Frings-Dresen MHW (1994) The relations between work demands and health effects in lorry drivers: a model tested by means of LISREL. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 66:179–184

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  113. Van Dijk FJH, Van Dormolen M, Kompier MAJ, Meijman TF (1990) Re-evaluation of the model work demands-capacity (in Dutch). Tijdschrift Sociale Gezondheidszorg 68:3–10

    Google Scholar 

  114. Van Dormolen M, Hertog CAW, Van Dijk FJH, Kompier MAJ, Fortuin R (1990) The quest for interaction: studies on combined exposure. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 62:279–287

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  115. Verma SS (1994) Prediction of maximal aerobic power in man: a nomographic approach. Ergonomics 37:1491–1494

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  116. Viitasalo JT, Era P, Leskinen A-L, Heikkinen E (1985) Muscular strength profiles and anthropometry in random samples of men aged 31–35, 51–55 and 71–75 years. Ergonomics 28:1563–1574

    Google Scholar 

  117. Vinni K, Hakama M (1980) Healthy worker effect in the total Finnish population. Br J Ind Med 37:180–184

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  118. Vogel JA, Patton JF, Mello RP, Daniels WL (1986) An analysis of aerobic capacity in a large United States population. J Appl Physiol 60:494–500

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  119. Vuori I, Sareste M, Aunola S, Mälkä E, Rimpelä M (1977) Indirectly assessed maximal oxygen uptake of some Finnish populations and its relation to age. Scand J Soc Med (Suppl 14): 40–55

  120. Warr P (1994) Age and employment. In: Triandis HC, Dunnette MD, Hough LM (eds) Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, Calif., 4:485–550

    Google Scholar 

  121. Wen CP, Tsai SP, Gibson RL (1983) Anatomy of the healthy worker effect: a critical review. J Occup Med 25:283–289

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  122. Wessel JA, Small DA, Van Huss WD, Anderson DJ, Cederquist DC (1968) Age and physiological response to exercise in women 20–69 years of age. J Gerontol 23:269–279

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  123. Young A, Stokes M, Crowe M (1984) Size and strength of the quadriceps muscles of old and young women. Eur J Clin Invest 14:282–287

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Study Centre on Work and Health/Coronel Laboratory, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105, AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Bart C. H. de Zwart, Monique H. W. Frings-Dresen & Frank J. H. van Dijk

Authors
  1. Bart C. H. de Zwart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Monique H. W. Frings-Dresen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Frank J. H. van Dijk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Zwart, B.C.H., Frings-Dresen, M.H.W. & van Dijk, F.J.H. Physical workload and the ageing worker: a review of the literature. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 68, 1–12 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01831627

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01831627

Key words

Search

Navigation