Work physiology

Occupational physiology , also called performance physiology, is a classic branch of occupational medicine and ergonomics .

Area of responsibility

Work physiology deals with the physiological functions of the human organism, its performance and limits in the work performed by humans. It provides knowledge that makes it possible to work and its elements in accordance with the physiological requirements, i.e. H. to shape humanely. A theoretical stress and strain concept is used to explain and shape the human-work-health relationship . Load is a neutral term for the influences of work tasks and working conditions on the worker, e.g. B. Time pressure, high responsibility or rapidly changing technologies, stress results from the way people deal with the stress, it depends on the individual prerequisites and performance. Incorrect stresses can result in changes in organ systems, e.g. B. Headache with constant stress, noticeable.

Disciplines and Methods

As early as 1910, the French scientist Julus Amar (1879–1935), who was born in Tunis , worked as a work physiologist and ergonomist in addition to developing prostheses as well as creating training programs for the professional reintegration of war invalids (from 1913 he was director of the newly founded Laboratoire de recherches sur le travail musculaire professional ). Modern work physiology is an interdisciplinary research field of medical, engineering, neuro and behavioral sciences. Prevention aspects are in the foreground. Examples of modern work-physiological questions are the effects of combined stresses and accumulations of lower, but long-lasting stresses. Modern ergonomics is increasingly focused on questions of the design of human-machine interfaces and their sensory-physiological and psychophysical aspects (“ human factors ”). Assessment and design proposals are derived from the knowledge of work-relevant processes and work-related changes. Particular consideration is given to changes resulting from new technologies and forms of work, the processes of which are examined on the biochemical-cellular, the organ-systemic as well as the behavioral and mental level. Increasingly, individual differences are also in the foreground, for example in sensitivity to environmental stimuli or the experience of stress .

Motion
science

Energy
processing

Information
processing

Sociology of movement

genetic specifications

Information
processing

Control mechanisms

Neurological
structures

Muscles

Work in
water / heat

Sports

Structure and function of
the motor neuron

Dentistry

Structure of the
nervous system from a
motor point of view

Forensic
Biomechanics

Control task of
the individual
brain sections

Movement science with its sub-disciplines

literature

Otto Graf: Work Physiology. Business publisher Dr. Th. Gabler GmbH, Wiesbaden 1960.
Albrecht Bethe , Gustav von Bergmann , Gustav Embden , Alexander Ellinger (eds.): Arbeitssphysiologie II. 15th volume, published by Julius Springer, Berlin 1931.

Web links

Introduction to Work Physiology (accessed February 18, 2016)
Work Physiology Forum (accessed on February 18, 2016)
Work physiology, performance diagnostics, stress analyzes (accessed on February 18, 2016)

Individual evidence

↑ Jules Amar: Le rendement de la machine humaine. Paris 1910.
↑ Christoph Auf der Horst: Amar, Jules Mardochée. In: Werner E. Gerabek , Bernhard D. Haage, Gundolf Keil , Wolfgang Wegner (eds.): Enzyklopädie Medizingeschichte. De Gruyter, Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-11-015714-4 , p. 50.

[1] Jules Amar: Le rendement de la machine humaine. Paris 1910.

[2] Christoph Auf der Horst: Amar, Jules Mardochée. In: Werner E. Gerabek , Bernhard D. Haage, Gundolf Keil , Wolfgang Wegner (eds.): Enzyklopädie Medizingeschichte. De Gruyter, Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-11-015714-4 , p. 50.