Introduction: The weak design of hand
tools and their disharmony with the user's physical features comprise a major
risk factor for upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. Hand-tool related
injuries comprise almost 9% of all work-related injuries. The present study was
conducted to examine the effect of hand tools' diameter on comfort and maximum
hand torque and to estimate the optimal diameter for hand tools.
Methods: Participants included
6 men and 6 women with a mean age of 24.7 and a standard deviation of age of
5.84 years. Participants started to load and rotate the grip of 7 hand tools
with different diameters with all their power and using a self-made tool for measuring
the torque. The test duration, maximum torque and comfort level of the tool
grip was then measured and the data obtained were analyzed using the ANOVA and
the t-test.
Findings: The mean maximum
torque value obtained was 1.88 (SD=0.95) newton meter, the time taken to reach
the maximum torque was 13.96 (SD=9.03) seconds and the mean comfort level was
3.27 (SD=1.48) at a scale from 1 to 7. There was a significant difference
between the maximum torque generated in the group of men and the group of women
(p<0.001). The mean maximum torque obtained was 3.034 newton meter and the
mean maximum comfort level was 4.67, achieved with a grip diameter of 38 mm.
Conclusion: The optimal hand tool
diameter recommended for maximum user comfort and torque is 38 mm.