Indranil Manna

An Investigation of Hand Anthropometry of Agricultural Workers

Abstract Use of hand anthropometric data can help in the proper designing of equipment for better efficiency and more human comfort. In present study different hand dimensions of right and left hand of the agricultural workers (Male: 200; Female: 204) have been collected from West Bengal state, Eastern India. Eight hand dimensions have been identified which were considered more useful for designing agrcultural hand tools. It has noted that there were significant differences (P<0.001) in hand measurements between right and left hands as well as between male and female agricultural workers. However, the percentage of differences in the measurements between right and left hands was small (0.10% to 3.49%) than those between men and women (7.1% to 11.96%) Percentile values (5th, 50th, 95th) of the anthropometric dimensions were computed separately for men and women. The agricultural hand tools can be designed for male and female workers separately using these percentile values. However, it was the common practice of the worker to use the same hand tools by the both sexes. Therefore, percentile values for the hand dimensions were also computed considering the men and women as a single group. The hand dimensions of the subjects of present study were compared with the farmers of central part of India. Some proportions of hand dimensions were also computed.

Supplementary Effect of Creatine on Cardiovascular Adaptation and Endurance Performance in Athletes

Creatine has beneficial effect on strength training athletes, but it is not clear whether it has any effect on endurance sport. Present study has been designed to investigate the effect of creatine supplementation on cardiovascular adaptation to sub maximal exercise and endurance performance. A total of 60 male athletes (age range 16-19 years) were selected and randomly divided into experimental group (EG, n = 30) and control group (CG, n = 30) and supplemented with 5 g per day of creatine monohydrate (CrM) and moltodextrine, respectively for 4 weeks. A treadmill test was performed to determine the heart rate responses to sub maximal exercise and maximal endurance performance. Blood lactate was measured at the end of exercise. Body mass, body fat and fat free mass were also measured. Repeated measure ANOA followed by t-test was applied to analyze the data. Significant decreases in heart rates were noted in the experimental group during sub maximal exercise when compared to the control group. Moreover, the maximal endurance time was increase in the experimental group after supplementation of CrM when compared to control group. However, no significant change has been observed in resting heart, maximal heart rate, recovery heart rate, body mass, body fat, fat free mass and blood lactate level.