Pushing and Pulling Tasks: Practical Techniques and Criteria for Measuring and Interpreting Detected Forces Using Digital Versus Traditional Analog Dynamometers. Suggestions for Implementing Standards

Objectives: The main objectives of the paper is to compare the measurement of forces during pushing/pulling tasks using digital and analog dynamometers, showing the advantages of the first device and to propose guidelines for measurement interpretation with special attention to practitioners needs.  Methods: The paper includes procedures for comparing the reproducibility of analog and digital dynamometers and for determining relationships between measured forces and subjective evaluations using Borg CR-10 Scale.  Results: Examples are presented of measurements carried out with digital dynamometers using the original methodology, illustrating advantages and limits. Inter/intra-observer validation tests confirm the advantages of digital over analog dynamometers. Comparisons between measured data and subjective force ratings are presented and confirm good correlations. Conclusion: The results confirm that digital dynamometers, using proposed original methodology, generate more accurate information than analog. The methodology may be useful for future revision of ISO Standard. Open issues are underscored to stimulate additional research.