| Abstract: | The study directed at the improvement of vibration disease prevention shows that not only functional, but also constitutional and somatotypologic body characteristics should be taken into account in predicting resistance to the impact of local occupational vibration. Such approach is specified by the fact that the relation of the main body components affects the amount of the zone of tissues and organs involved into vibration process. The study of 300 assemblerriveters and metal workers engaged in mechanical assembly shows that workers with elevated content of fat tissue and relatively small amount of osteal and muscular tissue, i.e., representatives of the abdominal somatype, are most resistant to local vibration. When the content of osteal and muscular components increases and that of the fat one decreases (thoracic somatotype), resistance to local vibration experiences a significant decline. The dimensions of skin and fat folds of upper extremities are greatly correlated to local vibration resistance. |
