Validation of a new pocket computer assisted method for metabolic rate estimation in field studies

Abstract

The metabolic rate of workers engaged in different industrial tasks has been estimated with an observation method assisted by a pocket computer. Measurements were made in three factories on 14 workers during 35 periods of industrial work. The reference method for energetic cost was the actual [Vdot]O2 measured using a portable device (Oxycon P). The results obtained with the pocket computer method were compared with those derived from classical recordings: heart rate, ventilation and subjective rating of work level according to the Borg scale.