PhD and Masters Research
Current PhD Projects
Janet Viljoen (2009-2012):
Title: To evaluate the effect of exercise on the health of post-menopausal women
Area: Exploring the use of "exercise as medicine" in Exercise Physiology
Synopsis: Cardiovascular complications among postmenopausal women are poorly understood, yet remain the foremost cause of mortality amongst older women, globally. Cholesterol levels rise post-menopause, and can be responsible for thromboses or strokes and associated ill-health. A consequence of the menopause is declining arterial health associated with the loss of endogenous estrogen, and this in conjunction with elevated cholesterol levels presents a significant risk to women. While this study will primarily examine the effect of a dose of exercise on elevated cholesterol levels in order to ascertain whether dangerously high levels of lipids in the bloodstream can be ameliorated via exercise rather than by drug intervention, the study will also examine the concomitant effect of chronic hormone relacement therapy prescription on cardiovascular health in the sample.
Supervisor: Candice Christie
Nokubonga Ngcamu (2009-2012)
Project title: Fatigue development in endogenous resources and the design of job rotation schedules
Project area: Ergonomics
Synopsis: Worker fatigue remains an inevitable part of physical and cognitive work in modern production systems and has been identified as a major limiting factor to optimal performance in industry (McFarland, 1975; Bridger, 2009). Despite numerous studies on fatigue reported in literature, the processes that lead to task related fatigue development are still not well understood and will therefore be the focus of this doctoral research. Drawing on the extended stress strain concept (Luczak, 1975) and the theory of compensatory control (Hockey, 1997), fatigue can be understood as a complex phenomenon involving compensatory processes where resources within the body are dynamically allocated and utilised while balancing performance goals and the worker’s well-being.
This research project aims to provide a better understanding of worker fatigue and the process of compensatory control (micro level) in the various endogenous resources used for task performance (sensory, cognitive and motor). A further objective will be to find ways of applying this information to the design of job rotation schedules used in industry to alleviate the effects of worker fatigue at a macro level. A battery of tests (conducted in a laboratory setting) specifically designed to target various resources used in different industry-relevant tasks will be used to establish:
1. Where (in which resources) in the information processing chain (from sensory input and recognition until the motor action is executed) fatigue occurs.
2. The fatigue characteristics of selected and relevant resources. This will entail establishing (a) what the resource specific endurance limits are, (b) whether fatigue was resulting from actual resource depletion or a general down-regulation effect, (c) if resources (and thus fatigue) are controlled locally in the relevant resource or centrally, (d) the manner in which resources interact with each other in the development of fatigue, and (e) as a side effect, which psychophysical measures and performance variables are sensitive indicators of fatigue.
Using the results from this research, a further aim will be to map out the resources utilised during different tasks in relation to the endurance functions calculated for each and develop a fatigue strain index which can then be used to make more informed and effective recommendations regarding the design of rotation schedules in industry. To increase the practical relevance of this study, and where applicable, the battery of tests used in the laboratory will also be used to test worker fatigue in the industrial setting using experienced workers.
Jono Davy (2010-2013)
Area: Fatigue identification and measurement in industry, with the intention of applying specific countermeasures, based on the fatigue that is identified.
Supervisor: Matthias Goebel
Completed MSc Projects
Robert Jones (2011-2012)
Title: The influence of soccer-specific fatigue on the risk of thigh injuries in amateur black african players
Synopsis: The purpose of the proposed research is to investigate the impact of soccer specific fatigue on the risk of hamstring and quadricep injury in professional African Black soccer players, in both the dominant and non-dominant legs. Due to the dearth in data relating to Black African players, the proposed research aims to better understand the unique fatigue profiles associated with differences in body type in Black African athletes, and allow comparisons to be made between African Black players and their Caucasian counterparts from other continents.
The health and well being of the South African population is an issue concerning the health professional. The significance of thigh injuries has a major impact on not only professional sports men and women, but also affects recreational players. The findings of the proposed study, in addition to having applications concerned with wealthy professional soccer teams, also has important applications for recreational, amateur and school level players. The proposed research aims to ensure soccer is practiced in a safe manner at all levels of participation. This is important as physical activity is imperative for good health.
Supervisor: Andrew Todd
David Goble (2011-2012)
Title: The impact of low to moderate alcohol consumption on different types?of human performance
Synopsis: The aim of this study is to determine how alcohol affects the various elements of the human information processing system. There is great practical value in ascertaining whether and to what extent alcohol has a deleterious effect on cognitive processing in work-related tasks. Conducting
experimentation at two varying complexities, this study looks to determine how attentional resources are allocated while under the influence of alcohol; allowing the researcher to ascertain whether the effects of alcohol consumption are isolated to one specific stage in information processing or
if information processing is affected in its entirety. This study aims to investigate the alcohol-caffeine interaction and to ascertain if caffeine can deter the debilitating effects of alcohol at these blood alcohol
concentrations. By studying the action of caffeine antagonism on alcohol-related performance, this study aims to determine whether a central nervous system stimulant can antagonise the debilitating effects of alcohol. This will provide great practical application in helping improve worker
performance and reducing the number of accidents and fatalities, by providing understanding of the effects of alcohol on human information processing performance. Lastly, the investigation of day versus night alcohol ingestion will provide information on the circadian effects of alcohol ingestion.
Supervisor: Matthais Goebel
Lee Pote (2011-2012)
Title: Perceptually mediated fatigue during batting in cricket: is there a link with physiological responses?
Synopsis: The physiological responses of batsmen have received very little research attention, especially over extended periods of time. More specifically, no research has focused on the effects that an increased physiological load will have on a batsman?s performance. By understanding the physiological demands it may be possible to implement specific and scientifically based training programs to improve performance and reduce the risk of injury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a simulated ODI century on a batsman?s physiological and perceptual responses and furthermore, to determine whether a change in these responses would impact performance.
Supervisor: Candice Christie
Tyrone Louw (2011-2012)
Title:The effect of fatigue and monotony on the performance and distraction of occupational drivers.
Area: Ergonomics in Traffic Safety
Synopsis: While theoretically secondary tasks during driving should be avoided to keep the drivers attentional focus on the road, in many cases this cannot be achieved as these form an inherent part of the driving task, e.g. navigation information, traffic news, logistical tasks for delivery drivers, air traffic controllers instructions in aviation. My masters research acknowledges this fact and aims to support system design in order to present the information in the most appropriate perceptual modality such that effect of extreme driver’s states (fatigue and monotony) on performance decrement is minimised as far as possible. In order to increase driving performance it shall be determined to what extent driver distraction affects the information intake from different visual and auditory sources under fatigued and low activation states. This includes answering the question which in perceptual channels these effects are most pronounced. The objective of this research is hence to quantify the effects of information modality on driver distraction in the worst case scenarios of driver fatigue and monotony. This, in turn, allows for the identification of a preferable information modality in the worst case scenario.
Supervisor: Swantje Zschernack
Gareth Barford (2011-2012)
Area: Sports Science
Synopsis: Cricket as a sport, has had little research. The main pathways to fatigue are not well understood. Last year it was determined that the eccentric nature of the game had a major role in causing fatigue. Particular interest was taken in the significant muscular strength decreases, both eccentrically and concentrically. There is little research on the muscular changes caused during high scoring one day internationals. My objective is to look at the impact of a high scoring one day match, on fast bowlers and spin bowlers. Looking at the muscular changes, using strength testing and EMG to determine if any muscular decreases occur.
Supervisor: Candice Christie
Lauren Anderson (2011-2012)
Details to follow
Megan Sunshine (2011-2012)
Title: The Effects of Learning on Cognitive Fatigue
Area: Ergonomics
Synopsis: The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects that learning of varying complexity decision making tasks has on the fatiguing process of humans. From my honours project it was found that the process of learning overrides the fatiguing progression typically experienced due to long hours of continuous work. For my thesis these finding will be expanded in order to encompass a greater range of cognition to include not only decision making, but attention and working memory too. The concept of learning occurring during rest breaks will further be included to evaluate the efficiency of passive learning of cognitive tasks and to identify appropriate intervention strategies in order to alleviate cognitive fatigue. This research is of vital importance in order to maximize human performance in terms of efficiency and productivity.
Janice Korte (2011-2012)
Title: South African anthropometric dimensions for the design of an ergonomic office chair.
Synopsis: 683 participants around South Africa participated in the study. Participants included: males and females (White, Black, Coloured, Indian/Asian). Anthropometric chair dimensions and participant measures were collected. Office chair dimensions for the South African sample as well as each ethnic group was presented. These dimensions are available for chair manufacturers to aid in the design of office chairs specifically for the South African population.
Supervisor: Matthias Goebel
Caley Chaplin (2011-2012)
Synopsis: My area of research involves investigating the effects of fatigue on the performance and physiology of the visual system. The findings from my honours research indicated that individuals adopt a self-regulating mechanism, whereby performance during a task deteriorates in order to prevent exhaustion of the resouces of the visual system. It will be interesting to determine how performance is regulated over time as the degree of fatigue is heightened. By gaining an understanding of visual fatigue and its effects on task performance, interventions can be developed to prevent accidents and human error from occurring.
It is well know and researched that when a driver is fatigued they get tunnel vision or a narrowing or the useful visual field, but not much research has been done on whether the peripheral visual field narrows with the central visual field or if it is independent of it and what effects fatigue has on it.
Supervisor: Matthias Goebel
Current MSc Projects
Samantha Bezuidenhout (2012-2013)
Title: The effects of sex and age on the capacity of the automotive worker: a comparative South African example.
Synopsis: When performing any ergonomic assessment or intervention it is essential to understand the sample population. In South Africa, however, there is very little research looking into the capacity of the SA worker population, leaving us with little understanding of the population which we are attempting to assess. Work tasks in the South African automotive industry comprise mainly of a series of manual material handling tasks, in which workers are required to adopt sub-optimal working postures along a time-restricted production line. With these potentially damaging task demands, an understanding of the worker capacity become more urgent, especially in an industry where females are more readily being employed to perform more physically demanding jobs. Therefore, the aim of this study is two-fold; Firstly to obtain anthropometric and strength measurements to begin to define both male and female South African automotive workers of all ages, and proceed to compare this to existing data from industrially advanced countries. Secondly to determine the task demands of a South African automotive industry in order to compare the task demands to the worker capacity.
Supervisor: Andrew Todd
Rhiannon Parker (2012-2013)
Title: The impact of manual and mechanised silviculture methods on the biomechanical, physiological and psychophysical capacity of South African forestry workers
Synopsis: The forestry industry has been identified worldwide as one of the most hazardous in which to be employed due to the heavy physical nature of tasks and harsh and unyielding environmental conditions. Limited research has been conducted on the South African forestry worker, particularly those involved in the silviculture tasks of pitting and planting. Both tasks, as observed in situ, remain labour-intensive, with the application of physical stressors that could potentially lead to strains within the cardiovascular and biomechanical systems of the workers. To compound the problem, advances in forestry engineering are seeing the introduction of new equipment into the silviculture sector, resulting in an increased mechanisation of tasks. Therefore the current research aims to investigate the task demands and worker responses associated with the existing manual methods of pitting and planting, as well as the altered task demands and consequent impact on workers as a result of the mechanised methods of both tasks.
Supervisor: Andrew Todd
Kirsten Huysamen (2012-2013)
Title: Impact of night shift work on human performance characteristics
Synopsis: Around the world, especially in industrially developing countries, companies adopt a night shift work regime based on expert opinions instead of scientific research. This occurs as there is an extremely limited amount of field research in night shift work regimes, especially with regards to mental fatigue. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a field based evaluation method for analysis of specific human mental performance criteria performed during night shift work. The research will take place in three different companies, which adopt different night shift work regimes. A test battery has been developed which will analyse the worker cognitive ability, which will be assessed before and after work. The difference between the results will reflect the amount of mental fatigue experienced during the shift. From this research, we can determine which night shift work system produces the least amount of mental fatigue. In addition, the design of the test battery will be able to determine what parts of the brain is fatiguing and thus the company can change the nature of the task to decrease the occurrence of fatigue in the specific area of the brain. Furthermore, this research will contribute to research involved in reducing health risks and human performance decrements witnessed during night shift work.
Supervisor: Prof. Matthias Göbel
Tegan Crymble (2012-2013)
Title: To assess the efficacy of a 12 week walking programme on blood pressure in a sample of previously sedentary Black African women.
Area: "Exercise as medicine" in Exercise Physiology
Synopsis: Hypertension is the primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, accounting globally for approximately 49% of mortality and 46% of the burden of disease. Within South Africa specifically it has been estimated that by 1998, 6 million people were living with this condition. This has been primarily linked to lifestyle changes including decreased physical activity and increased energy consumption which is associated with urbanisation. By implementing a progressive walking intervention I will examine the effect of a dose of exercise on elevated blood pressure in order to ascertain whether dangerously raised blood pressure levels can be ameliorated via aerobic exercise.
Supervisor: Candice Christie
Andrea Elliott (2012-2013)
Title: The impact of batting skill on pacing during repeated sprints between the wickets
Brief synopsis: The purpose of my project is to therefore assess whether the absence of a known end point at the beginning of a batting innings prevents batsmen from adopting a suitable pacing strategy, which is said to optimize performance and prevent the early onset of fatigue. This research will also aim to assess whether skilled batsmen may have a greater ability to develop and implement a pacing strategy during a batting inning when the number of runs to be completed, and thus the end point, is unknown, compared to that of less-skilled batsmen.
Supervisor: Candice Christie
Bongani Maduna (2012-2013)
Title: An investigation of the impact of motivation on the perception and expression cognitive fatigue.
Synopsis: Cognitive fatigue is becoming a common cause of accidents in industry as the transformation of the workplace from manual activities to more automated and machine operated activities becomes the norm of conducting tasks. The increased automation in the workplace has removed the arousing effect of physically engaging with the task that workers were accustomed to prior to the technological advancements which have increase the monotony and reduced cognitive workload on the workers at times.
It is therefore imperative to develop a sound understanding of the impact of such changes in the workplace has on workers performance, productivity and job satisfaction etc. In addition it is vital to understand the combined effects of such changes (increase task automation, fatigue, excessive cognitive workload, and reduced cognitive workload) have on workers.
Supervisor: Swantje Zschernack
Conrad Nel (2012-2013)
Title: Muscle Fatigue responses during static, quasi-static and dynamic tasks.
Synopsis: Musculoskeletal disorders and overuse injuries are still very prevalent in the manual labour sector, and this can be partly attributable to the lack of accurate risk assessment tools to evaluate the risk of any given manual labour task. This Masters thesis is looking at muscle fatigue responses of different protocols. The protocols have different static and dynamic components that range from purely dynamic to purely static tasks in order to investigate the quasi-static region that falls between purely static and purely dynamic tasks which is similar to real world tasks. The aim of this research is to determine what kind of muscle fatigue responses occur in this grey region, and also to determine what the risk levels are in performing a quasi-static task, with a further goal of creating a risk assessment tool that will more accurately assess the situation of manual labour tasks than what is available today.
Supervisor: Matthias Göbel
