**3. IPCS**

Industrial Physical Capability Services, Inc. (dba IPCS) performs muscular strength assessments for industry in the United States using isokinetic equipment for shoulder and knee flexion and extension at 60 degrees per second [37, 38]. Between 2005 and 2019, 406,731 strength tests were completed (327,913 males and 78,818 females). To compare changes in muscular strength, an analysis was made comparing the year 2005 to 2019 (a 15-year span).


**Table 1.**

**101**

*Muscle Health: The Gateway to Population Health Management*

**Knee and shoulder strength measures for males and females (Means ± SD)**

**Female**

**Absolute Strength**

Shoulder (ft. pds)

Knee (ft. pds)

**Table 2.**

*Absolute strength measures for the knee and shoulders (means ± SD).*

**2005** 102 ± 26.32 246 ± 81.76

235 ± 76.50

90 ± 25.74

**2019**

**Kolmogorov–Smirnov Test**

<.001 <.001

**2005** 189 ± 43.26 388 ± 89.23

347 ± 91.69

170 ± 43.27

**2019**

**Kolmogorov–Smirnov Test**

<.001

<.001

**Male**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94058*

*Physical characteristics and sample size (mean ± SD).*

#### *Muscle Health: The Gateway to Population Health Management DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94058*

*Occupational Wellbeing*

**Descriptive data for males and females (Means ± SD)**

**Male**

**Female**

> **2005**

34.1 ± 10.34 64.8 ± 2.94 167.8 ± 41.48

28.1 ± 6.65

2637

Age (yrs) Height (in) Weight (lbs)

BMI Sample Size

**Table 1.**

*Physical characteristics and sample size (mean ± SD).*

**2019** 33.8 ± 11.72 64.3 ± 64.34 177.3 ± 47.92

30.1 ± 7.59

6701

**Kolmogorov–Smirnov Test**

>.001 <.001 <.001 <.001

**2005** 34.0 ± 10.34

70.3 ± 2.99 205 ± 44.01

29.1 ± 5.66

23,274

13,219

**2019** 34.1 ± 11.63 71.0 ± 3.03 207.6 ± 49.50

29.8 ± 6.57

**Kolmogorov–Smirnov Test**

>.001

<.001

<.001

<.001

**100**


**Table 2.**

*Absolute strength measures for the knee and shoulders (means ± SD).*

**Table 1** shows the physical characteristics of those new hire industrial applicants tested in 2005 compared to 2019 based on gender. Due to unequal sample sizes and unequal variances, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov Test was used to test for significance within gender between 2005 and 2019. There was no significant difference for age (>.001) within gender between 2005 and 2019. Height, weight and BMI was significantly different within gender between the two time periods. The female body weight increased most between 2005 and 2019 (+9.5 pounds). The BMI increased for both genders.

Changes in the absolute strength of the shoulder and knee flexors and extensors of the worker by age group between 2005 and 2019 is shown in **Table 2**. The absolute shoulder strength and knee strength decreased significantly (<.001) between 2005 and 2019 for males and females.

**Figure 1.**

*Changes in absolute shoulder strength (ft. pds.) of the worker by age group.*

**103**

**Figure 4.**

**Figure 3.**

*Muscle Health: The Gateway to Population Health Management*

14.5% to 18.9% weaker in 2019 compared to 2005.

*Percent deficit in shoulder and knee strength between 2005 and 2019.*

*Percent changes in number of Workers for each BMI category.*

Changes in the absolute strength of the shoulder and knee flexors and extensors of the worker by age group between 2005 and 2019 are shown in **Figures 1** and **2**,

**Figure 1** shows for each age group that the shoulder strength is anywhere from

**Figure 2** shows for each age group the absolute knee strength is anywhere from

18.2% to 22.2% weaker in 2019 compared to 2005. Both **Figures 1** and **2** show substantial difference in the strength of the worker between 2005 and 2019. **Figure 3**

The first three figures show the absolute shoulder and knee strength has decreased on average by 18% across all age groups between 2005 and 2019. The figures also show after the 40–49 age group there is a rapid decrease in absolute

shows the differences between years by age groups as a percent change.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94058*

respectively.

**Figure 2.** *Changes in absolute knee strength (ft. pds.) of the worker by age group.*

*Muscle Health: The Gateway to Population Health Management DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94058*

Changes in the absolute strength of the shoulder and knee flexors and extensors of the worker by age group between 2005 and 2019 are shown in **Figures 1** and **2**, respectively.

**Figure 1** shows for each age group that the shoulder strength is anywhere from 14.5% to 18.9% weaker in 2019 compared to 2005.

**Figure 2** shows for each age group the absolute knee strength is anywhere from 18.2% to 22.2% weaker in 2019 compared to 2005. Both **Figures 1** and **2** show substantial difference in the strength of the worker between 2005 and 2019. **Figure 3** shows the differences between years by age groups as a percent change.

The first three figures show the absolute shoulder and knee strength has decreased on average by 18% across all age groups between 2005 and 2019. The figures also show after the 40–49 age group there is a rapid decrease in absolute

**Figure 3.**

*Occupational Wellbeing*

The BMI increased for both genders.

*Changes in absolute shoulder strength (ft. pds.) of the worker by age group.*

*Changes in absolute knee strength (ft. pds.) of the worker by age group.*

and 2019 for males and females.

**Table 1** shows the physical characteristics of those new hire industrial applicants tested in 2005 compared to 2019 based on gender. Due to unequal sample sizes and unequal variances, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov Test was used to test for significance within gender between 2005 and 2019. There was no significant difference for age (>.001) within gender between 2005 and 2019. Height, weight and BMI was significantly different within gender between the two time periods. The female body weight increased most between 2005 and 2019 (+9.5 pounds).

Changes in the absolute strength of the shoulder and knee flexors and extensors of the worker by age group between 2005 and 2019 is shown in **Table 2**. The absolute shoulder strength and knee strength decreased significantly (<.001) between 2005

**102**

**Figure 2.**

**Figure 1.**

*Percent deficit in shoulder and knee strength between 2005 and 2019.*

**Figure 4.** *Percent changes in number of Workers for each BMI category.*

strength which supports the concept of loss of muscle mass and strength with aging along with an increase in sedentary lifestyles. Interestingly, the youngest age group (20–29) had the greatest deficit for the shoulder and knee strength when compared to the three age groups between 30 and 59. This is a reflection on the sedentary lifestyles found in children and youth which then carries over into industry.

During the IPCS testing process, height (in) and weight (pds) are measured. For research purposes IPCS calculates Body Mass Index (BMI) to monitor trends in obesity within the workplace. **Figure 4** compares the changes in the percent number of workers in each BMI category from 2005 to 2019. IPCS looks at changes in BMI for the category 50 or more or extreme morbid obesity. When comparing 2005 to 2019, the overweight category (BMI 25–30) decreased from 38–32% whereas the BMI categories equal to severe obesity (BMI 35 or more) and greater increased from 13.6% to 20.7% which represents a 52.2% increase. It is these higher BMI categories associated with an increase in certain diseases such as Type II diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Further, work by Ostebye in 2007 has shown that those workers with a BMI of 35 or more have 2 times the number of soft tissue injuries, 7 times the workers' compensation costs and 13 times more lost work days [39].
