Time-motion analysis in the big data era: A promising method to assess the effects of heat stress on physical performance

The negative effects of heat stress on health, physiologic function and capacity to perform prolonged exercise or work are well described in literature. However, it remains difficult to quantify the detrimental effects of heat exposure on physical functioning without using invasive measurement equipment. Alternatively, time-motion analysis, in which movement and time spent on each movement is examined using video analysis, can be used to obtain insight into the physiological demands and movement patterns of an individual [1]. In the current study, Ioannou and colleagues explored the applicability of time-motion analysis to determine the impact of heat stress on labor loss in agriculture workers [2]. For this purpose, the authors assessed the impact of wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) on work time spent in irregular work breaks of grape-picking workers [2]. Quantitative information was extracted from time-motion analysis of video data to examine the impact of heat stress on occupational productivity