A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF THE RAPID UPPER LIMB ASSESSMENT (RULA) TOOL: APPLICATIONS, VALIDITY, AND EVOLVING DEBATES

Abstract

Abstract: The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) is a popular observational ergonomic assessment scale that is used to assess the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) related to upper limb position, muscular activity, and external forces. Since its invention in the early 1990s, RULA has been an integral part of ergonomic practice because it is simple, fast and does not require much in the way of resources. This literature review is a synthesis of the available literature that aims to define the basic methodology used by RULA, its vast use in various spheres (industry to modern office and school), and its psychometric characteristics, such as reliability and validity. Moreover, the review is a critical analysis of the debates that surround its sensitivity, granularity of the postural classification, and that it can be applied in dynamic or complex tasks. This review should allow practitioners and researchers to have a balanced perspective of the role of RULA in modern ergonomic risk management, and also to provide avenues through which future methodological improvements can be made. The data indicate that RULA still is a useful screening instrument, but its limitations have to be interpreted carefully and, where feasible, should be complemented with more objective outcomes.