Work-related musculoskeletal problems and associated factors among office workers

Prediction of compressive comfort of graded compression sleeves based on calf feature classification

This study explored the relationship between the design of calf compression sleeves and the comfort of young women in long sitting and standing work environments. By studying the relationship between material elongation and comfort pressure, a prediction model was obtained. The characteristics of the calf models of 94 women were classified, and the influence of different calf characteristics on the pressure distribution and tensile value design was objectively analyzed through simulation tests. The samples were then produced based on the simulation results, and subjective and objective try-on tests and evaluations were carried out. The results show that the difference in the shape of the calf has a certain impact on the pressure distribution and comfort. The predicted value of the theoretical model is in good agreement with the actual test value. The sample can bring a suitable gradient pressure and meet the comfort requirements and safety standards.

Active Breaks Reduce Back Overload during Prolonged Sitting: Ergonomic Analysis with Infrared Thermography

Background: Prolonged sitting is a potential risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders in office workers. This study aims to evaluate the effect of active breaks on reducing muscle overload in subjects who sit for long periods using infrared thermography (IRT). Methods: A sample of 57 office workers participated in this study and were divided into two groups: active breaks (ABs) and no active breaks (NABs). The NAB group sat continuously for 90 min without standing up, while the AB group performed stretching and mobility exercises every 30 min. IRT measurements were taken every 30 min before the active breaks. Results: The results highlight that the skin temperature of the back increased significantly in both groups after 30 min of sitting; however, in the subsequent measurements, the AB group showed a decrease in temperature, while the NAB group maintained a high temperature. Exercise and time point of measurement all reported p-values < 0.001; there were no statistically significant differences between the Δt0-1 of the NAB and AB groups, while the Δt1-2 and Δt1-3 of the NAB and AB groups showed statistically significant differences for all back regions. Conclusions: The clinical relevance of this study confirms the negative effects of prolonged sitting on the health of the back, demonstrating that active breaks can reduce back strain, emphasizing the need for workplace interventions. In addition, IRT represents a non-invasive method to assess back muscle overload and monitor the effectiveness of interventions in all categories of workers who maintain a prolonged sitting position. The main limitation of this study is the absence of a questionnaire for the assessment of back pain, which does not allow a direct correlation between temperature changes and back pain outcomes.

Occupational Fatigue and Its Relationship with Musculoskeletal Disorders and Heat Stress among the Workers of Summer Crops in Southeast Iran in 2021

Aims

This research aimed to evaluate work fatigue and its relationship with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and heat stress (WBGT) among greenhouse workers in Jiroft County, southeast Iran.

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out between September 2021 and February 2022 among 150 workers in summer crop greenhouses. Data were collected by a demographic questionnaire, the Swedish occupational fatigue inventory (SOFI-20), and the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ), and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) was measured as per ISO 7243. The collected data were analyzed by the χ2 test, logistic regression, and multivariable linear regression in the Stata 17.0 software.

Results

The results showed a higher total fatigue score among the studied workers (mean = 100.71 out of 200). Among the fatigue dimensions, the three dimensions of lack of energy, physical discomfort, and physical exertion had the highest scores of 27.28, 26.71, and 25.71, respectively. The highest rate of MSD prevalence was in the back (54.7%), neck (50.7%), and shoulders (49.3%). Based on ISO 7243, the mean WBGT was beyond the allowed level for most tasks for greenhouse workers. There was a statistically significant relationship between occupational fatigue with MSDs and WBGT.

Conclusion

Given the relatively high score reported for fatigue and its relationship with MSDs and heat stress, it is recommended to conduct further and more applied studies to investigate the approaches to alleviating heat stress and physical ergonomic risk factors in greenhouses in this occupational group.

Comparison of the Effects of Two Different Exercise Programs on Lower Limb Functions, Posture, and Physical Activity in Office Workers Working at Home and in Office Alternately: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of online functional exercises and posture exercises on lower limb functions, posture, and physical activity in office workers working at home and in office alternately during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

Forty individuals were included in the study and were randomized into two groups: group I (functional exercise group, 20 participants) and group II (posture exercise group, 20 participants). The exercises programs were performed online for 2 days/in a week/8 wk. Lower limb functions, posture, and physical activity were evaluated before and after the exercise program.

RESULT

Significant improvement was obtained in lower limb functions (muscular endurance, balance, and functional capacity), posture, and physical activity in group I, while significant improvement was obtained in balance and functional capacity in group II after treatment. The change in scores of lower limb functions, posture, and physical activity after treatment was statistically superior in group I compared with group II ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that both online exercise programs provided effective results in office workers working at home and in office alternately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the functional exercise program had superior effects on lower limb functions, posture, and physical activity compared with the posture exercise program.

Study of musculoskeletal disorders risk factors and discomfort in sculptors in the north of Mexico

BACKGROUND

The sculpting craft must adopt awkward postures that lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort (MD) and its associations with postural risk factors, demographics, and work characteristics among sculptors. They were determined the differences between MDs during the weeks of the study.

METHODS

A longitudinal study was conducted; MD was investigated using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ). Posture was assessed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment method (RULA). Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) models analyzed associations with different factors. ANOVA was used to test for differences in MD prevalence.

RESULTS

The analysis included 585 responses by body region. The prevalence of MD was high in the lower and upper limbs among sculptors (67.6%), with the lower back, upper arm, neck, and knees being the four most affected regions. Gender (female) (OR = 2.15), marital status (married) (OR = 1.80), health risk (obesity), the dual of a secondary job (OR = 1.94), job stress (OR = 2.10), duration of work (OR = 2.01), and difficulty keeping up with work (OR = 2.00) were significant predictors contributing to the occurrence of MD in different body regions. Only shoulder MD prevalence showed significant differences between study weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Sculptors suffer from MD. Demographic and work characteristic factors influence MD prevalence. Postural training, improved adaptation of work organization, and intervention guidance on ergonomic risks may reduce the prevalence of MD and the risk of MSDs in this population.

Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Musculoskeletal Complaints and Psychological Well-Being of Employees in Public Services-A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented restrictions on public and private life. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental health of employees in the public sector, especially patient-related professions.

METHODS

For the data collection in summer 2021, an online questionnaire was used. Compared to a pre-pandemic point of time, the prevalence, frequency, and intensity of musculoskeletal pain, mental well-being, health status, and quality of life were recorded.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was completed by 1678 employees (f: 1045, m: 617). A total of 1504 employees (89.6%) were affected by complaints. Compared to before the pandemic, the prevalence and intensity of musculoskeletal complaints and psychological distress increased significantly. Patient-related professions (n = 204) showed significantly higher levels of stress and discomfort in several aspects (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in musculoskeletal complaints and a decrease in psychological well-being. Preventive factors related to mental health were identified as male gender, a middle- to older-age group, employees with children, and working from home. Attention should be drawn to these findings and prevention strategies should be brought into focus to strengthen the employees' health. Special focus should be drawn to patient-related professions who are particularly confronted with pandemic-associated challenges.

Effect of a massage chair (BFM-M8040) on neck and shoulder pain in office workers: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background

With the increasing work-related musculoskeletal disorders, neck and shoulder pain among office workers has also increased. That said, this randomized controlled trial aimed to seek the potential effects of a massage chair (BFR-M8040) on neck and shoulder pain among office workers.

Methods

This was conducted at the Wonkwang University Gwangju Medical Center from April 2022 to December 2022. Sixty adult participants were randomly allocated. The mean age of male participants was 39.63 ± 8.09 years while female participants was 43.52 ± 8.27; women participated the most (86.67%). The control group received basic physical treatments, including a 10-min heat treatment for deep regions and a 10-min hot pack for the areas on the neck and shoulder of the complained discomfort. The experimental group received the same treatment as the control group and added 20 min of the electric massage chair's PEMF Neck Mode (XD module 3) (BFR-M8040, Bodyfriend Co., Ltd.). The participants received treatments twice per week. The primary outcome was measured using the numerical rating scale and the Korean version of the neck disability index. And the secondary outcome was measured using pressure pain threshold, range of motion, the Korean occupational stress scale, the Korean version of the Euro-quality of life-5 dimension, and safety evaluation.

Results

Fifty-eight participants completed a 6-week follow-up and analyzed (29 in the control group and 29 in the experimental group). There was a significant decrease in the experiment group in both scales for primary outcome measures. For secondary outcome measures, statistically significant increases were observed in pressure pain threshold. The experimental group only showed a slight increase in the quality-of-life measures. There were no reported adverse events.

Conclusion

The benefit of using a massage chair (BFR-M8040) was verified to alleviate neck and shoulder pain among office workers; future studies could involve participants from other countries for further investigation.

The Correlation between Neck Pain and Disability, Forward Head Posture, and Hyperkyphosis with Opium Smoking: A Cross-Sectional Study from Iran

Opium smoking has been a common practice in Iran for many years, with people often smoking for long hours. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in opium smoking due to false beliefs about its protective effects against COVID-19 infection. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between the non-ergonomic positions associated with traditional opium smoking in Iran and the development of neck pain and disability, forward head posture (FHP), and hyperkyphosis (HK). In this cross-sectional, correlational study, a total of 120 individuals who smoked opium were selected based on the inclusion criteria. They were interviewed about their addiction profile using the Lite version of the Addiction Severity Index and the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire. The presence of neck pain and disability was also evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale and the Neck Disability Index. The participants were examined for FHP via side-view photography and for HK using a flexible ruler. Data were analyzed using correlation coefficient tests and stepwise linear regression analysis. Based on the results, homelessness, the lifetime duration of opium smoking (in months), the duration of daily opium smoking (in minutes), and the severity of drug dependence had significant relationships with the severity of neck pain, neck disability, FHP, and HK. Homelessness was the strongest predictor of neck pain and disability (R2 = 0.367, p < 0.001), FHP (R2 = 0.457, p < 0.001), and HK (R2 = 0.476, p < 0.001), followed by the lifetime duration of opium smoking and the duration of daily opium smoking, respectively, in which R2 increased to 0.505 (p = 0.011), 0.546 (p = 0.022), and 0.570 (p = 0.004) with the addition of two other variables. Overall, an increase in the duration of sitting in non-ergonomic positions could lead to neck pain and disability, FHP, and HK due to the non-neutral posture of opium smokers.

Musculoskeletal complaints, postural patterns and psychosocial workplace predictors in police officers from an organizational unit of a German federal state police force - a study protocol

BACKGROUND

Police officers are exposed to a particularly high risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and psychosocial stress due to their working conditions. Therefore, the aim of this project will be to assess the occupational physical and mental health of police officers from an organizational unit of the police force of a German federal state.

METHODS

The aim is to analyze at least 200 active police officers of a state police force in Germany between the age of 18 and 65 years. In a mixed-methods design, a video raster stereography-based measurement of the upper body posture and a modified version of the Nordic Questionnaire (NQ) will be used for investigating their physical health, while the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) and the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Op) will be used to analyze their mental health. In addition, job-specific psychosocial factors at the workplace will be assessed (using self-designed questions that were previously evaluated in an expert interview).

DISCUSSION

To date, there is a lack of current questionnaire-based data on the prevalence of MSDs in police officers, or of MSDs associated with injuries or psychosocial workplace factors. Thus, in this study, these MSDs will be correlated with quantitative upper body posture data. If these results prove an increased physical and/or psychosocial stress, then the existing workplace health promotion measures should be analyzed and modified if necessary.

Musculoskeletal system problems in office workers: relationship of physical activity levels and quality of life

Objectives. This study aimed to determine the relationship between musculoskeletal problems in office workers and their physical activity levels and quality of life. Methods. A questionnaire form, the quality of life scale (SF-36) and the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) were used. Group differences were compared post hoc (Bonferroni) and non-parametrically (Mann-Whitney U test, etc.). Results. Among the participants, 81.7% experienced pain in at least one body area. Back pain was experienced most frequently at a rate of 54.8%, followed by neck and shoulder pain, respectively. According to the participants' physical activity levels, 58.5% (n = 141) were active, 37.3% (n = 90) were less active and 4.1% (n = 10) were very active. There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the participants and the participants' age, educational status, income status, regular exercise status, duration of computer use, eye complaints, complaints in the wrists and ergonomic chair use. Conclusion. The prevalence of MSDs was determined to be high in the office workers, while their levels of physical activity were found low. Training and exercises are needed to prevent MSDs in office workers and improve their levels of physical activity and quality of life.

Comparative Ergonomic Study Examining the Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Symptoms of Taiwanese and Thai Workers in a Tape Manufacturing Factory

This study surveyed 114 Taiwanese and 57 Thai workers in a tape manufacturing factory in Taiwan and evaluated their symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) and associated risk factors by using the revised Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Task-appropriate biomechanical and body load assessment tools were also employed to examine biomechanical and body load during four specified daily tasks. The results indicated that the prevalence of discomfort symptoms in any body part within one year was 81.6% for the Taiwanese workers and 72.3% for the Thai workers. The body part in which the Taiwanese workers most frequently experienced discomfort was the shoulders (57.0%), followed by the lower back (47.4%), the neck (43.9%), and the knees (36.8%); where the Thai workers most frequently experienced discomfort was the hands or wrists (42.1%), followed by the shoulders (36.8%) and the buttocks or thighs (31.6%). These locations of discomfort were associated with task characteristics. Heavy-material handling (>20 kg) more than 20 times per day was the most significant risk factor for WMSDs for both groups, and this task must thus be urgently improved. We also suggest that providing wrist braces for Thai workers may assist in alleviating their hand and wrist discomfort. The biomechanical assessment results indicated that the compression forces acting on the workers' lower backs exceeded the Action Limit standard; administrative controls must thus be instituted for two heavy-material handling tasks. In the factory, some tasks and workers' movements when completing these tasks must be assessed and improved immediately by using appropriate tools. Although the Thai workers were engaged in more physically demanding tasks, their WMSDs were milder than those of the Taiwanese workers. The results of the study can serve as references for the prevention and reduction of WMSDs in local and foreign workers in similar industries.

A Novel Smart Chair System for Posture Classification and Invisible ECG Monitoring

In recent years, employment in sedentary occupations has continuously risen. Office workers are more prone to prolonged static sitting, spending 65−80% of work hours sitting, increasing risks for multiple health problems, including cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal disorders. These adverse health effects lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism and health care costs. However, lack of regulation targeting these issues has oftentimes left them unattended. This article proposes a smart chair system, with posture and electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring modules, using an “invisible” sensing approach, to optimize working conditions, without hindering everyday tasks. For posture classification, machine learning models were trained and tested with datasets composed by center of mass coordinates in the seat plane, computed from the weight measured by load cells fixed under the seat. Models were trained and evaluated in the classification of five and seven sitting positions, achieving high accuracy results for all five-class models (>97.4%), and good results for some seven-class models, particularly the best performing k-NN model (87.5%). For ECG monitoring, signals were acquired at the armrests covered with conductive nappa, connected to a single-lead sensor. Following signal filtering and segmentation, several outlier detection methods were applied to remove extremely noisy segments with mislabeled R-peaks, but only DBSCAN showed satisfactory results for the ECG segmentation performance (88.21%) and accuracy (90.50%).

A comprehensive wellness profile in sedentary office employees: Health, musculoskeletal pains, functional capacity, and physical fitness indices

BACKGROUND

One of the most important steps for the successful designing, execution, and sustainability of a workplace wellness program is the evaluation stage.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this research was to create a comprehensive wellness profile through selected and reliable testing protocols used for the evaluation of health, functional capacity, and physical fitness in office employees.

METHODS

One hundred office employees (32-55year-old) were evaluated to create a comprehensive wellness profile. Health indices (body composition, blood pressure, respiratory function, lipidemic profile), musculoskeletal pains, functional capacity, physical fitness (cervical, handgrip, back, leg strength, cardiorespiratory fitness), and lifestyle behaviors (physical activity levels, viewing habits, smoking, alcohol consumption) were measured.Thirty of the participants performed two assessment sessions to examine the reliability of functional capacity and physical fitness indices.

RESULTS

A significant proportion of employees were overweight (40.7%) and obese (18.5%). The largest percentage of employees (78%) presented musculoskeletal problems in various areas of the body (higher rates in lower back, neck, and/or hip). A large percentage of the employees (40-65%) showed low-moderate levels in selected indices of health, physical activity (<6000 steps/day), functional capacity and physical fitness, and high levels of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. The test-retest reliability for the assessment of functional capacity and physical fitness profile was high for all testing variables (ICC = 0.92-0.99;SEM%  = 2.5-4.5).

CONCLUSION

The testing protocols are reliable and can be used in conjunction with the reference values created to evaluate selected health and wellness indicators in office-employees.

Exploring the relationships between computer task characteristics, mental workload, and computer users' biomechanical responses

Previous biomechanics studies suggest that higher cognitive mental workload when performing office computer tasks may increase the risk of MSDs among office workers. Cognitive workload can be interpreted in terms of task factors (e.g. task complexity and time pressure) and mental workload factors which include mental demand and mental effort. A laboratory study was conducted to further explore how the task and mental workload factors affected computer users' biomechanical responses, specifically the muscle activation levels and sitting postures. Data were collected as 20 participants worked on computer tasks which varied in their levels of task complexity and time pressure. Visual analog scales were used for assessing mental workload factors. Results indicated that the level of mental effort reported, as opposed to the level of task complexity, was associated with changes in participants' biomechanical responses, but primarily occurred when the chair's backrest was not used. Practitioner summary: A study was conducted to investigate the association between computer users' cognitive workload and biomechanical responses when performing computer task. While task complexity was not directly associated with the changes in participants' biomechanical responses, higher reported mental effort was associated with increased biomechanical responses, but only when the participants did not use the backrest on the chair.

Ergonomics evaluation of lawn mower operator’s working posture using JACK software and kinect interface

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, real-time motion tracking devices are widely used for ergonomic assessment of several manual quotidian activities. The real-time tracking of human activities makes it easier to observe the exposure of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in the human body. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the suitability of a real-time motion tracking device (Kinect v1 interfaced with a commercial ergonomic assessment software, JACK) for real-time ergonomic evaluation of the strenuous operation of the manual lawn mower. METHOD: The lawn mower operators perform various strenuous activities while operating the manual lawn mower for long intervals of time, which causes WMSDs in the entire body of the operators. These working operators’ activities have been captured using Kinect v1 interfaced with JACK, to address the ergonomic issues responsible for the whole-body WMSDs. The forces acting on the lower back, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment score and static strength have been predicted using JACK. RESULTS: This study proves the exposure of the operators towards the whole-body WMSDs while operating the manual lawn mower. CONCLUSION: The findings provide a quick and straightforward approach for performing the real-time ergonomic evaluation of any operation, which can help the industrial staff estimate the risk of level WMSDs.

Ergonomic and psychosocial risks related to musculoskeletal problems among Brazilian labor judges in telework during the COVID-19 pandemic

AbstractObjectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ergonomic and psychosocial risks in telework and their relationship with musculoskeletal problems in Brazilian labor judges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 119 participants. The data were collected through a sociodemographic and occupational questionnaire, from the Brazilian versions of the Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire (MUEQ-Br revised), the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA-Br) and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), added to a numerical pain scale. Results. According to ROSA-Br, 47.06% of the participants showed an outcome where it is considered that there is a need for immediate intervention in the workplace. The results of ROSA-Br and MUEQ-Br revised presented a significant correlation with the intensity of complaints in the neck and shoulders in the last 12 months and in the last seven days. The total score of MUEQ-Br revised presented more important correlations with problems in these body regions and with the intensity of complaints in the upper back, wrists/hands and lower back in both periods. Conclusions. Companies should propose ways to assess the ergonomic and psychosocial risks among their employees in telework as a way to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems.

Recommended maximum holding time of common static sitting postures of office workers

PURPOSE

A posture maintained for a long period can be harmful to the health of office workers. This study aimed to estimate the recommended ergonomic duration for maintaining different sitting postures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty healthy male and female students participated in this experiment designed to measure perceived discomfort caused by maintaining common static sitting postures of office workers in a simple ergonomic setup for four minutes. The Borg CR10 scale was given to the participants to assess the discomfort in different body parts, before and after each experiment. Based on the mean group discomfort level of 2, the recommended holding time of each posture was estimated.

RESULTS

The recommended holding time and its discomfort score for each studied posture were tabulated. The shortest holding time of a posture was obtained for the moderate neck flexion (1.61 minutes), and the longest holding time was obtained for legs posture with 90-degree knee flexion (6.45 minutes).

CONCLUSIONS

The recommended holding time in this study may help to assess the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders in office workers and train the individuals involved in office tasks in proper sitting behavior.

Usefulness of the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) tool in detecting differences before and after an ergonomics intervention

Background

Most ergonomics studies on office workstations evaluate the effects of an intervention only by subjective measures such as musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. Limited evidence has been provided regarding risk factor reduction in office environments through standardized methods assessments. The Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) tool can provide an estimation of risk factor exposure for office workers as a means by which the outcome of interventions can be quantified.

Purpose

The aim of the study was to evaluate if ROSA scores reflect changes in risk factors after an ergonomics intervention among office workers.

Methods

Office workers (n = 60) were divided into two groups. The experimental group received a workstation intervention and the control group received no intervention. Changes in ROSA scores were compared before and after the intervention in both groups.

Results

Statistically significant reductions in the ROSA final and section scores occurred after the intervention in the experimental group with (mean reduction of 2.9, 0.8 and 1.6 points for sections A, B and C, respectively). In contrast, no differences were detected in the control group (mean increase of 0.1 point for sections A and C and mean reduction of 0.1 point for Section B).

Conclusions

These findings show that ROSA scores reflect changes in risk factors after an ergonomics intervention in an office environment. Consequently, this tool can be used for identifying and controlling risk factors among computer workers, before and after interventions.

Telework during the COVID-19 pandemic: Ergonomic and psychosocial risks among Brazilian labor justice workers

BACKGROUND

The imposition of telework by the COVID-19 pandemic represented a challenge for companies and workers with regard to the management and organization of the workplace at home.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the ergonomic risks, psychosocial factors and musculoskeletal symptoms as well as the relationships between these variables in employees of a Brazilian labor judiciary unit.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out with 55 employees who had their workstations evaluated by means of the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA-Br) and answered a questionnaire of sociodemographic and occupational characterization, the dimensions of workstation and posture of the Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire (MUEQ-Br-revised), the short version of the Job Stress Scale and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ).

RESULTS

The workstations evaluations by ROSA-Br and MUEQ-Br-revised showed a strong correlation between themselves and to body posture, but they were not related to the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Body posture and demands were correlated to each other and with to occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Shoulders, neck and wrists / hands were the most affected body regions.

CONCLUSIONS

Companies that adopt teleworking for their employees must be aware of working conditions at home, including the workload, and offer adequate support in order to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems.

Impact of digital boards on hand and neck muscle activity during online teaching process

Academicians across the globe due to Covid 19 shifted to online teaching as a mainstream method by replacing the chalk and talk method. The main objective of this study is to find the impact of different sizes of digital boards used for online teaching on muscle activity and muscle fatigue, and then results are compared with conventional writing. Initially, a questionnaire survey is conducted among 100 college professors about the issue they faced while using online teaching methods. Experimental analysis are then conducted using electromyography sensor (sEMG) among ten college professors and their muscle activity on the dominant hand and neck while writing on two commercially available digital boards namely Type 1 (small writing area) and Type 2 (large writing area). Four muscles namely Flexor carpi radialis, Extensor carpi radialis, Biceps brachii, and Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) are chosen for the study. The results are then compared with muscle activity while writing on conventional A4 sheets. Normalized root mean square (RMS) is used to assess the muscle activity and the trend line of MPF value is utilized to assess the muscle fatigue. The results show that SCM muscle has more muscle activation compared to other selected muscles followed by flexor carpi radialis. Subjective analysis is carried out using the Borg scale, which has reported that Type 2 digital board having larger working area was preferred by the participants as it reduces muscle fatigue.

The Effect of Awkward Postures and Musculoskeletal Disorder Incidents: A Case Study of Bakery Workers

Musculoskeletal complaints or MSDs are common in the bakery industry. Observations and analyses of work posture among bakers are crucial to determine the most practical solution to MSD subjective complaints. This study aims to analyze the impact of work posture on musculoskeletal events in bakery industry workers. This research is quantitative research with a cross-sectional approach. This study recruited 52 bakers. Work posture data was obtained by utilizing the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) instrument. The subjective musculoskeletal complaint data were collected using the Nordic Body Map (NBM) instrument. The results indicated that most workers (90.4%) were in the young category, 67.3% were male, and 51.9% had a long permanent contract. Most respondents are in the high ergonomic risk category (75%). The lower back (63.5%), neck (25%), and ankle (25%) were subjectively reported by the respondents using the NBM instrument. There was no significant relationship between ergonomic risk and MSD complaints (p-value = 0.721 at α = 0.05). The bakers were exposed to ergonomic limitations and experienced some subjective MSD complaints. However, no significant association was found between ergonomic work posture limitations and MSD complaints. The non-significant finding might be related to the small sample study size or the measurement bias.

Ergonomic risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders in bank staff: an interventional follow-up study in Iran

Background

Long-term use of computer in a static mode may cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in bank staff. Considering the high number of bank employees in different countries, such as Iran, the risk factors of these disorders should be investigated in order to implement interventions required to reduce the risk factors. This study aimed to examine the risk factors of MSDs using the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) method and to perform an ergonomic intervention program with banking staff in Iran.

Methods

This interventional study was conducted on 277 bank employees in Iran. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups, including a control group (without any intervention), an educational intervention (EI) group, and a group receiving both educational and physical intervention (EPI). Before and after the intervention, the ROSA method and Nordic questionnaire were used to assess the risk factors of MSDs in office jobs and to investigate the prevalence of MSDs. Data were collected 2 weeks before and 9 months following the intervention.

Results

Before the intervention, the mean score of ROSA at workstations of all groups was above five with high risk. Nine months after the start of the intervention, there was a significant decrease in the mean ROSA score and its components in the two groups that received the intervention, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The results of the study of the prevalence of MSDs in the employees—before the intervention—indicate that the highest prevalence of MSDs in the control group was in areas of the neck (67.1%), back (64.4%), and lower back (63%). In the EI group, the highest prevalence of MSDs was in the neck (65.2%), lower back (61.6%), and back (60.7%) areas. In the EPI group, the discomfort areas were the neck (68.5%), shoulders (66.3%), and lower back (60.9%). Nine months after the intervention, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of MSDs in the neck, shoulders, and lumbar regions of staff who received the intervention (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Nine months after performing the interventions, there was a relative improvement in workstations and prevalence of MSDs in various areas within the bodies of the bank staff. This study showed that using the ROSA method is appropriate for assessing the risk factors of office work and that it can identify deficiencies in workstations. These defects can be addressed by designing and implementing an EI program together with physical interventions according to the components of the ROSA method.

Investigation of office workers' sitting behaviors in an ergonomically adjusted workstation

Objectives. Common ergonomic office workstations are designed for a few optimum postures. Nonetheless, sitting is a dynamic activity and the ideal sitting posture is rarely maintained in practice. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the sitting behavior of office workers in an actual working environment using ergonomically adjusted workstations to examine whether they promote maintaining appropriate sitting postures. Methods. Sitting behaviors (frequency of postures and position changes in different body parts) were explored among 26 office workers during a 60-min sitting duration, using the posture recording and classification method developed by Graf et al. The rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method was also used to assess postural load. Then, the results of the RULA method were compared with the results from investigating the sitting behavior of office workers. Results. Common ergonomic workstations were effective in eliminating some awkward postures. However, some important risk factors such as holding postures with an inappropriate lumbar spine curve (86% of the observations) and maintaining a posture for a long time (for 7-12 min) were observed in the participants' sitting behaviors, while they were neglected in the RULA method. Conclusions. The common ergonomic workstations could not guarantee the users' appropriate sitting behaviors.

Musculoskeletal complaints and associated factors among dental practitioners of Nepal: a nationwide survey

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) constitute a significant occupational hazard among dental practitioners. An online-based e-survey was conducted among 252 registered dentists of Nepal using the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) to assess musculoskeletal complaints and work-related characteristics. Musculoskeletal complaints in lower regions were found to be highly prevalent among dental practitioners with prevalence of 76, 27 and 28.2% in the last 12 months, 1 month and 7 days, respectively, followed by musculoskeletal complaints in the neck, wrist/hand and shoulder. Musculoskeletal complaint during the last 12 months was significantly associated with age, years in dental practice after graduation and leave from duty in the past 12 months. Similarly, educational qualification, medical comorbidities and leave from duty were associated with complaints in the last 1 month. Musculoskeletal complaint during the last 7 days was associated with gender, working hours in a day, practice of four-handed dentistry and patients examined in a day.

The Role of Physical Activity-Related Health Competence and Leisure-Time Physical Activity for Physical Health and Metabolic Syndrome: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach for German Office Workers

Office workers (OWs) are prone to insufficient physical activity (PA), which increases their risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and impaired physical health. The Physical Activity-related Health Competence (PAHCO) model holds the potential to facilitate a healthy physically active lifestyle. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the interplay between PAHCO, leisure-time PA, physical health, and MetS in OWs in Germany. In a cross-sectional study, OWs (N = 316, 25% female) completed self-report questionnaires along with an occupational health checkup to examine their Metabolic Syndrome Severity Score (MetSSS) values. Structural equation modeling indicated a strong positive association between PAHCO and leisure-time PA and a small positive association with physical health. PAHCO showed a considerable negative association with the MetSSS. Leisure-time PA was a positive mediator for the PAHCO-physical health association but was not a significant mediator for the association between PAHCO and the MetSSS. These findings underscore the importance of PAHCO in the context of leisure-time PA, physical health, and MetS in OWs. Furthermore, our findings highlight the health-enhancing value of the qualitative aspects of PA, such as motivational and volitional components in PA participation, with respect to physical health and MetS.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomics risk assessment and implementation of participatory ergonomics program for pistachio farm workers

Background and objectives:

Pistachio farmers are exposed to a variety of risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, no study has been conducted to investigate MSDs in pistachio workers. Therefore, in the present study, besides investigating the prevalence of MSDs and their ergonomic risk factors, the participatory ergonomics (PE) method is used to provide an intervention program to reduce MSDs in this population in harvesting and processing pistachio.

Methods:

The present study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase 138 workers participated. The prevalence of MSDs was assessed with Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the ergonomic risk factors was identified with ManTRA method. In the second phase PE was used to perform ergonomic interventions for reducing MSDs and the effect of the intervention was investigated. Sixty-four workers participated in the second phase (32 in the case group and 32 in the control group).

Results:

The highest prevalence of MSDs was in shoulders (63.7%), followed by the lower back (63%) and wrists/hands (52.1%). The comparison showed that after implementing the PE intervention program, the prevalence of MSDs in the intervention group was not significantly different from that in the control group. However, in the reassessment by the ManTRA method for five tasks that were identified as high risk in the first phase, a decrease in ManTRA final score was observed for all the five tasks.

Conclusions:

MSDs were prevalent in all body regions of workers. After implementing PE interventions exposure to ergonomic risk factors decreased.

Assessment of musculoskeletal disorders among employees working office workplaces in the manufacturing sector

BACKGROUND

The number of studies investigating the relationship between office employees and the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is limited. Only a few focused on assessing workplace ergonomics of office employees.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the risk of MSDs and associated factors in the office workplaces of a large-size manufacturing company.

METHODS

Data were gathered from 208 office employees from a manufacturing company via Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) and Cornell questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed to examine the relationship between ergonomic risk levels and MSDs reported by the office staff.

RESULTS

The mean ROSA final score is 3.52 (std. dev. = 0.71), chair section is 3.30, monitor and telephone section is 2.18, and mouse and keyboard section is 2.69. Thirty-nine of 208 (18.8%) office workplaces are at risk. The most important factor to raise the risk level is found to be the height and depth of the chair. The Cornell questionnaire results highlight that the highest discomfort severity is related to the neck (32.26%), lower back (23.23%) and upper back (22.26%). The discomforts in the neck (r = 0.362), upper back (r = 0.404) and lower back (r = 0.368) are moderately and positively correlated according to the final ROSA score. The results indicate that the highest risked departments are Accounting, Sub Industry, Production Planning, and Manufacturing Management.

CONCLUSION

The parameters associated with the chair section should be considered a priority for reducing and eliminating MSDs among office employees.

Musculoskeletal symptoms, psychosocial factors and work ability in Brazilian labor justice workers

BACKGROUND

The implementation of the electronic judicial process (PJe) in recent years is associated with an increase in workload and stricter control through productivity targets in the Brazilian labor judiciary.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the relations between musculoskeletal symptoms, psychosocial factors and work ability in civil servants of a labor justice body in the context of the PJe.

METHODS

A cross-sectional exploratory study with a quantitative approach involving 449 workers. Sociodemographic, occupational and related data were collected through questionnaires validated in the Brazilian context. Data analysis was conducted by descriptive and inferential statistics: Mann-Whitney test, Spearman's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

There was a correlation between musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial factors (p < 0.05), as well as between both musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial factors with reduced work ability (p < 0.05). The multiple linear regression model pointed to the female gender and the dimensions "demands", "control" and "peer support" as related to the musculoskeletal symptoms.

CONCLUSION

We highlight the importance of a broader approach, involving psychosocial factors in preventive actions related to musculoskeletal disorders considering the important relationship with work ability.

Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among Iranian nurses and their relationship with fatigue: a cross-sectional study

Background

The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs), identify potential factors associated with WMSs, and determine the association between WMSs and fatigue among nurses.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out among 500 Iranian nurses. Data was gathered by the 1) Persian version of the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (P-NMQ) to examine WMSs, and 2) Persian version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (P-MAF) Scale to evaluate fatigue among the study population. Then, data was analyzed by SPSS version 21 using the χ2 test, multiple logistic regression for detection of potential factors associated with WMSs, and multiple linear regression for detection of potential factors associated with fatigue.

Results

Ankles/feet, lower back, knees, and shoulders had the highest prevalence of WMSs among nurses within the last 12 months prior to the study. Independent variables including age, job tenure, gender, smoking, shift work, and type of employment were significantly associated with WMSs in different body regions with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 1.635–2.835. Moreover, WMSs in some body regions were associated with subscales of fatigue and total fatigue.

Conclusions

Ergonomic and organizational interventions for fitting the job to the nurses considering demographic/occupational characteristics are highly essential to improve musculoskeletal system health and relieve fatigue.

Physical Exercise and Health-Related Quality of Life in Office Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Office workers are at high risk for many chronic diseases, lowering their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of physical exercise on HRQOL in office workers with and without health problems using data obtained from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental, and observational studies. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and several grey literature databases, and identified 26 relevant studies for the synthesis. Overall, physical exercise significantly improved general (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66 to 1.44) and mental (SMD = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.66) HRQOL in office workers. Compared with healthy office workers, unhealthy office workers experienced greater improvements in general (unhealthy, SMD = 2.76; 95% CI: 1.63 to 3.89; healthy, SMD = 0.23; 95% CI: −0.09 to 0.56) and physical (unhealthy, SMD = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.58; healthy, SMD = −0.20; 95% CI: −0.51 to 0.11) HRQOL. Unsupervised physical exercise significantly improved general and mental HRQOL, while directly supervised physical exercise significantly improved only general HRQOL. Although physical exercise, especially unsupervised physical exercise, should be encouraged to improve HRQOL in office workers, detailed recommendations could not be made because of the diverse exercise types with different intensities. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the optimal exercise for office workers with different health conditions.

Assessment of Spinal Range of Motion and Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Forklift Drivers. A Cross-Sectional Study

Forklifts are commonly used in industrial supply chains to transport heavy loads. Forklift drivers have the risk of developing musculoskeletal discomfort derived from the movement pattern required at work. This research aimed to investigate the spinal range of motion (ROM) and musculoskeletal discomfort of forklift drivers and compare it with a control group. Forklift drivers (39 males) and office workers (31 males) were recruited to assess cervical, thoracic, and lumbar ROM with an electronic double inclinometer. Additionally, musculoskeletal discomfort was registered with the Cornell Discomfort Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Forklift drivers showed a higher cervical discomfort and ROM of lateral lumbar bending than office workers. Both groups reported lower ROM in cervical and lumbar lateral bending on the right side versus the left side. No differences of asymmetry were reported for any variable between groups. Specific exercise programs may correct these mobility imbalances.

Occupational Health Problems and Lifestyle Changes Among Novice Working-From-Home Workers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background

Social distancing by working-from-home is an effective measure to decrease the spread of COVID-19. However, this new work pattern could also affect the well-being of workers. Therefore, the aim of the study was to study the magnitude of occupational health problems and lifestyle changes among workers who have only recently started working from home.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using online self-administered questionnaires during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the Bangkok metropolitan area, Thailand. The participants were from any organization that allowed working from home. The demographic data including the analysis of the characteristics of working from home, the occurrence of occupational health problems, and the lifestyle changes caused by working from home were analyzed.

Results

A total of 869 workers were included as study participants. The highest prevalence of physical health problems among all workers was identified to be weight gain at a rate of 40.97% (95% confidence interval = 37.69–44.24), and the highest prevalence of psychosocial problems was identified to be cabin fever at a rate of 31.28% (95% confidence interval = 26.66–35.90%) among full-time working-from-home workers. The health effects that were significantly related to the intensity of working from home (p for trends <0.05), either positively or negatively, included body weight changes, ergonomic problems, indoor environmental problems, and psychosocial problems. Meanwhile, the lifestyle changes related to work intensity included eating pattern, sleep habits, and exercise.

Conclusions

Working from home can affect workers' well-being in various aspects. Hence, occupational health providers must prepare for risk prevention and health promotion in this “new normal” working life pattern and for future pandemics.

Musculoskeletal pain and its relation to individual and work-related factors: a cross-sectional study among Turkish office workers who work using computers

Objective. Office workers are commonly exposed to work-related musculoskeletal pain. This study investigated the individual and work-related risk factors linked to musculoskeletal pain and pain-related disability among Turkish office workers who work using computers. Methods. One-hundred and fifty office workers were included. Data were collected using an online survey with a combination of the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, Oswestry disability index (ODI), neck disability index (NDI) and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire short-form (Q-DASH). The participants were divided into four subgroups: no pain (n = 26), lower back pain (n = 37), neck pain (n = 49) and upper-extremity pain (n = 38). Results. There were differences between subgroups in terms of the condition that feet touch the floor and the condition that the keyboard, mouse and wrist are in a straight line (p = 0.013 and p = 0.025, respectively). Working years was correlated with the ODI score (ρ = 0.802, p = 0.041). There was also a significant correlation between the NDI score and working hours (ρ = 0.415, p = 0.003), while Q-DASH was correlated with body mass index and working years (ρ = 0.406, p = 0.014, and ρ = 0.327, p = 0.043, respectively). Conclusions. Pain-related disability was associated with various risk factors such as physical inactivity, body mass index, working hours, working years and workplace ergonomics in the office workers.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among haemodialysis nurses - a comparison between Danish and Swedish samples

Objective. The repetitiveness of priming and dismantling disposables for haemodialysis treatments might be an important contributor to musculoskeletal complaints. The objective was therefore to compare the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among haemodialysis nurses in Denmark and Sweden. Methods. For this cross-sectional study, nurses were recruited from haemodialysis centres in Denmark (n = 194) and Sweden (n = 351). Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints was evaluated using the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. Results. The percentage of nurses reporting musculoskeletal complaints from at least one part of their body was 90.2% in the Danish sample and 88.9% in the Swedish sample. The anatomical locations with the most complaints were the neck, lower back and hands. Except for the proportion of complaints concerning the neck, there were no differences between the countries. Absenteeism from work was mostly due to complaints regarding the hands. Conclusion. The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints seems to be higher among haemodialysis nurses than among nurses in general. Because complaints concerning the hands are common, and also related to absenteeism from work, it is of particular importance that manufacturers of dialysis equipment and nurse managers acknowledge these occupational health and safety hazards in their efforts to create a good work environment.