Habitual Smoking and Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Japanese Blue‐Collar Workers

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Pakistani construction workers: Prevalence, characteristics, and associated risk factors

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, approximately 350 million people are currently employed in the construction industry. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, pain characteristics, and associated risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among construction workers in Pakistan. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted from February to August 2019 among 666 construction workers. The data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of 4 sections: demographic information, a numerical pain intensity rating scale, a Nordic questionnaire to report prevalence, and pain characteristics. SPSS was used for data entry and analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the construction workers was 34.49 years. Participants who reported pain were 397 out of 666 and 269 were those who reported no pain. The 12-month prevalence of pain among construction workers in more than one body area was 89% (n = 591) and the 7-day prevalence was 52% (n = 343); lower back pain was the most common type of pain with a 12-month prevalence of 27% (n = 180) and a 7-day prevalence of 17% (n = 112). Regarding the characteristics of the pain, 26% (173) of the workers suffered pain occasionally, 27% (180) participants had pain for≤2 hours per day, and 32.9% (219) had dull pain. Moreover, a significant relationship was found (p < 0.05) between MSDs and age, lifestyle, work experience, smoking habits, and absence from work. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent, with lower back pain being the most commonly reported type. Absence from work and disability in performing normal daily activities have been reported as consequences of musculoskeletal pain. Moreover, this study underscores the importance of targeted preventive healthcare measures for construction workers.

Trunk and upper arm postures in paper mill work

The aim of this study was to assess postures and movements of the trunk and upper arm during paper mill work, and to determine the extent to which they differ depending on method of assessment. For each of 28 paper mill workers, postures and movements were assessed during three full shifts using inclinometer registration and observation from video. Summary metrics for each shift, e.g., 10^th, 50^th, and 90^th posture percentile, were averaged across shifts and across workers. In addition, the standard deviation between workers, and the standard deviation between shifts within worker were computed. The results showed that trunk and arm postures during paper mill work were similar to other occupations involving manual materials handling, but the velocities of arm movements were lower. While postures determined by inclinometry and observation were similar on a group level, substantial differences were found between results obtained by the two methods for individual workers, particularly for extreme postures. Thus, measurements by either method on individuals or small groups should be interpreted with caution.

Risk factors of atherosclerosis and shoulder pain--is there an association? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Shoulder pain is prevalent and a common cause of disability at work and daily activities. Some studies suggest an association between risk factors of atherosclerosis and shoulder pain and disorders.

AIM

To assess associations between risk factors of atherosclerosis and shoulder pain or disorders and to discuss possible pathophysiological pathways for found associations.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted searching Medline until June 2006. Two authors extracted data and assessed quality independently using the Cochrane criteria for the assessment of quality in non-experimental studies with slight modifications. Due to heterogeneity of studies, meta-analysis was not possible. Results were summarized and discussed paying attention to study design and quality.

RESULTS

Fifteen papers from 14 studies were included in the review. Diabetes was consistently associated with clinically defined shoulder disorders in population studies. Overweight or obesity was associated with the incidence of shoulder symptoms in three studies and with clinically defined shoulder disorders in one case control study. A few studies showed a preventive effect of physical exercise. Associations between smoking and shoulder disorders were seen only in studies on occupational populations.

CONCLUSIONS

A consistent association between diabetes and shoulder disorders, some associations for weight-related factors as well as a possible preventive effect from physical exercise and sports suggest a metabolic pathophysiological process in shoulder disorders. More prospective studies using appropriate analytical methods are needed.

[An experimental study on muscle tension reaction induced by voice among sign language interpreters]

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the incidence of cervicobrachial muscle tension induced by voice among sign language interpreters (SLIs). The analyzed subjects included 8 professional SLIs (Case group) who complained of pain in the cervicobrachial muscle when listening to others' talking and 8 other people who have not learned sign language (Control group). Matching sexes, ages, and smoking habits of the Case and the Control groups was carried out. Informed consent to participate in the study was obtained from all subjects. While subjects relaxed in a sitting position, surface electromyographies (EMGs) were recorded from the right and left trapezius muscles and biceps brachii muscles. During this time, all subjects had two listening tasks: to listen to lectures in Japanese and to listen to instrumental music. An inquiry about subjective symptoms was conducted just after each task. Root-mean-square (RMS) values per 100 ms in each of the tasks were calculated for analysis of surface EMG. An original criterion of judgment was that the threshold of RMS values was 3.8 microV, and its threshold continued for more than 1 s. The criterion was used and the muscle tension was confirmed. Results showed muscle tension in the trapezius muscles or the biceps brachii muscles among 5 of 8 subjects in the Case group, and in 1 of 8 in the Control group when listening to the lecture. 3 subjects in the Case group and none in the Control group showed muscle tension in the trapezius muscles when listening not to music but to the lecture. The differences between the Case and Control groups in these results were not statistically significant. Confirmed muscle tension in SLIs when listening to a Japanese lecture is probably induced by the Japanese voice. It is necessary to further investigate whether muscle tension is an acquired reaction from sign language interpreting or a pathological reaction. Listening to Japanese voices may contribute to muscular overload in SLIs so that it may be necessary for SLIs to relax their muscles during break times with an absence of Japanese voices.