The inclusion of homemakers as an occupation amongst people with upper limb repetitive stress injuries

De Quervain's tenosynovitis as an occupational disease in agricultural worker: A case report

BACKGROUND

De Quervain's tenosynovitis is upper-limb disorder, more frequent in women. It is rarely recognized as an occupational disease.

OBJECTIVE

In this paper we reported work related de Quervain's tenosynovitis in cow milker.

METHODS

Ergonomic risk factors were assessed by utilizing assessment of repetitive tasks (ART) of the upper limbs method. Physical examination and imaging exams were used.

RESULTS

We presented a 36-year-old female agricultural worker (workplace cow milker) exposed to work factors (forceful hand/wrist exertions, repetition, extreme postures) for 14 years. She was suffering the pain in the right hand, mainly near the thumb for few years. She was treated conservatively and surgically, however disability was permanent. Clinical examination showed slight edema of the right hand, increased palm's sweating. Patient had reduced range of movements and grip strength.

CONCLUSIONS

Report shows that work-related factors were strongly associated with diagnosed de Quervain's tenosynovitis. Hand function plays an essential role in carrying out activities of daily living and this disorder pose a relevant burden of disease. Exposure to biomechanical factors should be an important initial target for the prevention of De Quervain's tenosynovitis in the working population.

Using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment to examine the effect of the new Hotel Housekeeping California Standard

A housekeeper's job includes a variety of repetitive and strenuous tasks, which can put workers at high risk for musculoskeletal disorders. In 2018, a new standard was implemented in California aiming to prevent work-related injuries of hospitality industry workers. This paper assesses California housekeepers performing regular work tasks during their shifts from 2018 to 2020. Rapid Upper Limb Assessments (RULA) after the standard was implemented found average right-arm scores for scrubbing tasks (M = 6.93, SD = 0.00), vacuuming (M = 6.27, SD = 0.45), and trash-collecting (M = 4.48, SD = 0.50). Forces to move housekeeping carts were also evaluated, with 98% of pushing forces and 73% of turning forces observed within the accepted range. Results show that RULA scores remain high even after the implementation of the standard, with improvements only seen in tasks that required just changing of the method.

Which is the most ergonomic mop? A comparison of three domestic mopping systems

PURPOSE

To assess musculoskeletal risk factors (repetitions, posture, forces) of the upper limb during domestic floor mopping tasks.

METHODS

Two hundred women were surveyed to determine the most common mopping system, mopping patterns and type of flooring used in their homes. The biomechanical demands of the three most common mopping systems were then evaluated in the laboratory. Participants were also asked to rate their perceived levels of exertion and cleanliness of each mopping system.

RESULTS

The use of wet wipes had the highest repetition count and exertion rates during mopping and scrubbing tasks. Higher peak scrubbing forces were noted for the plunge mop. All participants found the cotton fibre mop to be the cleanest. All 3 mops had medium postural risk.

CONCLUSION

The advantages and disadvantages of each mopping system were outlined and may be used by occupational therapists when providing ergonomic advice to patients with upper limb musculoskeletal conditions.

Evaluation of occupational and non-occupational risk factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome in dentists

BACKGROUND

Musculoskeletal disorders are very prevalent among dentists. Of these disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is notable.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the occupational and non-occupational risk factors and CTS among dentists.

METHODS

It is a cross-sectional study. We evaluated 106 dentists from dental schools in Tehran. We collected data by a general questionnaire, a hand diagram, and physical examination. A nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test was used to confirm the diagnosis of CTS. The analysis was performed using an independent T-test and logistic regressions on SPSS software.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CTS among dentists was 17.9%. Significant risk factors of CTS included: vibration exposure greater than two hours per day (OR: 2.5), a wrist diameter ratio of greater than 0.7 (OR: 10.14), and female sex (OR: 13.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to the hand-arm vibration should be considered as an occupational risk factor for CTS in dentists. Female dentists should take more preventive measures.

Prevalence of upper limb pain and disability and its correlates with demographic and personal factors

Purpose

The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of upper limb pain and disability and to investigate potentially correlated factors among university students in Jordan.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey study that was conducted among university students. The upper limb pain and disability were assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) outcome questionnaire. The DASH outcome questionnaire was distributed to 2100 students from the population of 2 public and 2 private universities in the north of Jordan. Demographic and personal information were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis.

Results

A total of 1929 DASH outcome questionnaires were returned, with a high response rate of 91.86%. The age of the subjects was between 18–28 years (52% male; 48% female). The majority of subjects (85.2%) used at least one smartphone. The majority of them had been using a smartphone for more than 5 years. The prevalence of upper limb pain and disability among university students was 24%. Several factors were found to be significantly connected with upper limb pain and disability among university students, such as smartphone use, computer use,  the presence of musculoskeletal problems, not living with their families, using public transport (bus), and daily housekeeping.

Conclusion

The results of this study can be used globally to promote the health and well-being of university students, improve their academic performance and future career. Identifying high-risk groups will assist in early identifications and prevention programs for upper limb pain and disability among university students.

A pilot study: Exploring the musculoskeletal risk exposure associated with drying laundry using the public housing pipe-socket system amongst women in Singapore

BACKGROUND

The biomechanics of homemakers has been minimally studied. The way laundry-drying is performed in Singapore public-housing, using the pipe-socket-system (PSS), could expose the homemakers to musculoskeletal disorder risk.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to quantify the musculoskeletal risk exposure (MRE) associated with laundry-drying amongst female homemakers using the PSS in Singapore public-housing.

METHODS

Using snowball sampling approach, five female homemakers familiar with the described laundry-drying method were recruited. The postures of the participants were analysed from video-recorded data and scored using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA).

RESULTS

This pilot study revealed very strong evidence (p = 0.001) that the participants were exposed to medium risk (REBA score 4.3) when performing this housework task.

CONCLUSIONS

Extreme awkward postures and repetitive motions were observed from the participants during the analysis. High REBA scores were frequently associated with the awkward postures adopted due to constraints of physical work space.

Erognomic education on housework for women with upper limb repetitive strain injury (RSI): a conceptual representation of therapists' clinical reasoning

BACKGROUND

Ergonomic education in housework that aims to facilitate behavior change is important for women with upper limb repetitive strain injury. Therapists usually conduct such programs based on implicit reasoning. Making this reasoning explicit is important in contributing to the profession's knowledge.

AIM

To construct a conceptual representation of how occupational therapists make clinical decisions for such program.

METHOD

Based on a constructivist-grounded theory methodology, data were collected through in-depth interviewing with 14 occupational therapists from a major hospital in Singapore. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Data was analyzed with line by line, focused and axial coding with constant data comparison throughout data collection.

RESULTS

Therapists made clinical decisions based on their perceptions of their clients' behavior change in three stages: (i) listen; (ii) try; and (iii) persevere, bearing significant similarities to the transtheoretical theory of change. The study also showed that therapists may not have considered the full range of meanings that their clients attach to housework when interacting with them, a gap that needs to be addressed.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study indicates the importance of therapists' understanding of the meanings that their clients attach to housework. Further research needs to address how to achieve this in a time-pressured clinical environment. Implications for Rehabilitation This study used qualitative research to demonstrate the process of translating therapists' tacit knowledge into an explicit form. It elucidates the following major implications for practice when therapists conduct ergonomic education to facilitate behavior change in housework for female homemakers with upper limb RSI:The conceptual framework of clinical reasoning constructed from the results can be used to increase therapists' awareness of how they make clinical decisions during an intervention. This framework can also be used for training new therapists. It is important for therapists to actively listen to their clients. Active listening will enable the therapists to understand and consider the personal meanings that these women attach to housework in order to facilitate a behavior change. Client-therapist interactions to facilitate clients' willingness to change should become a major focus in such a program. Similar research should be conducted in other clinical areas to develop explicit clinical reasoning frameworks to facilitate learning of novice therapists and reflection of experienced therapists to address any gap in their clinical reasoning.