Follow-up of neck and shoulder pain among sewing machine operators: The Los Angeles garment study

Prevalence of neck-shoulder pain among sewing machine operators is well known. It may be due to the nature and incorrect posture used by sewing machine operators while performing sewing work. However, up till now there is no empirical evidence that can be used to relate the risk factors that would results towards the development of neck and shoulder pain among sewing machine operators. The main objective of this study is to identify and investigate the risk factors that result in neck and shoulder pain among Malaysian sewing machine operators. Twenty female sewing machine operators took part in answering a survey questionnaire to investigate the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain among sewing machine operators. The survey questionnaire was divided into five sections: socio-demographic, work background, workload information, physical exposures and physical musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by workers. Having done that, sewing machine operators who have been screened with neck and/or shoulder pain was evaluated with Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) to determine the level of workplace risk factors. Subjects without neck and/or shoulder pain were excluded. Results of the study shows that all sewing operators were expose to risk of prolonged sitting, repetitive task and working at high speed. Ninety five percent of sewing machine operators had experienced neck and/or shoulder pain and 80% of them were exposed to high work risk factors that require them to undergo further investigation. Shoulder pain was found to be strongly correlated with high work risk factor among sewing machine operators (p<0.05). In conclusion, occurrence of shoulder pain among sewing operators is due to posture and nature of sewing work.

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Recovery Pattern of Neck and Shoulder Pain Among Sewing Machine Operators

American Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/aje/163.suppl_11.s217-a ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 163 (suppl_11) ◽

pp. S217-S217

Author(s):

P C Wang ◽

D Rempel ◽

R Harrison ◽

I Janowitz ◽

B Ritz

Keyword(s):

Shoulder Pain ◽

Sewing Machine ◽

Recovery Pattern ◽

Machine Operators ◽

Neck And Shoulder Pain

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O17-4 Neck-shoulder pain and work status among former sewing machine operators – a 14 years follow up study

10.1136/oemed-2016-103951.85 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Emma Lise Thorlund Jakobsen ◽

Karin Biering ◽

Anette Kaergaard ◽

Johan Hviid Andersen

Keyword(s):

Shoulder Pain ◽

Work Status ◽

Sewing Machine ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Machine Operators

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Long-term prognosis for neck-shoulder pain and disorders: a 14-year follow-up study

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2017-104422 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 90-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Emma Lise Thorlund Jakobsen ◽

Karin Biering ◽

Anette Kærgaard ◽

Annett Dalbøge ◽

Johan Hviid Andersen

Keyword(s):

Shoulder Pain ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Sewing Machine ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Machine Operators ◽

Shoulder Disorders ◽

Long Term Prognosis ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesThe long-term prognosis for neck-shoulder pain and disorders and the impact of shoulder exposure among former sewing machine operators were investigated in a 14-year follow-up study.MethodsInformation on neck-shoulder pain and disorders was collected by questionnaire and clinical examination at baseline in 243 female sewing machine operators and by questionnaire 14 years later. During follow-up, information on comorbidity and job exposures was obtained from registers and by linking register-based D-ISCO 88 codes with a job exposure matrix. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations between neck-shoulder pain and disorders at baseline and neck-shoulder pain and physical functioning at follow-up.ResultsWe found an association between neck-shoulder disorders at baseline and neck-shoulder pain at follow-up (OR 5.9;95% CI 1.9 to 17.7), and between neck-shoulder pain at baseline and neck-shoulder pain at follow-up (OR 8.2;95% CI 3.5 to 19.2). Associations between neck-shoulder disorders and pain at baseline and limited physical functioning at follow-up had ORs of 5.0 (95% CI 1.5 to 16.1) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.1 to 4.6), respectively. In women still working in 2008, the association between neck-shoulder pain in 1994 and in 2008 seemed to be stronger for those in jobs with high job shoulder exposure.ConclusionsThe results suggest a long-term adverse prognosis for neck-shoulder pain. High job shoulder exposure can worsen this prognosis for those who continue working. This knowledge could influence the counselling given to similar workers and emphasises the need to prevent neck-shoulder pain.

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Neck–Shoulder Pain and Work Status among Former Sewing Machine Operators: A 14-year Follow-up Study

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation ◽

10.1007/s10926-017-9702-5 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 80-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Emma Lise Thorlund Jakobsen ◽

Karin Biering ◽

Anette Kærgaard ◽

Johan Hviid Andersen

Keyword(s):

Shoulder Pain ◽

Work Status ◽

Sewing Machine ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Machine Operators

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O5A.6 Objectively assessed arm elevation and the course of neck and shoulder pain during a 2-year follow-up: a compositional approach

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oem-2019-epi.115 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A42.3-A43

Author(s):

Suzanne Merkus ◽

Lars-Kristian Lunde ◽

Markus Koch ◽

Stein Knardahl ◽

Kaj Bo Veiersted

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Shoulder Pain ◽

Compositional Data ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Compositional Data Analysis ◽

Compositional Approach ◽

Neck And Shoulder Pain ◽

Statistical Analysis Method ◽

Arm Elevation

PurposeTo use a compositional data analysis approach and objective exposure assessments to study the association between the duration of arm elevation and the course of neck and shoulder pain (NSP) during a 2-year follow-up in physically demanding occupations.MethodsConstruction (n=59) and healthcare (n=59) employees wore accelerometers on the dominant upper-arm during a full working day at baseline. Objective assessments using accelerometers addresses biases found in previous studies that estimate duration of arm elevation with self-reports. At baseline and every 6 months for two years, participants reported on NSP (scale 0–3). Duration of arm elevation within predefined ranges (<30°; 30–60°; ≥60) formed the parts of the composition. Compositional data analysis is a new statistical analysis method within occupational health and it is the correct way of analysing data with a compositional nature. The associations between the relative importance of the duration within the levels of arm elevation and the course of NSP during the 2-year follow-up were estimated with compositional linear mixed models, adjusted for confounders.ResultsIn non-adjusted analyses, only duration arm elevation <30° was associated with NSP at baseline (β = 0.37; p=0.015). Duration arm elevation <30° had a tendency to be associated with an improvement in NSP over the 2-year follow-up (<30°*time (β=-0.07; p=0.089)). Neither duration 30–60° nor ≥60 were associated with the course of NSP during follow-up. After adjusting for confounders, none of the durations of arm elevation were associated with the course of NSP over the 2-year period (<30° and NSP (β = 0.20; p=0.126); <30°*time (β=-0.06; p=0.097)).ConclusionAmong construction and healthcare personnel, duration of working in awkward arm elevation postures was not associated with the course of NSP over a 2-year period. Arm elevation alone, without considering force exertion, may not be sufficient to influence the course of NSP.

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The clinical effectiveness of a myofeedback-based teletreatment service in patients with non-specific neck and shoulder pain: a randomized controlled trial

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1258/jtt.2010.006005 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 316-321 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Stephanie M Kosterink ◽

Rianne MHA Huis in 't Veld ◽

Barbara Cagnie ◽

Monika Hasenbring ◽

Miriam MR Vollenbroek-Hutten

Keyword(s):

Pain Intensity ◽

Shoulder Pain ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Conventional Care ◽

Care Group ◽

Efficient Treatment ◽

Time Investment ◽

Neck And Shoulder Pain

We investigated the effectiveness and efficiency of a four-week myofeedback-based teletreatment service in subjects with non-specific neck and shoulder pain. Subjects were recruited in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands and randomly allocated to the intervention or conventional care. Subjects in the intervention group received four weeks of myofeedback training. Pain intensity and disability were evaluated by questionnaires at baseline, immediately after four weeks of treatment and at follow-up 3 months later. To investigate efficiency, the time-investment of both therapists and patients were assessed. Seventy-one subjects were included in the study (36 in the intervention group and 35 in the conventional care group). Myofeedback-based teletreatment was at least as effective clinically as conventional care. Pain intensity and disability decreased after 4 weeks of treatment in both groups and part of the effect remained at 3 months' follow-up. The teletreatment also increased efficiency for therapists by almost 20% and patients experienced the benefits of less travel time and travel costs by remote consultation. Myofeedback-based teletreatment has the potential to ensure more efficient treatment for patients with non-specific neck and shoulder pain.

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Occupational chronic neck and shoulder pain: Study conducted in Sweden

Occupational Ergonomics ◽

10.3233/oer-2005-5201 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 79-88

Author(s):

Kerstin Fredriksson ◽

Carina Bildt ◽

Allan Toomingas ◽

Lars Alfredsson

Keyword(s):

Shoulder Pain ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Time Pressure ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Women Poor ◽

Neck And Shoulder Pain ◽

A Minor ◽

Minor Extent

In 1969 a population-based study was conducted in Stockholm. From the 2579 randomly selected participants (age 18–65 in 1969), the youngest subsets were asked to participate in a re-examination in 1993. In 1997 a second follow-up was performed. The aim of the present study was to identify work- and leisure-time-related conditions that contribute to the development of chronic neck/shoulder pain. Variables regarding both physical, psychosocial and lifestyle conditions from the 1993 re-examination were included in the analyses. Women were more likely to developed chronic neck/shoulder pain than men. Among women, poor coping strategies, lack of social support, time pressure at work and work with hands above shoulder level were found to be associated with chronic neck/shoulder pain. No associations were found among men. Signs at a medical examination could only predict chronic pain to a minor extent. The results from this study shows that both work- and leisure-time-related conditions contribute to the development of chronic neck/shoulder pain among middle aged women.

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Can a metric combining arm elevation and trapezius muscle activity predict neck/shoulder pain? A prospective cohort study in construction and healthcare

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health ◽

10.1007/s00420-020-01610-w ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Suzanne Lerato Merkus ◽

Svend Erik Mathiassen ◽

Lars-Kristian Lunde ◽

Markus Koch ◽

Morten Wærsted ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Shoulder Pain ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Trapezius Muscle ◽

Upper Trapezius ◽

Neck And Shoulder Pain ◽

Upper Trapezius Muscle ◽

Arm Elevation ◽

Uncertain Time

Abstract Objective To determine whether a composite metric of arm elevation and trapezius activity (i.e. neck/shoulder load) is more strongly associated with the 2-year course of neck and shoulder pain intensity (NSPi) among construction and healthcare workers than each exposure separately. Methods Dominant arm elevation and upper trapezius muscle activity were estimated in construction and healthcare employees (n = 118) at baseline, using accelerometry and normalized surface electromyography (%MVE), respectively. At baseline and every 6 months for 2 years, workers reported NSPi (score 0–3). Compositions of working time were determined for arm elevation (< 30°; 30–60°; > 60°), trapezius activity (< 0.5%; 0.5–7.0%; > 7.0%MVE), and a composite metric “neck/shoulder load” (restitution, low, medium, and high load). Associations between each of these three compositions and the 2-year course of NSPi were determined using linear mixed models. Results Associations between exposure compositions and the course of NSPi were all weak and in general uncertain. Time spent in 0.5–7.0%MVE showed the largest and most certain association with changes in NSPi during follow-up (β = − 0.13; p = 0.037; corresponding to a −0.01 change in NPSi every 6 months). Among pain-free workers at baseline, medium (β = − 0.23; p = 0.039) and high (β = 0.15; p = 0.031) neck/shoulder load contributed the most to explaining changes in NSPi. Conclusion The composite metric of neck/shoulder load did not show a stronger association with the course of NSPi than arm elevation or trapezius activity alone in the entire population, while some indications of a stronger association were found among those who were pain-free at baseline.

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