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

Abstract 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.

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Ergonomic intervention to reduce musculoskeletal disorders among flour factory workers

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-203275 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 611-618

Author(s):

Karim Hemati ◽

Zahra Darbandi ◽

Elaheh Kabir-Mokamelkhah ◽

Mohsen Poursadeghiyan ◽

Mohamad Sadegh Ghasemi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Factory Workers ◽

Lower Back ◽

Flour Production ◽

Production Industry ◽

Ergonomic Risk Factors ◽

Ergonomic Intervention ◽

Ergonomic Risk

BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the most common occupational health hazards. In the flour production industry, the fast pace of work, high frequency of repetitive movements, manual handling of loads, and awkward postures put a lot of pressure on the worker’s body. OBJECTIVE: Given the high exposure of the workers of the flour production industry to ergonomic risk factors, this study aimed to reduce the rate of musculoskeletal disorders among a group of flour factory workers through ergonomic interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This interventional study was performed using the census method on the eligible workers of a flour factory. An ergonomic intervention program was planned and implemented with the goal of reducing musculoskeletal disorders. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated by measuring the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders before and six months after the interventions. RESULTS: Before the intervention, musculoskeletal disorders were most prevalent in the lower back, arms, shoulders, legs, thighs, knees, neck and wrists, respectively. Evaluation of the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders after the intervention showed the positive effect of the ergonomic intervention program on musculoskeletal disorders in the neck, shoulders, lower back, thighs, knees, and legs (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Engineering and management interventions implemented in this study led to a significant reduction in the level of ergonomic risk factors and a reduced rate of musculoskeletal disorders among workers of different units in the flour factory.

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Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in highway sanitary workers

Nigerian Journal of Medical Rehabilitation ◽

10.34058/njmr.v18i1.102 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Happiness Anulika Aweto ◽

Oluwatoyosi Babatunde Owoeye ◽

Korede Sunday Adegbite

Keyword(s):

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Body Part ◽

Sudden Onset ◽

Work Related ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Lower Back ◽

Gradual Onset ◽

The Mean ◽

Low Prevalence

Background: Highway sanitary workers are exposed to various health hazards in the course of duty. This study investigated the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among highway sanitary workers in Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos, Nigeria.Method: Two hundred fifty highway sanitary workers (46 males and 204 females) of LAWMA selected from four Local Government Areas of Lagos State, Nigeria completed a 26-item questionnaire that collected information on WMSDs.Results: The 12-month prevalence of WMSDs among the workers was 24.8%. The most commonly affected body part was the lower back (22.0%). Thirty-seven (59.7%) of the respondents reported gradual onset of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) while 25 (40.3%) reported sudden onset. The mean years of working experience was 3.22 + 0.23 years with 111 (44.4%) of the respondents having worked for 4 years and 7 (2.8%) having worked for 1year. The three major job risk factors identified were: continuing to work when injured (87.2%), working in the same position for long periods (53.6%) and lifting heavy materials (52.4%). Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient analysis showed that there were significant relationships between prevalence of WMSDs and age (r = 0.42, p = 0.001*) and years on the job (r = 0.17, p = 0.01*).Conclusion: There was a low prevalence of WMSDs among highway sanitary workers of LAWMA. The most commonly affected body part was the lower back. Increasing age and years of working experience are significant factors that can contribute to the development of WMSDs among these workers.

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Genere violence prevention and collective efficacy in young woman from violent contexts

PSIHOLOGÌÂ Ì SUSPÌLʹSTVO ◽

10.35774/pis2020.02.098 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (80) ◽

pp. 98-107

Author(s):

Sarah-Margarita Chavez-Valdez

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Collective Efficacy ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Affective Responses ◽

Gender Violence ◽

Control Group ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Ex Post

An intervention program with women victims of gender violence is designed and addressed evaluating effects on social effectiveness by analyzing: perceptions, sensations and adverse behaviors that have an impact on their health and reduce their quality of life. Self-regulated group techniques were used. The sample consisted of 66 women, in the age range of 17 to 21 years, 33 women in the treatment group and 33 women in the control group. A workshop was designed to identify risk factors and promote coping strategies for proactive adaptation. For this effect, we worked with a quasi-experimental design using repeated measures, Ex ante (pretest)-intervention-Ex post (posttest), with a control group. It was carried out in a weekend mode for 11 weeks in a 6-hour workshop mode, a total of 66 hours. The intervention addressed pro-social strategies considering risk factors, endemic aspects of violence, among others, modulation of negative cognitive and behavioral processes and of physio-affective responses labeled to lead at risk to the evolution of individual pathologies that normally lead to depression processes, generalized anxiety, chronic stress and post trauma nature. The program exerted significant changes determined by the analysis of variance and of moderate to high effects demonstrated by Cohen’s d, the differences in pre and post-treatment means in pro-social aspects, in terms of risk factors, among others, in the Negative cognitive and behavioral processing and physio-affective responses that shaped traits of generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress in young women.

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Impact of 10-Min Daily Yoga Exercises on Physical and Mental Discomfort of Home-Office Workers During COVID-19

Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ◽

10.1177/00187208211045766 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 001872082110457

Author(s):

Maria-Gabriela Garcia ◽

Melany Estrella ◽

Angie Peñafiel ◽

Paul G. Arauz ◽

Bernard J. Martin

Keyword(s):

Intervention Program ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Mood Disturbance ◽

Office Workers ◽

Control Group ◽

Musculoskeletal Discomfort ◽

Home Office ◽

Lower Back ◽

Yoga Group ◽

Before And After

Objective Evaluate the effects of 10 min/day of yoga for 1 month on musculoskeletal discomfort and mood disturbance of home-office workers. Background The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to switch to teleworking. The abrupt change from an office setting to an improvised home-office may negatively affect the musculoskeletal and emotional health of workers. By providing mental and physical exercises, yoga may be effective in reducing adverse effects. Method Fifty-four participants (42 women, 12 men) followed a 1-month yoga program, while 40 participants (26 women, 14 men) continued with their common work routine. The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire was used to evaluate severity, interference with work and frequency of pain, and to obtain a total discomfort score for 25 body areas. Mood disturbance was evaluated with the Profile of Mood States questionnaire. Both groups completed both questionnaires, before and after the experimentation period. Results After 1 month, for the yoga group only, significant reductions were observed in the discomfort of eyes, head, neck, upper and lower back, right wrist, and hips/buttocks, as well as reductions in discomfort severity, frequency and interference for the neck, upper and lower back. Total mood disturbance was also significantly reduced for the yoga group only. No favorable changes occurred for the control group. Conclusion The yoga intervention program appears to reduce musculoskeletal discomfort and mood disturbance of home-office workers. Application Sedentary workers may benefit from 10 min/day of yoga during the workday to attenuate potential physical and emotional discomfort during the current pandemic and beyond.

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Correlation of Catecholamine Content and Clinical Influencing Factors in Depression among Psoriasis Patients: A Case-Control Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-18642/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hui-Ling Shu ◽

Jing Fang ◽

Deng-Mei Xia ◽

Zheng-Qun Wang ◽

Wen-Yao Mi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Psoriasis Vulgaris ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Control Group ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Dermatology Department ◽

Dopamine Content ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

Abstract Backgroud: This study sought to investigate the clinical influencing factors of patients with psoriasis vulgaris complicated with depression, and to analyze whether the content of monoamine neurotransmitters in plasma was correlated with depression incidence among psoriasis patients. Methods Ninety patients aged 18-60 years with psoriasis vulgaris referred to the dermatology department and 40 healthy volunteers aged 18-60 years referred to the physical examination center of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University were included. Questionnaires were administered in both groups to obtain basic patient information, Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD), and Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS) scores. The questionnaire only for patients with psoriasis vulgaris included the course of disease, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The catecholamine in plasma from the two groups was analyzed by radioimmunoassay. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software. Results: The mean HAMD (P=0.034) and mean AIS scores (P=0.001) of the psoriasis patients were higher than those of the control group, while the mean content of dopamine (P=0.004) and adrenaline in the plasma (P=0.007) of the psoriasis group were lower than those of the control group. Dopamine content in the plasma was lower (comparing psoriasis patients without depression and the control group: P<0.001), and was negatively correlated with HAMD, (P<0.05), AIS (P<0.05), and PASI scores (P<0.05) in the psoriasis patients with depression. There was no significant difference in the epinephrine and norepinephrine contents in all groups. PASI scores were positively correlated with HAMD scores in patients with psoriasis vulgaris, and the mean dopamine content in the patients with depression (P=0.001) was significantly lower than in those without depression. The low dopamine content and high PASI and DLQI scores were the risk factors for depression among the patient population. Conclusion: Psoriasis patients have a significantly higher risk of depression than healthy people, and higher PASI scores were linked to a higher incidence of depression. The dopamine levels of patients were influenced by both psoriasis and depression. The risk factors for depression in psoriasis patients are low dopamine levels in the plasma, severe skin lesions, and lower quality of life.

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Analysis of Risk Factors Related to Acute Subarachnoid Hemorrhage After Spinal Surgery

10.21203/rs.3.rs-800833/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jianquan Zhao ◽

Heng Jiang ◽

Yichen Meng ◽

Rui Gao ◽

Jun Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽

Spinal Surgery ◽

Past History ◽

Control Group ◽

Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Related Factor ◽

Continuous Drainage ◽

Csf Leakage ◽

The Mean

Abstract Study Design: A retrospective single-center study.Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a rare complication secondary to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage during spinal surgery, but the specific cause of the bleeding is still unclear. Objective：In this study, we studied cases of acute SAH after spinal surgery to find the related risk factors for bleeding.Methods: A total of 441 patients with CSF leakage who underwent spinal surgery in [BLINDED FOR REVIEW] from 2011 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether postoperative SAH occurred, they were divided into SAH group and Control group. By comparing the two groups of demographic data, past history, imaging data, intraoperative findings, perioperative complications, treatment conditions to find the risk factors of SAH, to provide guidance for the prevention of SAH after spinal surgery.Results: In SAH group, 17 cases (73.9%) had preoperative hypertension and 3 cases (13.0%) had diabetes. The intraoperative CSF leakage was about 118.4±56.9 ml. The mean postoperative drainage was 15.4±5.8 ml/h; Compared with SAH group, Control group had 123 cases (29.4%) with hypertension before operation, 40 cases (9.6%) with diabetes, intraoperative CSF leakage was about 76.3±23.0ml, and the mean postoperative continuous drainage 9.7±2.1ml/h. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension, intraoperative CSF leakage, and postoperative CSF continuous drainage speed are related to SAH. Conclusion: The rapid leakage of CSF caused by the rupture of the dural sac during operation and the rapid drainage of CSF after surgery are closely related to the occurrence of such complications. In addition, hypertension is a related factor of SAH during spinal surgery.

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Improvement in Healthy Meal Index, Lunch Quality, and Diversity Scores Following an Integrated Nutritional Intervention in a Communal Dining Room: The NEKST Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12061741 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1741

Author(s):

Ofira Katz-Shufan ◽

Tzahit Simon-Tuval ◽

Liron Sabag ◽

Danit R. Shahar

Keyword(s):

Intervention Program ◽

Linear Models ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Nutritional Intervention ◽

Control Group ◽

Integrated Intervention ◽

The Mean ◽

Dining Room

The objective of the NEKST (Nutrition Environmental Kibbutzim Study), a nonrandomized interventional study, was to evaluate the effect of an integrated intervention program on participants’ lunch quality and diversity in two communal dining rooms (intervention n = 58 vs. control n = 54). The intervention included recipe modification, environmental changes, and an education program. The outcomes included simple healthy meal index (SHMI), lunch quality (LQS), and diversity scores (LDS) calculated based on photographs of lunch trays. A nutrition questionnaire assessed the changes in fruit and vegetable intake at baseline and 3 months following the intervention. The mean SHMI, LQS, and LDS increased in the intervention group (0.51, p < 0.001; 0.27, p = 0.045; 0.95, p < 0.001, respectively) but not in the control group (p = 0.865; p = 0.339; p = 0.354, respectively). Multivariable linear models demonstrate an increase in the SHMI (β = 0.26, 95% CI [0.12–0.76], p = 0.015), LQS (β = 0.23, 95% CI [0.06–0.83], p = 0.024), and LDS (β = 0.34, 95% CI [0.41–1.39], p < 0.001) of the participants in the intervention group. More participants in the intervention group raised their daily fruit intake compared with the control. We conclude that this integrated intervention program was effective in improving lunch healthy meal index, quality, and diversity in a communal dining room, with a modest halo effect of the intervention throughout the day.

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Impact of the Groningen Exercise Therapy for Symphony Orchestra Musicians Program on Perceived Physical Competence and Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders of Professional Musicians

Medical Problems of Performing Artists ◽

10.21091/mppa.2003.4028 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 156-160

Author(s):

Mathieu de Greef ◽

Ruud van Wijck ◽

Koop Reynders ◽

Joost Toussaint ◽

Rike Hesseling

Keyword(s):

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Exercise Therapy ◽

Symphony Orchestra ◽

High Rate ◽

Physical Workload ◽

Control Group ◽

Physical Competence ◽

Professional Musicians ◽

Repetitive Motion ◽

Lower Back

The goal of the Groningen Exercise Therapy for Symphony Orchestra Musicians (GETSOM) program is to change the limited repetitive motion and playing habits of musicians and stimulate their motion repertoire to reduce the effects of physical overload. The research was motivated directly by the high rate of absences due to illness in a regional symphony orchestra resulting from playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs). The secondary preventive effects of the GETSOM program on perceived physical competence and PRMDs were studied in a clinical trial in which 45 professional musicians of a symphony orchestra were included and randomized to an experimental (n = 17) and a control group (n = 28). To decrease PRMDs, the GETSOM program focuses on enhancing the perceived physical competence of musicians. The program pays special attention to relaxation, postural exercises for the shoulder, neck, and lower back; and exercises to enhance physical workload and deal with mental stress. Participation in the 15-week GETSOM program has shown a statistically significant (p < 0.05) and clinically relevant (d > 0.20) increase in perceived physical competence and a decrease in PRMDs in the experimental group compared with the control group. According to a multiple regression analysis, 45% of the decrease in PRMDs was explained by an increase in physical competence. There is evidence that the GETSOM program is efficacious in promoting changes in perceived physical competence and a decrease in PRMDs.

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Urinary N-telopeptide: The New Diagnostic Test for Osteoporosis

The Surgery Journal ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1677483 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 05 (01) ◽

pp. e1-e4 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ganesan Ganesan ◽

Phagal Vijayaraghavan

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Standard Deviation ◽

Diagnostic Tool ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Control Group ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

Dxa Scan ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

Context Osteoporosis is a silent disease until it is complicated by trivial fall fractures. There is an increasing interest within the orthopaedic community in the noninvasive cost-effective measurement of the bone mineral density. Aims The aim of the study is to assess whether urinary N-telopeptide level can be a new diagnostic tool in diagnosing osteoporosis. Methods and Material This prospective study was done at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre (SRMC) hospital from October 2015 to October 2017. The study was conducted among patients who comes to SRMC as inpatient or outpatient with suspected osteoporosis and underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan and urinary N-telopeptide. The inclusion criteria were women aged 65 or older, women aged less than 65 with risk factors, younger postmenopausal women with one or more risk factors, men aged 70 or older, men less than 70 with risk factors, and any above group patients who comes within 24 hours following trivial fall fractures. The exclusion criteria were pathological fracture, history of any illness affecting bone metabolism. The results from DXA scan were taken as gold standard against urinary N-telopeptide. Then the patients were divided into two groups control and study. The control group contains patients who had normal DXA, while study group contains patients having either osteopenia or osteoporosis. Based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria, 110 persons were included in the study. We had 60 study and 50 controls patients. We had 88 females and 22 males. The results obtained were statistically analyzed. Statistical Analysis Used The collected data were analyzed with IBM SPSS statistics software 23.0 version. To describe about the data descriptive statistics frequency analysis, percentage analysis was used for categorical variables and the mean and standard deviation were used for continuous variables. To find the significant difference between the bivariate samples in independent groups, the unpaired sample t-test was used. To find the significance in categorical data, chi-square test was used. In both the earlier statistical tools, the probability value of 0.05 is considered as significant level. Results In our study, we had 18.2% osteopenic and 36.4% osteoporotic patients. The mean value of urinary N-telopeptide in control was 49.8 and in case was 182.5. The standard deviation of urinary N-telopeptide value in case was 159.9. Conclusion Urinary N-telopeptide can give reproducible results and be able to assist in the evaluation of the quantity as well as the quality and be a good judge of someone's risk of fracture. Hence, urinary N-telopeptide can be used as a diagnostic tool for diagnosing osteoporosis.

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