scholarly journals Functional capacity associated with work ability in older university staff employed by the state

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-690
Author(s):  
Juleimar Soares Coelho de Amorim ◽  
Celita Salmaso Trelha

Abstract Introduction: The increase in numbers of older adults in the workplace and in the number of years they spend in work prior to retiring has challenged health professionals to provide enable health conditions such that they may undertake occupational activity. Objective: To analyze the variables for functional ability, associated with work ability, in older adults who were government employees at a university. Methods: A cross-sectional design, with older workers aged 60 years old or over, located in different university centers and departments. A structured sociodemographic questionnaire was used to characterize the sample, and the Work Ability Index was used as an outcome variable for the associations, using the Timed Up and Go test, the handgrip strength test, the walking speed test and the chair sit to stand test. The Chi-squared test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used in the statistical analysis. The association of the factors of functional capacity was based on the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, calculated using the Logistic Regression Model, as part of the SPSS statistical package for Windows. Results: A total of 258 staff participated in the investigation, with men (57.7%) and a lower age range (60 to 62 years old) predominating. Women differed in relation to falls after the age of 60 (p = 0.007) and in the last 12 months (p = 0.017). The mean Work Ability Index was 39.70 ± 5.64 points and a statistical association was ascertained between performance in the chair sit to stand test (OR = 2.26; p = 0.043). Muscle strength (r = 0.72; p < 0.000) and the chair sit to stand test (r = 0.73; p < 0.000) showed excellent correlation with work ability. Conclusion: The variables for functional capacity were associated with work ability.

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosimeire S. Padula ◽  
Maria L. C. Comper ◽  
Suzana A. Moraes ◽  
Catherine Sabbagh ◽  
Wagner Pagliato Junior ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
LEILA IBRAHIMI GHAVAMABADI1 ◽  
BEHZAD FOULADI DEHAGHI ◽  
BEHNOUSH JAFARI

Shift work is a social phenomenon with adverse effects on the lives and health of people in various aspects. This adverse effect decreases shift workers’ ability over a time period. The aim of the present study was to survey disturbances due to shift work and some disorders associated with work ability index among nurses in educational hospitals, Ahvaz, Iran. This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 33 nurses at the Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran. The survey of shift workers questionnaire (SOS) and the Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire was used as data collection tools. The related data was analyzed based on the descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test, and Spearman correlation test using IBM SPSS software version 19. The results showed that 97% of problems related to the effects of shift work on the individuals’ lives, families, and musculoskeletal disorders, 87.9% related to insomnia and social problems, and 75.8% related to mental disorders. Although it showed a significant relationship between the workability index with the variable of experience and mental disorders, it showed no significant relationship between the prevalence of insomnia and musculoskeletal disorders variables. The results of this study showed that shift working disrupts mental, social, and physical health that ultimately adversely affect the ability of shift workers. Therefore, it was recommended to adjust working hours and allocate the appropriate shifts to improve the workability of individuals.


2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1135-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei Yong ◽  
Michael Nasterlack ◽  
Rolf-Peter Pluto ◽  
Kathrin Elmerich ◽  
Dorothee Karl ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Yasmín Ezzatvar ◽  
Joaquín Calatayud ◽  
Lars Louis Andersen ◽  
Edgar Ramos Vieira ◽  
Rubén López-Bueno ◽  
...  

The Work Ability Index (WAI) is a validated and widely used tool in occupational research. However, normative values for physical therapists (PTs) by age and sex are lacking. Although the nature of PTs’ work is physically demanding, it is unknown whether muscular fitness is associated with their WAI. This study sought to provide reference WAI data for Spanish PTs and to evaluate the association between PTs’ muscular fitness and WAI. Data on WAI of 1005 PTs were collected using a questionnaire. A subgroup (n = 68) performed a battery of physical tests including grip strength, push-ups and back-extension endurance. Associations between muscular fitness and WAI were evaluated using logistic regression controlling for various confounders. PTs aged 50 years or older had lower WAI scores than their younger counterparts. PTs with high back-extension endurance scored 3.5 (95% CI) higher in the WAI than those with low endurance. No associations were found between grip strength or number of push-ups and WAI. Our findings seem to highlight the importance of muscular fitness in PTs, especially the back-extension endurance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamunur Rashid ◽  
Marina Heiden ◽  
Annika Nilsson ◽  
Marja-Leena Kristofferzon

Abstract Background Impaired work ability and reduced life satisfaction due to long-term musculoskeletal pain, particularly in neck, shoulders and back, are considered occupational health problems that can result in workers taking sick leave. The aim of the study was to determine whether work ability and life satisfaction predict return to work (RTW) among women with long-term neck/shoulder and/or back pain, and to assess the ability of the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-11) to discriminate between those who did RTW and those who did not RTW (NRTW). Methods This is a cohort study with 1-year follow-up. A survey was sent to 600 women receiving sick leave benefits from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. In total, 208 women responded at baseline, and 141 at a 1-year follow-up. To identify whether work ability and life satisfaction predicted RTW, multiple logistic regression analyses were performed with and without adjustment for type of work and pain intensity. To assess the discriminative ability of the WAI and the LiSat-11 for women who did RTW and those who did NRTW, receiver operating characteristic curves were fitted. Results Work ability predicted RTW, and the results remained significant after adjusting for type of work and pain intensity (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04–1.22). Life satisfaction was not significant. The WAI at baseline adequately discriminated between RTW and NRTW after 1 year (Area under curve 0.78, 95% CI: 0.70–0.86), but the LiSat-11 did not. Conclusions This study supports a relationship between work ability and RTW among women on sick leave for long-term neck/shoulder and/or back pain. The results indicate that the WAI, but not the LiSat-11, can discriminate between RTW and NRTW in the population under study. Although the discriminative ability of the WAI needs to be verified in new samples before it can be recommended for use in rehabilitation settings, we suggest that healthcare professionals consider how women perceive their work ability in order to better support them in their RTW.


2012 ◽  
pp. 61-69
Author(s):  
Juhani Ilmarinen

La work ability e l'age management vantano una lunga storia in Finlandia. La ricerca sulla work ability ha preso avvio nei primi anni '80, con l'obiettivo di studiare quanto a lungo le persone sono in grado di lavorare. Poiché i manager rive- stono il ruolo centrale nel determinare i cambiamenti della work ability, all'inizio degli anni '90 č stato introdotto il concetto di age management. I piů recenti sviluppi delle attivitŕ realizzate in Finlandia si sono concentrati sulla realizzazione di indagini nazionali che utilizzano il work ability index e sullo sviluppo di soluzioni di training, coaching e consulenza rivolte alle organizzazioni. I trent'anni di esperienza sulla work ability e i venti sull'age management, che dalla Finlandia si sono estesi a diverse parti del globo, garantiscono oggi una base empirica alla dimostrazione della possibilitŕ di avere una vita lavorativa migliore e piů estesa.


Author(s):  
Gabriele Freude ◽  
Rainer Tielsch ◽  
Benita Gauggel ◽  
Bernd M√ºller ◽  
J√ºrgen Tempel ◽  
...  

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