scholarly journals Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Dentists and Dental Students in Germany

Author(s):  
Daniela Ohlendorf ◽  
Antonia Naser ◽  
Yvonne Haas ◽  
Jasmin Haenel ◽  
Laura Fraeulin ◽  
...  

Background: Dentists are at a higher risk of suffering from musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) than the general population. However, the latest study investigating MSD in the dental profession in Germany was published about 20 years ago. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the current prevalence of MSD in dentists and dental students in Germany. Methods: The final study size contained 450 (287 f/163 m) subjects of different areas of specialization. The age of the participants ranged from 23 to 75 years. The questionnaire consisted of a modified version of the Nordic Questionnaire, work-related questions from the latest questionnaire of German dentists, typical medical conditions and self-developed questions. Results: The overall prevalence showed that dentists suffered frequently from MSD (seven days: 65.6%, twelve months: 92%, lifetime: 95.8%). The most affected body regions included the neck (42.7%–70.9%–78.4%), shoulders (29.8%–55.6%–66.2%) and lower back (22.9%–45.8%–58.7%). Overall, female participants stated that they suffered from pain significantly more frequently, especially in the neck, shoulders and upper back. Conclusion: The prevalence of MSD among dentists, especially in the neck, shoulder and back area, was significantly higher than in the general population. In addition, women suffered more frequently from MSD than men in almost all body regions.

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
P Bansal ◽  
M Kaur ◽  
AK Sharma

ABSTRACT ERGONOMICS is a way to work smarter - not harder by designing tools, equipment, workstations and tasks to fit the job to the worker-NOT the worker to the job. In the dental profession, dentists spend their work days in an awkward static position performing extremely precise procedures in a 2“×2 ½” workspace-the patient's mouth. Therefore, they are at a greater risk of work- related musculoskeletal disorders than is the general population. These disorders can result in pain and dysfunction of neck, back and hands and fingers. This article is aimed at providing some interventions that can considered by the dentists in light of their own experience and needs. It also discusses the important issues of posture and offers different exercises to work with comfort, efficiency and ease. A broad research of published literature was performed using the keyword ergonomics, MSD's and stretches from 1983- 2016 in google scholar, internet and text books.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heena Naz ◽  
Seema Kwatra ◽  
Pragya Ojha

Long hours of static work with awkward working postures at traditionally designed looms can cause high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among handloom weavers. Because of incompatible working situations handloom weaver in textile industries are confronting with many work related musculoskeletal problems related to pain and discomfort in upper and lower extremities. Keeping this in view, the present study was planned to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and postural discomfort among handloom weavers. For this study, 64 (male and female) handloom weavers aged 20-55 years were selected randomly from Almora and Nainital districts of Uttarakhand state. To collect the information, standardized Nordic questionnaire was used to assess pain and discomfort in different body regions of handloom weavers. It was observed that those workers worked continuously in awkward postures during weaving activities. Consequently they suffered from high discomfort in their different body parts. High rate of pain and musculoskeletal disorder was most prevalent in right wrist, left wrist, hip/thigh, neck and lower back of the workers. The data reveled that since last 12 months, total 76.56 percent workers were suffered with pain and discomfort in right hand and 73.44 percent workers had pain and discomfort in both elbows. During last month, 73.44 percent workers were suffered with pain and discomfort in upper back because of awkward working postures whereas during 7 days, total 59.38 percent workers had pain in lower back. The study indicates that the traditional handloom weaving demands immediate ergonomic intervention in the workstation and process design.


2019 ◽  
Vol 90 ◽  
pp. 03001
Author(s):  
Johari Anwar ◽  
Abdul Hamid Nurul Haznita ◽  
Kamaruddin Mohd Johari ◽  
Hassim Mimi Haryani ◽  
Ngadi Norzita ◽  
...  

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are often experienced by welders in the shipyard industry. A study was conducted in one of the shipyards in Malaysia to identify the prevalence of work-related MSDs among welders and the factors attributed to its increase in the workplace. The investigation was carried out using a modified Nordic questionnaire, in which 27 shipyard welders were interviewed. The questions ranged from demographic information to the prevalence of MSDs on parts of body region experiencing discomfort and pain. The results showed that the most affected body regions were neck, upper back, and lower back, which comprised of 74.1%, 70.4%, and 63.0%, respectively, of the respondents being interviewed. A further in-depth study was conducted for the three most affected body regions with respect to work activities such as working posture, repetitive work, and lifting of heavy objects during welding. The frequency of prevalence of work-related MSDs on these body regions experienced by the welders showed that 25.9% of the respondents had frequently encountered neck pain and another 11.1% of them sometimes experienced discomfort while performing repetitive actions. The study also showed that 22.2% of the respondents sometimes experienced shoulder pain whereas 3.7% of them had reported to seldom encountered it when performing welding operation in awkward positions. Almost half of the respondents (i.e., 48.50%) experienced discomfort and pain for both elbow/hand and wrist when lifting objects heavier than 5 kg.


Author(s):  
Happiness Anulika Aweto ◽  
Oluwatoyosi Babatunde Owoeye ◽  
Korede Sunday Adegbite

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Barthelme ◽  
Martha Sauter ◽  
Charlotte Mueller ◽  
Falk Liebers

Abstract Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of work-related sick leave and incur substantial socioeconomic costs. With the aging of our society and employees, the problem is exacerbating, and prevention is becoming increasingly important. According to previous studies, exposure to awkward postures, such as overhead work, is associated with musculoskeletal problems. Objective: This study aimed to determine the current prevalence of employees who work in awkward postures, specifically overhead, stratified by age, gender and occupation in the context of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey and to analyze associations between awkward working postures, in particular overhead work, and pain in the shoulder region. Method: The study is based on secondary data from the German 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey . We have included 14,327 of the 20,012 employees aged between 15 and 67 who work at least 35 hours per week who took part in the survey. The classification of participants in occupational groups is based on the Blossfeld classification. The multivariate analysis was conducted by applying robust Poisson regression models adjusted block by block to obtain the relation between the self-reported frequency of working in awkward postures, in particular overhead work, and the occurrence of arm and neck/shoulder pain. Prevalence ratios (PR) are reported as effect estimates. Results: 12.6 % of participants indicated that they are often exposed to awkward postures at work; 5 % stated they often performed overhead work. The majority of these employees work in agricultural, unskilled, and skilled manual occupations. The crude prevalence is 17.4 % for arm pain and 48.4 % for neck and shoulder pain. If subjects reported that they often performed overhead work, the risk of arm pain increased by 18 % (PR 1.18, CI 1.04 – 1.34, final model). Conclusion: Working in awkward postures, especially overhead work, is a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders in the arms. The development of prevention strategies should focus on the workforce in agricultural, unskilled and skilled manual occupations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Tegern ◽  
Ulrika Aasa ◽  
Björn O. Äng ◽  
Helena Larsson

Abstract Background The high numbers of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among soldiers in the Swedish Armed Forces has led to the implementation of an effective prevention program, the musculoskeletal screening protocol (MSP), including questionnaires, physical tests and individual intervention of their MSD. A corresponding MSP for the Swedish Air Force is also needed due to earlier reported high prevalence of MSD. We therefore investigated the prevalence of MSD in Swedish Air Force personnel (AF) and compared this to Swedish Army deployed soldiers (DS). Individual, health- and work-related factors associated with MSD were also investigated. Methods Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study on 166 male AF and 185 DS. AF consisted of fighter pilots, helicopter pilots and rear crew from one Swedish air base. Results The one-year and point prevalence, respectively, of MSD were significantly higher for AF compared to DS with regard to both the upper quarter of the body (i.e. neck, shoulder and thoracic regions) (AF = 54.8 and 31.3%, DS = 26.1 and 13.6%, p = 0.01) and the lumbar region (AF = 38.0 and 18.7%, DS = 22.2 and 7.1%, p = 0.00). No significant differences were present between fighter pilots, helicopter pilots and rear crew regarding MSD prevalence. Factors significantly associated with having both upper quarter and lumbar regions MSD were group (i.e. greater odds for AF than DS) and self-reported physical health as less than excellent. Additionally, being older and taller were also factors associated with lumbar region MSD. Discussion Despite a generally healthy lifestyle, MSD were commonly reported by AF and DS, with generally higher prevalence in AF who mainly reported MSD in the upper quarter of the body. The results from this study indicate that the MSP can be a meaningful tool to prevent MSD in air force personnel and that questions regarding general health and MSD in specific body regions should be included in screening protocols. The development of the preventive program MSP is therefore recommended for the Swedish Air Force.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-208
Author(s):  
Seyyedeh Haniyeh Mousavibaghi ◽  
◽  
Kamran Ezzati ◽  
Mahmood Abedinzade ◽  
Sadegh MoshtaghiKoojel ◽  
...  

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the prevalent occupational injuries and disabilities in developing countries. Objectives: The current study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among surgery technicians. Materials & Methods: samples (n=179) of this analytical and cross-sectional study were selected using a census method among the surgical technicians who had at least one year of work experience. The disorders of different parts of their bodies were evaluated by Nordic questionnaire, and the risk of catching the musculoskeletal disorders was assessed using quick exposure check method. Statistical analyses were done in SPSS V. 16. Results: According to the Nordic questionnaire, the most prevalent work-related disorders in the past year were found in the back (71.5%), neck (57%), wrist (50.8%), and shoulder (49.7%) of the study subjects. The quick exposure check results showed that the level of exposure to musculoskeletal risks was in action level one for 32.4% of the surgery technicians, and action level three for 33% of them. This study showed associations between the prevalence of work-related symptoms in different body regions and some individual and occupational characteristics (P<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) is high among surgical technicians and lumbar disorders are the most common types. Risk factors for MSDs include undesirable physical posture, weight, time spent for shifting loads, excessive force applied by one or both hands at work, working speed, and staff stress levels. among near half of the studied surgical technicians, there were high and very high risks for injury, indicating the vulnerable condition and environment of this job.


Author(s):  
Maria Carolina Barreto Moreira Couto ◽  
Ila Rocha Falcão ◽  
Juliana dos Santos Müller ◽  
Ivone Batista Alves ◽  
Wendel da Silva Viana ◽  
...  

Lower back musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are an important public health problem and the leading cause of disability worldwide, but with prevalence yet unknown among shellfish gatherers. To investigate the prevalence and work-related factors associated with lower back MSD in a population of female shellfish gatherers, an epidemiological cross-sectional study was carried out in Saubara, Bahia &ndash; Brazil, in 2013. The Brazilian version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), in addition to a questionnaire containing the physical demands adapted to the artisanal work, were applied to a random sample of 209 female shellfish gatherers. The prevalence of lower back MSD was 72.7%. Using multivariate logistic regression, the shellfish gatherers who had worked for more than 26 years in the activity showed a prevalence of 1.22 (95% CI: 1.04-1.44) times higher compared to those unexposed. Lower back MSD was 1.24 (95%CI: 1.08-1.42) times higher among those more exposed to work sitting with trunk flexion. Those performed manual handling and muscle force with the arms had a prevalence ratio of 1.18 (95%CI: 1.01-1.39). These results show the need for greater awareness of health and social welfare factors impacting workers in small-scale fisheries and will promote the elaboration of health care policies for this occupational class.


Author(s):  
Siavash Etemadinezhad ◽  
Fateme Ranjbar ◽  
Jamshid Yazdani Charati

Background and purpose: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders usually entangle back spines, neck and upper limbs. Working as a barber paves the ground for probable high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. This study was designed to evaluate the working postures of sari male barbers by Rapid Entire Body Assessment method and determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders using NORDIC questionnaire.Methods: In the present research, 108 Sari barbers working conditions were evaluated using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) tool, and the data on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was collected using Nordic questionnaire. Microsoft Excel and SPSS were then applied to analyze the data. Quantitative variables were analyzed using the descriptive statistical methods including mean and standard deviation. Chi-square test and ordinal regression have also been applied to analyze the relationship between different variables and musculoskeletal disorders' prevalence.Results: The mean age the participants was 33.11±8.2 and the mean of work experience was 12±3.7 years. According to the results of the Nordic questionnaire, during 12 past months, 78% of the studied subjects have discovered pain and discomfort at least in one of their 9 body regions. Complaints of musculoskeletal pains in the wrist were also most prevalent (72.1%), followed by the neck (49%) and elbow pains (46.2%). Through REBA Method, the highest frequency of corrective measures was at level 2 (73.9%).Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that the evaluated subjects working postures required correction. Also, it was found essential to train barbers in what way to identify the biomechanical and ergonomic risk factors and correct working postures.


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