Maryam Rafiee, Farhad Tabatabai Ghomsheh, Reza Osquei Zadeh, Mohsen Vahedi, Hadi Mahmoodi Sharafe,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Health workers are the frontline of the fight against Coronavirus. During the Pandemic, these jobs, which had a lot of referrals, were under high work pressure, that can increase the chances of suffering from musculoskeletal disorders and affect their working ability. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between work ability and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the staff of Saveh's comprehensive urban and rural health service centers during the Corona Pandemic in 2022.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 197 employees of comprehensive urban and rural health service centers in Saveh city were randomly selected. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and working ability were evaluated by the developed Nordic questionnaire and WAI (Work Ability Index), respectively. Data analysis was done using Pearson correlation coefficient tests and Two-way logistic regression.
Results: The average working ability of employees was equal to 34.86 ± 7.61. The most common areas involved in musculoskeletal disorders were the back (63%), neck (30%) and knees (17.8%) with the frequency of 125, 63 and 39 people, respectively. The index of working ability on musculoskeletal disorders in hip and thigh, hand and wrist, neck and back areas was significant (P ≤ 0.05). Also, the working ability was lower in cases with a history of corona virus infection (P = 0.001).
Conclusion: Considering the effect of working ability on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, it is suggested that during the COVID-19 epidemic, identification of factors affecting the reduction of work ability and the implementation of ergonomic interventions should be prioritized.
Ali Akbar Sufizadeh, Mehrdad Anbarian,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders among smartphone users. The purpose of the present study was to compare the immediate effects of rest and McKenzie exercise on pain level and disability index among individuals who complained of pain and discomfort in the neck after using a smartphone.
Methods: Ten males and 14 females with an average age of 25.71 years, who complained of pain and discomfort in the neck after using a smartphone, participated in this clinical trial study. During two consecutive days, they received conservative interventions including rest and Mackenzie exercise. The duration of each intervention was one session. The level of pain and disability was measured with the visual analog scale (VAS) and the neck disability index questionnaire before starting the treatment (immediately after using the smartphone), and after performing rest interventions and McKenzie exercises. The data were analyzed by ANOVA with repeated measures (P < 0.05).
Results: Subjects reported lower levels of pain and disability following both intervention methods (rest and McKenzie exercise) compared to before the start of the treatment period. The Cohen's d effect size index showed the high effectiveness of Mckenzie's exercise compared to the resting condition on the level of pain and disability.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that McKenzie's exercise can more effectively decrease the amount of pain and disability in the neck and shoulder areas following the use of a smartphone compared to rest.
Hossein Saremi, Saideh Sadat Mortazavi, Sima Naderifar, Homa Naderifar, Amir Shamlou-Kazemi, Salman Khazaei,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Abstract: Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the three major disabling diseases in the world. However, the burden of disease in Iran is not yet well-known. Due to the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in students, prevention and control policies should focus on students and health interventions should be carried out based on risk factors. Musculoskeletal problems impose significant economic costs on health and indirectly affect the productivity of people. Therefore, it is essential to provide new approaches aimed at maintaining and improving musculoskeletal health and preventing and managing diseases.
Abbasali Jafari Nodoushan, Amirabbas Abouei Mehrizi, Fateme Sadat Mosavi Nodoushan,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: COVID-19 virus pandemic and quarantine implementation have different effects on students' psychological aspects and musculoskeletal disorders. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 virus on musculoskeletal disorders and the mental health of Meybod University students.
Methods: For this purpose, a random sample of 350 students of Meybod University was selected in 2021. Data were collected based on three questionnaires Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorders, Mental Health, and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale. The Logistic regression and Chi-square test.
Results: The results showed that the anxiety caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has a significant effect on students' mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused musculoskeletal disorders in most parts of the student body. The grade, exercise, daily sports, and the number of people infected with the virus are the variables that significantly affect organ disorders and the mental health of students in this condition.
Conclusion: Due to the importance of students' physical and mental health, it is necessary to plan students' classrooms properly. Also, with virus outbreaks and the need to comply with restrictions, planning for sports and simple stretching exercises can reduce disorders and increase students' vitality.
Fereshteh Hosseini, Mehrnaz Haghighi, Seifollah Gharib,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Effectiveness assessment of multifaceted long-term ergonomics interventions in an automotive company Introduction: Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders requires evaluation and improvement of work situations using ergonomic posture assessment methods. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of multifaceted and long-term ergonomic interventions in a developing automobile manufacturing company using the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) method.
Methods: A long-term multifaceted intervention study was conducted on 70 office employees of an automotive engineering service company in three stages from 2016 to 2022. Interventions were carried out according to the scores obtained in the sub-areas of the ROSA method including chair, mouse and keyboard, telephone, and monitor. The interventions included technical-engineering and educational interventions. Finally, descriptive statistics and paired t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data.
Results: The average score of ROSA in 2016 was 5.9 with a standard deviation of 0.66, while the average score of ROSA in 2022 was 3.85 with a standard deviation of 1.19. There was a statistically significant difference between the final score of ROSA in 2016 and 2022 (P < 0.001). Statistical tests showed that only the technical-engineering intervention had a significant effect on the ROSA final score.
Conclusion: The results of the present study have shown a favorable reduction in the final risk level of the physical condition of the employees during work due to the improvement of the physical condition as a result of the technical-engineering intervention along with the educational intervention in accordance with the components of the ROSA method.
Majid Shahbazi, Hossein Rafsanjani Dehqazi,
Volume 11, Issue 1 (5-2023)
Abstract
Sinaz Niazi, Farzaneh Gandomi, Laila Ghazaleh, Parviz Soufivand,
Volume 11, Issue 1 (5-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Chronic neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders that has a great impact on people's quality of life, health, and work efficiency. Due to the high costs of drug treatments, the search for simple and low-cost treatment solutions is inevitable. Stretching and tissue release techniques are effective solutions for correcting skeletal-muscular disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate their effectiveness in controlling pain and improving the performance of people suffering from non-specific chronic neck pain.
Methods: In this semi-experimental study with parallel groups and pre-test-post-test design, 39 patients with non-specific chronic neck pain with an average age of 25 to 45 years, in a non-random and available form, were selected from the office workers. Individuals were randomly assigned into three groups of traction stretch, release, and control, and received interventions for six weeks. At the beginning and after the completion of the interventions, pain intensity, qualitative fatigue, and quality of life were evaluated using the visual measure of pain, multidimensional fatigue questionnaire, and SF36 questionnaire, respectively. To compare the averages, one way ANCOVA a mixed analysis of variance test was used.
Results: Intra-group comparisons showed that pain intensity, quality of life, and fatigue improved significantly in both intervention groups (P<0.05). Stretching and release exercises both had a significant effect on improving the variables (P<0.05). However, the results of the release exercises group were more significant.
Conclusion: Six weeks of releasing and stretching techniques in non-specific chronic neck pain patients reduces pain and fatigue and increases their quality of life.
Zahra Akbari-Chehrehbargh, Niloofar Navaei, Hamidreza Navaei,
Volume 11, Issue 1 (5-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Scientific evidence shows that artistic activities, such as playing music, can put individuals at risk for specific musculoskeletal injuries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and location of musculoskeletal injuries among Iranian music students and musicians, as well as to identify the related risk factors for their occurrence.
Methods: To find published studies without time limitations, a detailed search was conducted in databases including Pubmed, Scopus, Google Scholar, the Scientific Information Database (SID), and Magiran using appropriate keywords. In this investigation, we only reviewed cross-sectional studies that were available to explore the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and their related risk factors among eligible music students and musicians from Iran. Review articles with less than five participants and articles written in languages other than English and Persian were excluded from the study.
Results: Out of 19 studies found, after removing duplicates and similar studies, 7 cross-sectional descriptive-analytical studies with a sample size of 1,444 eligible participants were reviewed. The prevalence of injuries ranged from 53% to 65%. The most common area of pain was the neck and shoulders, which were present in all types of instruments. Being female was a predisposing factor for musculoskeletal problems in musicians.
Conclusion: Iranian music students and musicians often suffer from musculoskeletal injuries. The most common areas of the body where these injuries occur are the neck and shoulders. There are multiple risk factors, such as age, improper posture, and duration of training, for musculoskeletal injuries in this population.
Mehran Maleki Roveshti, Mehdi Raei, Firouz Valipour,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders are an important issue in many healthcare work environments. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate musculoskeletal disorders and occupational risk factors on the physical status of medical staff in Iran.
Methods: In this systematic review, eligible studies from national and international databases, such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, SID, Magiran and IranMedex from 1390 to 1400 were independently analyzed by two researchers based on the preferred reporting cases of the Guidelines for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) . MeSH keywords and phrases were used to implement the search strategy.
Results: Of the 360 articles, the full text of 24 articles was finally examined. The results of the study showed that the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal abnormalities and complaints among workers in the last 12 months was related to neck pain (46.01%). Furthermore, among the 24 occupational risk factors identified, prolonged standing (20.83%) and repetitive movements (16.66%) are the most important factors for the occurrence of physical complaints among healthcare workers.
Conclusion: The results of this study can play an important role in strengthening and improving the country's health system in terms of individual, administrative and organizational measures in health centers. In this way, the physical needs, the psychological and ergonomic stresses of the working environment and the health of the treatment staff can be improved.
Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, Armin Lahouri, Ataalah Barati, Hadi Miri,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: In today's advanced world, musculoskeletal problems are among the most serious problems. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between ergonomics and postural abnormalities in manufacturing workers.
Methods: The statistical population of this research consists of 210 male employees working in two production units. Among this population, 134 cases were included in the study according to Morgan's table and based on the inclusion criteria. The pain in different parts of the body was assessed by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) was utilized to evaluate workplace ergonomics, and the body posture was evaluated by the New York Posture Rating. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 26). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to investigate the normality of data distribution. Moreover, a linear regression statistical test was utilized to assess the relationship between research variables. The significance level was set at <0.05.
Results: The obtained results pointed to a significant and negative relationship between the ergonomics score and the physical condition assessment (P=0.00; R=0.60). In addition, the results highlighted the presence of skeletal-muscular disorders in different parts of the body, with the highest prevalence in the back (53.73%).
Conclusion: According to the high and negative correlation of the variables, it was found that unfavorable ergonomic conditions can lead to poor physical condition and numerous musculoskeletal consequences.
Atefeh Elyasi Gomari, Behzad Fouladi Dehaghi, Saeed Ghanbari, Abbas Mohammadi,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are widespread and important health and social problems in industrialised society, reducing productivity, increasing treatment costs and affecting the quality of life of workers. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of workload, fatigue, sleep quality and physical condition on musculoskeletal disorders among workers in the steel industry.
Methods: The present study is a descriptive and analytical study conducted on a population of 540 workers working in the steel industry in the city of Dezful. Based on simple random sampling, 400 people were selected as samples. The instruments used in this study are the Demographic Information Questionnaire, the Cornell Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire (CMDQ), the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory(SOFI), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality (PSQI) and the NASA-TLX workload index. The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) was used. Descriptive statistical indices were used to analyze the data, and the relationships between observed and hidden variables were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM) The data were analyzed at a significance level of 0.05 and in SPSS software version 25.
Results: According to the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, back pain ranked first with a mean and standard deviation of 52.39±25.44 and knee pain ranked second with a mean and standard deviation of 46.46±26.45, indicating that the prevalence of these disorders is high among steel industry workers. The results of the correlation analysis showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between workload, fatigue, sleep quality and body condition and musculoskeletal disorders (p<0.05). The RMSEA index of less than 0.1 shows that the model proposed in this study fits well and demonstrates the role of workload variables, fatigue, sleep quality and body position in the direct and indirect causation of musculoskeletal disorders.
Conclusion: The results of this study show that improving workplace ergonomics, reducing workload and fatigue, and improving sleep quality can reduce the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders in workers.
Yousef Ghanbari, Farzaneh Gandomi,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders and associated pains are represent significant and prevalent factors contributing to occupational injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of online upper cross syndrome-based exercises and the posture retraining on pain, disability, fatigue, and mental workload of experienced by dentists in Shahrekord city.
Methods: A total of 33 dentists were selected as the statistical sample and randomly assigned to three groups including, control (n = 11), Online National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) based corrective exercises (n=11), and posture retraining (n=11) groups. Baseline assessments were conducted, and outcomes were examined immidietly after the interventions. The experimental groups underwent the study interventions for six weeks, while the control group maintained their regular daily activities during this period. Primary outcome measure was pain, and secondary measures included disability, perceptual fatigue, mental workload, and quality of life. Within-group comparisons were analyzed using paired sample t-tests, and between-group comparisons utilized one-way analysis of variance.
Results: The results indicated that both exercise interventions positively affected pain, disability, perceptual fatigue, mental workload, and quality of life among dentists (P<0.05). Notably, correction of the upper crossed syndrome demonstrated a more significant effect compared to the posture retraining intervention (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The utilization of online NASM-based corrective exercises and posture retraining could have positive effects in reducing pain and disability and also improving the overall performance of dentists.
Mohsen Arefian, Fatemeh Raeesi, Mohammadjavad Hadianfard,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Work-related musculoskeletal pains (WMSPs) are considered one of the major factors affecting the quantity and quality of work and threatening the physical and psychological health of employees. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and prediction of WMSPs based on body posture, work-related stress, mental health, and psychological flexibility among the employees of an industrial company in Shiraz.
Methods: To this end, among the employees of an industrial company in 2023, 147 people (51 women and 96 men) were selected and evaluated by 1. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, 2. Quick Exposure Check, 3. Effort-Reward Imbalance questionnaire, 4. General Health Questionnaire, and 5. Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 26) using regression analysis test.
Results: Descriptive findings demonstrated that the most common WMSPs in the sample group were back pain(76.19%), neck pain (69.38%), and lower back pain (56.46). Moreover, the mean hours of physical exercise per week were significantly associated with WMSPs (P<0.05). Based on the findings, body posture had the greatest ability to predict neck, shoulder, hand, and back pain (P<0.01). Furthermore, work-related stress, mental health, and psychological flexibility significantly predicted WMSPs (P<0.05).
Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, body posture education may contribute greatly to the mitigation of WMSPs.Moreover, work-related stress management and the promotion of employees’ psychological flexibility will reduce WMSPs.
Mousa Nazari, Arezoo Sammak Amani, Mohammad Amin Mououdi, Mohammad Mahdi Alyan Nezhadi,
Volume 11, Issue 4 (1-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Work-related musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are the most significant challenges in both developing and developed countries, affecting the majority of individuals throughout their lives. Considering the detrimental effects of musculoskeletal disorders on the productivity and general health of employees, this research utilizes the Cornell Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire (CMDQ) to develop an intelligent model for assessing and predicting the levels of musculoskeletal disorders.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 810 employees from five organizations (in four occupational categories, including administrative, technical, production, and services) completed the CMDQ voluntarily. After collecting the questionnaire and performing relevant statistical analyses, data normalization and clustering based on the K-Means method were used to determine levels of musculoskeletal disorders. Finally, the multilayer perceptron artificial neural network was trained to predict the levels of musculoskeletal disorders; moreover, the criteria of precision, accuracy, recall, and F1-score were used to evaluate the proposed model.
Results: The performance of the proposed model in predicting the levels of musculoskeletal disorders is presented in two scenarios (use and non-use of the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) method) based on the evaluation criteria provided. The accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score values were 0.724, 0.709, 0.756, and 0.720, respectively. The appropriate accuracy and precision in the proposed model indicate its capability to identify the levels of musculoskeletal disorders in individuals and help healthcare professionals take necessary measures to prevent and predict them.
Conclusion: This study employs the CMDQ questionnaire and artificial intelligence to analyze musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. The proposed model demonstrates significant accuracy and precision compared to similar studies. The results indicate that this model can be utilized to identify and predict musculoskeletal disorders in organizational employees, offering the potential to expedite the identification process and reduce costs.
Sina Ghasemi, Behzad Imani, Ramin Rahmani, Shirdel Zandi,
Volume 11, Issue 4 (1-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the common problems in most work environments and work ability is considered a factor affecting the performance and productivity of employees. In the present study, the status of these two components and their relationship with each other in the staff working in the operating room were investigated.
Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted in the winter of 2023. In this research, 96 employees working in the operating rooms of government hospitals in Hamadan, Iran were enrolled by census sampling method based on the inclusion criteria. The data were collected through the Nordic standard questionnaire and the work ability index questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) at two levels of descriptive (frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential (t-test) statistics.
Results: In this study, 4 (4.2%) of the participants had one musculoskeletal disorder and the remaining 91 personnel (95.8%) had more than one disorder in their musculoskeletal systems. Average work ability index was 42.3±04.91. The results of the independent t-test showed that the work ability index among people with pain in the neck (P=0.003), shoulders (P=0.001), elbows (P=0.038), back (P=0.011), knees (P=0.001), and legs (P=0.002) were less than those without pain in these organs.
Conclusion: Results indicated the need to pay more attention to the implementation of ergonomic work environment and management interventions to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and thereby increase the efficiency and effectiveness of personnel.
Seyeydeh Hasti Sadati, Mehdi Asghari, Maedeh Moradi Farahani,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (4-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Awkward posture is a primary cause of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the dental profession due to the nature of dental activities. This study aimed to examine both observational and device-assisted posture assessment methods used to study dental professionals as well as the reported prevalence of MSDs among them.
Methods: A search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases for studies performed from 2000 to 2021 using specified keywords. In total, 31 out of the 541 articles found in the initial search were finally included in this study after the exclusion of ineligible articles, duplicates, conference presentations, systematic reviews, and letters to the editor.
Results: Based on the findings, the neck (58%), back and waist (54.9%), and shoulder and hand (29%) areas had the highest reported pain and disorder. Several posture evaluation methods, namely Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (19.4%), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (19.4%), Electromyography (EMG, 13.8%), and Quick Exposure Check (QEC, 8.3%), were the most frequently used methods among all 17 methods employed in the studies.
Conclusion: Among the observational methods, the QEC method was the most practical one as it considered the experiences of dentists and various dimensions of dental tasks. Moreover, the EMG method was the most suitable device-assisted method for the assessment of posture in dentists. The use of questionnaires in conjunction with evaluation methods appears to enhance the understanding and effectiveness of posture assessment.
Behzad Fouladi Dehaghi, Abbas Mohammadi, Marzieh Sadeghian, Maryam Tayebi, Azarnoosh Aryankia, Saeed Ghanbari,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (4-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems related to mobile phone usage and provide corrective solutions for dental students of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz.
Methods: The current study was conducted based on an analytical cross-sectional design. In order to collect relevant data, such as the presence of pain in the upper limbs, back, and neck, questionnaires and instrumental methods were used. Students were examined in two groups: the first group included 150 dental students up to the 4th semester, and the second group encompassed 150 dental students from the 5th semester onwards (3rd, 8th, 5th, and 6th year). Data collection instruments were demographic characteristic form, nomophobia questionnaire (NMP-Q), neck disability index (NDI), and Cornell hand discomfort questionnaire (CHDQ).
Results: According to the results of the present study, the prevalence of nomophobia among dental students of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz was at an average level. The mean NDI score was 16.20, and the mean pain score among the students was 1.72. Moreover, 46.5% of students had pain in the hand area, and the highest amount of pain was reported in the F area. The mean score of Cornell's musculoskeletal disorders was reported as 2.72.
Conclusion: Examining the relationship between the pain area and the year of entry to the university demonstrated a significant relationship between the year of entry to the university and the pain area. In this regard, the incoming students 2021-22 had the greatest amount of pain. According to the results of the corrective intervention on skeletal disorders in the wrist and neck region, the mean scores of the variables increased significantly after the intervention and corrective measures.
Mounes Khani, Aram Tirgar, Samaneh Pourhadi, Zahra Geraili,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (7-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Considering that working with virtual education equipment increased significantly during the COVID-19 era, the purpose of this research was to investigate the association of complaints of musculoskeletal disorders with the use of electronic equipment during virtual education.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a group of students in the first four years at Babol University of Medical Sciences, whose courses were mostly presented virtually. Data collection tools included a demographic information form and the standard Nordic questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS22 software using descriptive and inferential statistical indicators, including the Chi-square statistical test. The significance level was considered at 0.05.
Results: The data obtained from 318 medical sciences students showed that 83.6% of them complained of pain in the musculoskeletal system during the past year. More than 21% of the participants had to take medicine, 19.9% needed to visit a doctor, and 4.1% had to use physiotherapy services. The results also showed there was a direct and statistically significant correlation between the frequency of complaints regarding musculoskeletal pain and discomfort in the past week and year and the level of use of virtual teaching devices (P≤0.001).
Conclusion: The expansion of virtual education in universities and the prolonged and continuous use of electronic educational equipment can be effective in increasing the frequency of complaints of musculoskeletal disorders among medical sciences students. Moreover, the lack of regular physical activity, smoking, high levels of stress, insomnia, and fatigue among medical students were also known as other effective factors.
Miss Shiva Mohammadjani Kumeleh, Mr Mohammad Amin Rashidi, Mr Azim Akbari,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (2-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aims: Administrative employees are often at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders due to prolonged computer use. Additionally, frequent interactions with clients expose them to a high mental workload and job stress. This study aims to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, mental workload, general health, and job stress among administrative employees, to improve their working conditions.
Materials and Methods: The study is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study conducted among the administrative employees of an engineering company in 2021, and finally 119 people participated in the study by census method. Demographic information questionnaires and ROSA, Cornell, NASA-TLX, GHQ, and HSE-UK job stress checklists were used to collect data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, employing descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results: According to the posture assessment with the ROSA method, the average final ROSA score was 4.33±1.03. Examination of mental load with the NASA-TLX index showed that 78% have a high mental load. According to the GHQ questionnaire, the average final general health score is 24.4 ± 11.73. Also, based on the HSE-UK occupational stress questionnaire, more than 80% (103 people) of employees were under severe stress and 12% (15 people) were under critical stress. A significant relationship was observed between occupational stress, body mass index, and age (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Implementing intervention and control measures to improve musculoskeletal disorders, workload, general health, and job stress is essential.
Majid Shahbazi, Javad Sarrafzadeh, Saeed Akhlaghi, Hossein Negahban,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (2-2025)
Abstract
Background: Balance control is a crucial issue in patients with low back pain. Despite existing studies, the mechanism of balance control in patients with low back pain, especially under different loading conditions at various heights, remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of height on balance during loading.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 54 low back pain patients and 20 healthy male individuals participated. Balance control was assessed using a force plate system. The participants were randomly instructed to lower the load from above the head to waist level and from waist level to the ground. The load was approximately 10% of the participants' body weight. The P value was established 5% level of significance.
Results: The results showed that during lifting from above the head to waist level and from waist level to the ground, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in variables such as medial-lateral and anterior-posterior velocity, total mean velocity, and center of pressure displacement in the anterior-posterior direction between the two groups. Intra-group comparisons of variables in healthy individuals and low back pain patients indicated significant differences (P<0.05) in all variables except anterior-posterior velocity in healthy individuals. Both groups exhibited increased postural sway while lowering at a lower height.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that both healthy individuals and low back pain patients display less balance when loading at a lower height with a flexed lumbar spine, indicating that considering these findings could contribute to rehabilitation, determining occupational conditions, and preventing workplace-related accidents.
