Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in hospital nurse technicians and licensed practical nurses: associations with demographic factors

Objective : This cross-sectional study aimed at analyzing: 1. the main musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) presented by hospital nursing workers and; 2. personal, occupational, and health factors related to MSS among them. Method : Two questionnaires were filled in by 245 nurse technicians (NTs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) (response rate 95%) associated with direct patient care sectors from a hospital. These questionnaires were: the standardized version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and one including questions on 15 demographic independent variables potentially related to outcomes from the NMQ. Univariate analyses and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify which variables would explain the occurrence of MSS in different body regions. Results: The low back (57%), shoulder (52%), and neck (48%) were identified as the most affected regions. The logistic regression analysis showed that low back symptoms in the last 12 months were significantly associated with LPN activities (OR=2.36; CI=1.24-4.5) and previous sick leave due to MSS (OR=5.97; CI=1.2-29.1). Smoking was significantly associated with symptoms in the low back (OR=2.77; CI=1.13-6.8) and thoracic spine (OR=2.37; CI=1.04-5.40). Physical exercise showed a protective effect on the cervical spine (OR=0.42; CI=0.23-0.77). Previous sick leave was significantly associated with pain in the knees (OR=4.24; CI=1.33-13.5) and in the upper limbs (OR=5.36; CI=1.07-26.7). Conclusions: The nursing workers who were evaluated presented a high prevalence of MSS. Previous history of sick leave was strongly associated with the presence of symptoms in various body regions. These results indicate the need for preventive programs in the hospital environment in order to control more severe MSS in nursing professionals. .

Wrist electrogoniometry: are current mathematical correction procedures effective in reducing crosstalk in functional assessment? / Eletrogoniometria de punho: procedimentos matemáticos usuais de correção são eficazes para reduzir crosstalk em avaliação funcional?

BACKGROUND: The recording of human movement is an essential requirement for biomechanical, clinical, and occupational analysis, allowing assessment of postural variation, occupational risks, and preventive programs in physical therapy and rehabilitation. The flexible electrogoniometer (EGM), considered a reliable and accurate device, is used for dynamic recordings of different joints. Despite these advantages, the EGM is susceptible to measurement errors, known as crosstalk. There are two known types of crosstalk: crosstalk due to sensor rotation and inherent crosstalk. Correction procedures have been proposed to correct these errors; however no study has used both procedures in clinical measures for wrist movements with the aim to optimize the correction. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of mathematical correction procedures on: 1) crosstalk due to forearm rotation, 2) inherent sensor crosstalk; and 3) the combination of these two procedures. METHOD: 43 healthy subjects had their maximum range of motion of wrist flexion/extension and ulnar/radials deviation recorded by EGM. The results were analyzed descriptively, and procedures were compared by differences. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in measurements before and after the application of correction procedures (P<0.05). Furthermore, the differences between the correction procedures were less than 5° in most cases, having little impact on the measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the time-consuming data analysis, the specific technical knowledge involved, and the inefficient results, the correction procedures are not recommended for wrist recordings by EGM.

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: O registro do movimento humano é requisito fundamental para análises biomecânicas, clínicas e ocupacionais, permitindo avaliar variações posturais, riscos e aprimoramento de programas preventivos e de reabilitação em Fisioterapia. O eletrogoniômetro flexível (EGM), considerado um equipamento confiável e acurado, é utilizado para o registro dinâmico de diferentes articulações. Apesar das vantagens, o EGM é suscetível de erros de medida, denominados crosstalk. Atualmente, são conhecidos dois tipos de crosstalk, o crosstalk devido à rotação do sensor e o crosstalk inerente. Procedimentos de correção foram propostos para a correção desses erros, no entanto nenhum estudo utilizou ambos os procedimentos em medidas clínicas dos movimentos do punho, visando otimizar a correção. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito de procedimentos matemáticos atualmente empregados para correção do: 1) crosstalk devido à rotação do antebraço; 2) crosstalk inerente aos sensores e 3) combinação desses dois procedimentos. MÉTODO: Quarenta e três indivíduos saudáveis tiveram as amplitudes máximas dos movimentos de flexão/extensão e desvios ulnar/radial do punho registrados pelos EGM. Os resultados foram analisados de forma descritiva, e os procedimentos foram comparados por diferenças. RESULTADOS: Não houve alteração significativa nas medidas após a aplicação dos procedimentos de correção (P<0,05). Além disso, as diferenças entre os procedimentos de correção foram inferiores a 5° para a maioria dos casos, indicando pouco impacto sobre as medidas. CONCLUSÕES: Considerando o tempo de processamento, o conhecimento técnico específico exigido e os ineficazes resultados obtidos, desaconselha-se a aplicação desses procedimentos na correção de registros eletrogoniométricos do punho.

Effects of an educational back care program on Brazilian schoolchildren's knowledge regarding back pain prevention / Efeitos de um programa educacional de cuidados com a coluna sobre o nível de conhecimento de escolares brasileiros quanto à prevenção de dor na coluna vertebral

BACKGROUND: Children are often exposed to ergonomic risk factors at school. Thus, the school is a potential environment for developing musculoskeletal disorders and implementing back care programs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of an educational program on schoolchildren's knowledge regarding back pain prevention. METHODS: 392 students from 4th to 8th grade from a Brazilian state school took part in the study; 114 students (30%) were evaluated at follow-up. The back care program included pre- and post-intervention assessments and a follow-up assessment, as well as theoretical and practical lessons. The time interval between the pre- and post-intervention assessments was 9 weeks, and between the post-intervention and follow-up assessments, it was 2 years. Statistical analysis included non-parametric ANOVA tests. Significance level was set at 5% (p<0.05). RESULTS: There was a significant increase (p<0.001) between pre- (3.6±2.9) and postintervention (7.5±2.2) scores and a significant decrease in the follow-up score (5.1±2.5). However, the follow-up score was still significantly higher (p<0.001) than the pre-intervention score. The rate of correct answers in the post-intervention assessment increased for all questions, and some of them were still high at follow-up. Significant differences were identified for the comparison between grades, with the 8th grade being significantly different from the other grades. CONCLUSION: The back care program showed an increase in the level of knowledge of Brazilian schoolchildren. Two years after the intervention, students still retained ergonomic concepts. Although the program has limitations, theoretical knowledge acquisition is the first step towards adopting healthy postural habits to prevent back pain.

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: As crianças estão expostas a um conjunto de fatores de risco ergonômicos na fase escolar. Tais fatores tornam a escola um ambiente propício ao desenvolvimento de alterações musculoesqueléticas, assim como para a implementação de programas de cuidados com a coluna vertebral. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos de um programa educacional de cuidados com a coluna sobre o nível de conhecimento de escolares brasileiros quanto à prevenção de dor na coluna vertebral. MÉTODOS: Trezentos e noventa e dois estudantes da 4ª à 8ª série de uma escola estadual participaram do estudo, sendo que 114 deles (30%) foram avaliados no follow up. O programa foi composto por avaliações pré, pós-intervenção e follow up, por aulas teóricas e práticas. O intervalo entre as avaliações pré e pós-intervenção foi de nove semanas e, entre a avaliação pré e o follow up, foi de dois anos. A análise estatística incluiu ANOVA não-paramétrica e o nível de significância foi de 5%. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença significativa no nível de conhecimento (pfollow up (5,1±2,5), sendo que a pontuação no follow up foi significativamente superior à do pré-teste. Foi encontrada diferença significativa entre as séries, sendo que a 8ª série atingiu pontuação maior que as demais (p CONCLUSÃO: O programa preventivo proporcionou aumento no nível de conhecimento dos estudantes, mesmo após dois anos de sua implementação. Embora o programa tenha limitações, a aquisição de conhecimento é o primeiro passo para a adoção de hábitos posturais saudáveis para a prevenção de dores na coluna vertebral.