ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The population of actively working older people is growing rapidly. The relationship between quality of life, levels of physical activity and functionality in this population is not entirely clear. AIM: To determine the association between quality of life, levels of physical activity and functional tests in actively working adults and older people. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross sectional assessment of 138 adults aged 40 to 50 years (53% women) and 119 older people aged 60 to 75 years (53% women) who were actively working in two public services. Quality of life was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire and usual physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-short). Handgrip strength, the timed up and go (TUG) and chair stand test (CST) were used as functional tests. RESULTS: Compared to older people, adults had better physical functional tests (P < 0.01). Older people had better scores in the mental health component (MHC) of quality of life (p < 0.05). In adults, the physical health component of quality of life (CSF) had a positive association with physical activity (Spearman Rho (rs)= 0.270; p = 0.01), grip strength (rs = 0.330; p < 0.01) and the TUG (rs = −0.229; p < 0.01). In older patients, CSM and CST were positively correlated (rs = 0.201; P = 0.029). In both groups, a correlation was observed between CSM, grip strength (adults rs = 0.283; p < 0.01; older people rs = 0.211; P = 0.02) and with TUG (adults rs = −0.197; P = 0.021; older people rs = - 0.212; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: There is a positive correlation between quality of life and level of physical activity in working adults, which is not observed in older people. Adequate performance in physical functional tests is positively correlated with better quality of life (CSF and CSM) in adults and only with the mental health component in older people.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Quality of Life , Exercise , Mental Health , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hand StrengthABSTRACT
Resumen: Distintas modalidades de prevención para disminuir la incidencia de Trastornos musculoesqueléticos (TME) han sido propuestas, sin embar go, no existe evidencia nacional sobre la valoración que hacen los trabajadores sobre las acciones implementadas por las empresas. El propósito de este estudio fue evaluar la percepción de los trabajadores sobre el beneficio del ejercicio en el puesto de trabajo (EPT) para prevenir TME. Método: Bajo el contexto de un estudio de evaluación de efectividad del ejercicio en la prevención de TME en trabajadores manu factureros, se le aplicó una encuesta de percepción a la totalidad de los trabajadores (n = 109). Resultados: Un 92.3% de los trabajadores con sidera importante realizar EPT y el 82.8% lo asocia a una conducta saludable, destaca un alto nivel de satisfacción en la práctica grupal de los ejercicios (96%) y estar de acuerdo con implementarla como estra tegia de prevención permanente. Conclusión: Los trabajadores otorgan gran importancia a la aplicación de EPT, independiente de su modali dad, los cuales tienden a relacionarse con la percepción positiva respec to a los efectos beneficiosos para su salud. La aplicación de esta moda lidad de ejercicios tiene una alta aceptabilidad por los trabajadores, facilitando su implementación y logro de objetivos.
Abstract: Different forms of prevention to reduce the incidence of musculoskel etal disorders (MSDs) have been proposed, however, there is no national evidence on the assessment made by workers on the actions implemented by companies. The purpose of this study was to assess workers' perception of the benefit of exercise in the workplace to prevent MSDs. Method: In the context of an evaluation study of exercise effectiveness in the prevention of MSDs in manufacturing workers, a perception survey was applied to all workers (n = 109). Results: 92.3% of the workers considered it important to exercise in the workplace and 82.8% associated it with a healthy behavior, they reported a high level of satisfaction in the group practice of the exer cises (96%) and agree to implement it as a permanent prevention strategy. Conclusion: The workers give high importance to the appli cation of exercise in the workplace, regardless of their modality, which tend to relate to positive perception and beneficial effects for their health.. The application of this type of exercise has a high acceptabil ity by workers, facilitating its implementation and achievement of objectives.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Exercise/physiology , Musculoskeletal Diseases/prevention & control , Manufacturing Industry , Occupational Groups/psychology , Perception , Surveys and Questionnaires , WorkplaceABSTRACT
ANTECEDENTES. La discapacidad laboral por dolor lumbar causa ausencia laboral y gastos económicos. Se ha responsabilizado su presencia a condiciones del entorno laboral y a la manipulación manual de cargas (MMC). Se evaluó la asociación entre niveles de exposición laboral a MMC y presencia de discapacidad en trabajadores protegidos por ley laboral en Santiago de Chile. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO. Estudio Caso Control. Exposición y covariables de interés fueron medidas en puesto de trabajo. Los análisis incluyeron Modelos de Regresión Logística Múltiple. RESULTADOS. La exposición a MMC moderada muestra OR: 1,62 (IC95%:0,61-4,33), la exposición a MMC alta y muy alta muestra OR de 2,75 (IC95%:1,08-6,95). DISCUSIÓN. Existe una importante magnitud y gradiente de asociación entre MMC y discapacidad. Variables psicosociales, organizacionales e individuales también explican el fenómeno. Se sugiere rediseñar las estrategias nacionales para prevenir riesgos laborales relacionados con discapacidad por dolor lumbar.
BACKGROUND: Work disability due to low back pain causes lost productivity and economic expense. It has been blamed on the working environment and the manual handling of loads (MHL). The link between levels of work exposure to MHL and the disability of workers protected by labor law was evaluated in Santiago, Chile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case-control study. Exposure and study co-variables were measured in the workplace. The analyses included multiple logistic regression models. RESULT AND DISCUSSION: Exposure to moderate MHL shows an OR: 1.62 (95% CI: 0.61-4.33), high and very high exposure to MHL shows an OR of 2.75 (95% CI: 1.08-6.95), controlled by psychosocial, organizational and individual aspects. There is a significant magnitude and gradient of association between MHL and disability. Psychosocial, organizational and individual variables also explain the phenomenon. It is suggested that national strategies be redesigned to prevent the occupational risks related to disability due to low back pain.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Low Back Pain/etiology , Absenteeism , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Case-Control Studies , Logistic Models , Chile , Surveys and Questionnaires , Risk Factors , Occupational Exposure , Occupational Health , Workplace , Low Back Pain/epidemiology , Lifting/adverse effects , Occupational Diseases/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Un problema relevante de salud pública lo constituyen los Desórdenes Músculo-Esqueléticos, DME, de origen laboral. Su difícil abordaje y definición como entidad patológica ha hecho dificultosa su vigilancia epidemiológica y, más aun, estudiarlos de manera científica. La vigilancia epidemiológica de los DME implica la identificación y caracterización de una variedad de trabajos con exposición a factores estresores, incluyendo agentes físicos, riesgos ergonómicos y de organización del trabajo. La información de los DME se obtiene a través de registros con fines económicos y médicos, además se utilizan los autorreportes de síntomas, lista de chequeo en el puesto de trabajo y exámenes clínicos. No existe una prueba de oro para la detección de los DME, y la comunidad científica no ha logrado una definición exenta de sesgos, por lo que es difícil cuantificarlos y analizarlos a partir de un sistema de vigilancia. La epidemiología puede ayudar a evidenciar las verdaderas relaciones entre los DME y los factores de riesgo de exposición en el lugar de trabajo, que pueden no ser simples, sino más bien relaciones de concurrencia e interacción, por lo cual es importante entender los efectos de estos perfiles de exposición. Potenciar sistemas de vigilancia en el ámbito ocupacional, que obtengan datos completos y de manera rigurosa, nos ayudará inicialmente a direccionar nuestras acciones en salud y, consecuentemente, a propiciar investigación epidemiológica. La vigilancia epidemiológica ocupacional resulta una oportunidad para las investigaciones epidemiológicas de los DME, pero requiere de grandes esfuerzos y consensos de los investigadores y de las instituciones involucradas para que la calidad y la suficiencia de los datos permitan avanzar en el conocimiento científico.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders represent a significant public health problem. The difficulty in addressing and defining them as a pathological entity has made its epidemiological surveillance difficult and even more difficult to study them scientifically. Epidemiological surveillance of MSDs involves the identification and characterization of a variety of jobs exposed to stressor factors, includingphysical agents, ergonomic risks and work organization. MSDs information is obtained through records with economic and medical purposes. Symptoms self-report, check lists at the work place and clinical exams are also used. There is no a gold test for the detection of the MSDsand the scientific community has not achieved a bias-free definition, soit is difficult to quantify and analyze them from a surveillance system. Epidemiology can help reveal the true relationship between the MSDs and the exposure risk factors at the workplace, which may not be simple, but rather concurrency and interaction relations, for which reason it is important to understand the effects of these exposure profiles. Strengthening surveillance systems in the work environment, which obtain complete data and in a rigorous manner, will help us to initially direct our actions in health and, consequently, to facilitate epidemiological research. Occupational epidemiological surveillance is an opportunity for epidemiological investigations of MSDs, but it requires great efforts and consensus of investigators and of involved institutions so that the quality and sufficiency of data will allow scientific knowledge advancing.