RESUMEN
Background: musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are obvious problems in many occupations. Their prevalence, however, in Northeastern construction workers with temporary migration has yet been investigated.Objective: To determine the prevalence of MSDs in different body parts in the construction workers.Method: The cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out at the Sriracha P.T. construction and engineering company from May to July 2006. Two hundred fifty seven northeastern construction workers with temporary migration to Chonburi province were selected by purposive method. A modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used in this study. Reliability and validity of this tool has been established.Results: The prevalence of MSDs during a 12-month period was found in the following anatomical areas: low back 33.5% (95% CI: 27.7-39.3), knees 19.5% (95% CI: 14.6-24.3) and shoulders 14.0% (95% CI: 10.1-18.7). The prevalence of MSDs during a 7-day period was found slightly less in the same following areas: low back 24.5% (95% CI: 19.2-29.8), knees 14.0% (95% CI: 9.7-18.2) and shoulders 10.9% (95% CI: 7.1-14.7).Conclusion: The present study indicated that MSDs in the low back, knees and shoulders are common among construction workers. Awareness of prevention of the problems should be given to the construction workers.Keywords: musculoskeletal disorders, construction workers, temporary migration, Standardized Nordic Questionnaire
RESUMEN
Heat has been one of the most effective ways to help control pain for thousands of years. Thai herbal ball (THB) is a traditional Thai therapy for pain reduction. Hot pack (HP) is one of modalities in physical therapy. The effect of THB compare with HP is just confirmed. The aim of this study was to compare the immediate effects of pain reduction and physiological parameters between the HP and THB in the subject with low back pain. Twenty-four subjects with low back pain aged 41 ± 8 years were randomized into each condition to conduct a cross over trial. All parameters were immediately measured at the baseline and after applications of the HP and THB on the back muscle for 20 minutes. The results showed that the VAS reduced both in the HP (1.36, P \< 0.01) and THB (1.03, P \< 0.001), but no difference was found between conditions. However, skin temperature significantly increased more in the HP (mean difference = 0.49 C, 95 % CI: 0.06 to 0.91, P \< 0.03) and heart rate significantly reduced more in THB (mean difference = -4 beats/min, 95 % CI: -1.13 to -5.37, P \< 0.006). Moreover, pain pressure threshold and thoracolumbar spine range of motion significantly increased after the THB and HP, respectively. In conclusion, both modalities have similar effect on pain reduction in subjects with low back pain. Convenience and extended time of heat therapy are favorable. Thus, application of these products may be attractive for patients with chronic pain.