Riscos de distúrbios osteomusculares em punhos de trabalhadores de uma indústria de pescados / Risks of musculoskeletal disorders in wrist for workers of a fish industry

INTRODUÇÃO: Os distúrbios osteomusculares relacionadas ao trabalho são patologias muito frequentes no meio industrial, principalmente quando os trabalhadores se encontram expostos a fatores de risco como, por exemplo, posturas inadequadas, repetitividade, uso de força excessiva e a exposição a vibrações. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o risco de distúrbios osteomusculares nos punhos de trabalhadores de uma indústria de pescados da cidade de Recife (PE). METODOLOGIA: Utilizou-se metodologia qualitativa baseada no método Strain Index (SI), o qual resulta em uma pontuação numérica que aponta a probabilidade de desenvolvimento de distúrbios osteomusculares no punho. O índice é baseado na pontuação do SI, representado pela interação multiplicativa entre as variáveis da tarefa: intensidade do esforço, duração do esforço, frequência do esforço, postura da mão e punho, ritmo de trabalho e duração diária da tarefa. RESULTADOS: O valor encontrado foi de SI = 9 para ambos os punhos, classificando-o como uma atividade com alto risco para o desenvolvimento de distúrbios osteomusculares nos punhos dos trabalhadores. CONCLUSÃO: A indicação da presença dos riscos desses distúrbios nos punhos durante a realização da atividade de trabalho foi determinada pela pontuação do SI, sugerindo a necessidade de intervenção ergonômica.

INTRODUCTION: Cumulative trauma disorders are very common diseases in industry, especially when workers are exposed to risk factors such as, for example, inappropriate postures, repetitive, excessive use of force and vibration exposure. OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in the wrists of industrial workers caught in the city of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. METHODOLOGY: We used a qualitative methodology based on the method Strain Index (SI) which results in a numerical score that indicates the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders in the wrist. The index is based on the SI score is represented by the multiplicative interaction between the task variables: intensity of exercise, exercise duration, frequency of stress, the hand and wrist posture, pace of work and daily duration of the task. RESULTS: The value found was SI = 9 for both fists, classifying it as a risky activity for the development of musculoskeletal disorders in the wrists of workers. CONCLUSION: The indication of the presence of the risks of these disorders in the wrists during the course of work activity was determined by the SI score, pointing to the need for ergonomic intervention.

Fatores associados à prevalência de sintomas osteomusculares em professores / Factores asociados a la prevalencia de síntomas osteomusculares en profesores / Factors associated with teachers' osteomuscular symptom prevalence

Objetivo Determinar a prevalência de sintomas osteomusculares nos professores da rede municipal de Natal/RN, verificando a existência de associação entre as variáveis socioeconômicas, ocupacionais e de saúde com a presença dessa sintomatologia. Materiais e Métodos Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva com corte transversal, que teve como amostra 242 docentes da rede básica. Para a avaliação dos sintomas osteomusculares foi utilizado o questionário Nórdico. A análise estatística utilizou inicialmente procedimentos descritivos e o teste de Qui-Quadrado, e numa segunda etapa a análise de regresso logística multivariada, com nível de significância de 5 por cento. Resultados A prevalência da referida sintomatologia, considerando os últimos 12 meses, foi de 93 por cento entre os investigados. Foi encontrada associação estatisticamente significativa entre o sexo feminino (p=0,021) e prática inadequada de atividade física (p=0,037) com a presença de sintomas osteomusculares. Conclusão A sintomatologia em questão pode estar pode estar comprometendo a qualidade de vida e o estado de saúde dos professores.

Objective Determining the prevalence of osteomuscular symptoms in public school teachers in Natal, Brazil, and verifying the existence of an association between socioeconomic, occupational and health variables and the presence of these symptoms. Materials and Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of a sample of 242 public elementary school teachers. The Nordic questionnaire was used for assessing osteomuscular symptoms. Statistical analysis initially involved descriptive procedures and the chi-square test; 5 percent significance level multivariate logistical regression analysis was used during a second stage. Results Symptom prevalence amongst the subjects investigated during the last 12 months was 93 percent. A statistically significant association was found between being female (p=0.021) and engaging in inadequate physical activity (p=0.037) and the presence of osteomuscular symptoms. Conclusion The symptoms revealed in this group may be compromising this group of workers' quality of life and health status.

Objetivo Determinar la alta frecuencia de síntomas osteomusculares en los profesores de la red municipal de Natal/RN, y verificar la existencia de una asociación entre las variables socioeconómicas, ocupacionales y de salud con la presencia de esa sintomatología. Materiales y Métodos Se trata de una investigación descriptiva con corte transversal, que tuvo como muestra 242 docentes de la red básica. Para la evaluación de los síntomas osteomusculares se utilizó el cuestionario Nórdico. El análisis utilizó procedimientos descriptivos y el test de Qui-Cuadrado inicialmente, y en una segunda etapa el análisis de regresión logística multivariada, con nivel significativo del 5 por ciento. Resultados La persistencia de la referida sintomatología, si consideramos los últimos 12 meses, fue del 93 por ciento entre los investigados. Se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre el sexo femenino (p=0,021) y la práctica inadecuada de actividad física (p=0,037) con la presencia de síntomas osteomusculares. Conclusión La sintomatología en cuestión puede estar comprometiendo la calidad de vida y el estado de salud de los profesores.

Experimental Study on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a Cumulative Trauma Disorder

OBJECTIVE: To study the reaction of tissues in the carpal tunnel after repeated flexion of wrist in order to verify the pathophysiology and pathomechanism of the carpal tunnel syndrome as a cumulative trauma disorder. METHOD: Six groups of adult rabbits (5 rabbits were allocated to each groups) were exposed to repeated contractions of the wrist flexors by the median nerve stimulation at the elbow level for different durations; 2 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, and 5 weeks. Histological evaluation, morphometric analysis, and electrophysiological studies were carried out after the stimulation. RESULTS: There were no typical nor consistent findings in the tissues in the carpal tunnel except the median nerve. Inflammatory cell infiltration and edematous changes were noted in the epineurial tissue of median nerve. Decrease of large myelinated fibers and changes of fiber shape were observed in the median nerve. On the morphometric analysis, fiber diameter was smaller in groups of longer exposure duration. Changes were most prominent in 5 weeks group and in the periphery of the nerve fascicle in all the groups. Significant reduction of amplitude and increase of duration of compound muscle action potential were noted on electrophysiological study of the median nerve. CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that repeated experimental wrist flexion could give rise to an injury of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. Accumulation of microtrauma of median nerve by epineurial edema and direct mechanical compression seems to be the pathomechanism of the carpal tunnel syndrome as a cumulative trauma disorder.

Pressure Threshold, Grip and Pinch Strength in Female Telephone Operators

The purpose of this study was to estimate mean pressure thresholds over several skeletal muscles, grip and pinch strengths in female telephone operators. Pressure thresholds on muscles of neck and shoulder were measured with a pressure algometer, and grip and pinch strength were measured with a Jamar dynamometer and a Jamar pinch gauge in 904 female telephone operators. The pressure threshold was highest in the supraspinatus and lowest in the cervical paraspinals. There was no statistically significant difference between right and left corresponding muscles. The mean grip strength was 22.29 kg in the right hand, 21.97 kg in the left hand. The mean tip pinch strength was 0.56 kg in the right, 0.51 kg in the left. The mean lateral pinch strength was 2.21 kg in the right, 2.12 kg in the left. The mean palmar pinch strength was 1.82 kg in the right, 1.66 kg in the left. There was no significant correlation between grip, pinch strength and age(p>0.05). There were positive correlations between height, weight and grip strength. There were positive correlations between exposure duration to visual display terminal and pinch strength.

Musculoskeletal Diseases of Upper Extremities Among the Electronic Assembly Workers and Telecommunication Workers / 대한산업의학회지

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of and to collect the basic informations of musculoskeletal diseases of upper extremities in manufacturing and telecommunication companies. The subjects were 213 workers, consisted Of 98 manufacturing workers and 115 telephoBfi operators. The musculoskeletal ,symptom survey, Job safety analysis (JSA), and medical examinations including neurologic, and'nerve.cqnduction velocity (NCV) test were conducted.: All workers were women in company A, while the other composed of 68(69.4%) men and 30(30.6%) women. The results were as follows: 1. The rates of self-reporting symptoms in each company were 85.2% at the neck, 81.1% at the shoulder joint, 73.0% at the wrist joint and 34.8% at the elbow joint in company A, while 56.1% at the shoulder joint, 51.2% at the neck and 23.5% at the elbow joint in company B in order. 2. No relationship was observed between the work duration and symptom rate in company A, but the highest symptom rate was observed at the neck in 10-19 year work duration group, at the shoulder, elbow and wrist joint in 5-9 year work duration group in company B. 3. Over the 22.8% of total workers in this study having symptoms got medical treatment at the medical clinics or drug stores, but there was no statistical difference between both companies. 4. In company A, 16(13.9%) workers were classified as D category, 12(10.4%) workers as C category and 2(1.7%) workers as R category among 115 workers. And D category was 10(10.2%), C category 31(31.6%) and R category 4(4.0%) among 98 workers in company B. D category means disease category needed futher treatment, C category means disease category needed no treatment and R category means recheck category, needed futher evaluation. 5. The types of musculoskeletal disorders including D, C, and R category were 46 cases(D 13, C 30, R 3) of tension neck .syndrome (TNS), 16 cases (D 3, C 8, R 5) of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), 5 cases of De Quervain's disease, 3 cases of lateral epicondylitis, 3 cases of bicipital tendinitis, 3 cases of rotator cuff tendinitis, 2 cases of medical epicondylitis, and 5 cases of cervical disc syndrome. 6. In company A, the total cases of 11 TNS, 8 CTS, 3 De Quervain's disease, 3 lateral epicondylitis, 3 rotator cuff tendinitis and 1 cervical disc syndrome were diagnosed and so were total cases of 35 TNS, 8 CTS and 4 cervical disc syndrome in company B. 7. By stepwise multiple regression analysis with dichotomization of musculoskeletal disease, the following odds ratios were significantly high (p<0.05)-sex (2.707) and age(l.926).

Musculoskeletal Diseases of Upper Extremities Among the Electronic Assembly Workers and Telecommunication Workers / 대한산업의학회지

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of and to collect the basic informations of musculoskeletal diseases of upper extremities in manufacturing and telecommunication companies. The subjects were 213 workers, consisted Of 98 manufacturing workers and 115 telephoBfi operators. The musculoskeletal ,symptom survey, Job safety analysis (JSA), and medical examinations including neurologic, and'nerve.cqnduction velocity (NCV) test were conducted.: All workers were women in company A, while the other composed of 68(69.4%) men and 30(30.6%) women. The results were as follows: 1. The rates of self-reporting symptoms in each company were 85.2% at the neck, 81.1% at the shoulder joint, 73.0% at the wrist joint and 34.8% at the elbow joint in company A, while 56.1% at the shoulder joint, 51.2% at the neck and 23.5% at the elbow joint in company B in order. 2. No relationship was observed between the work duration and symptom rate in company A, but the highest symptom rate was observed at the neck in 10-19 year work duration group, at the shoulder, elbow and wrist joint in 5-9 year work duration group in company B. 3. Over the 22.8% of total workers in this study having symptoms got medical treatment at the medical clinics or drug stores, but there was no statistical difference between both companies. 4. In company A, 16(13.9%) workers were classified as D category, 12(10.4%) workers as C category and 2(1.7%) workers as R category among 115 workers. And D category was 10(10.2%), C category 31(31.6%) and R category 4(4.0%) among 98 workers in company B. D category means disease category needed futher treatment, C category means disease category needed no treatment and R category means recheck category, needed futher evaluation. 5. The types of musculoskeletal disorders including D, C, and R category were 46 cases(D 13, C 30, R 3) of tension neck .syndrome (TNS), 16 cases (D 3, C 8, R 5) of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), 5 cases of De Quervain's disease, 3 cases of lateral epicondylitis, 3 cases of bicipital tendinitis, 3 cases of rotator cuff tendinitis, 2 cases of medical epicondylitis, and 5 cases of cervical disc syndrome. 6. In company A, the total cases of 11 TNS, 8 CTS, 3 De Quervain's disease, 3 lateral epicondylitis, 3 rotator cuff tendinitis and 1 cervical disc syndrome were diagnosed and so were total cases of 35 TNS, 8 CTS and 4 cervical disc syndrome in company B. 7. By stepwise multiple regression analysis with dichotomization of musculoskeletal disease, the following odds ratios were significantly high (p<0.05)-sex (2.707) and age(l.926).