Meta analysis of the prevalence and influencing factors of WMSDs among dentists in China / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To explore the relevant factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among dentists through Meta analysis, providing a basis for the prevention and control of WMSDs among dentists. Methods: In April 2022, cross-sectional research literatures on the prevalence correlation of WMSDs among Chinese dentists were searched in databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, and Em Base database. The search was conducted from the establishment of the database until April 2022, literatures were selected using keywords such as musculoskeletal disorders and dentists. To extract gender, age, length of service, disease classification and other related influencing factors as indicator, and prevalence was selected as the outcome indicator. After evaluating the quality of the literatures, RevMan 5.3 software was used to calculate the combined RD (95%CI) values of the included literatures. Results: A total of 15 articles were included, with a total sample size of 3646 people. Meta analysis results showed that the prevalence of WMSDs among dentists in China was 80%, and the top three parts of the incidence rates were 65% of the waist, 58% of the neck, and 50% of the back. Gender, age, length of service, region and disease classification all increased the risk of WMSDs, and the combined effect size were 75%, 78%, 71%, 77% and 82% respectively (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The occurrence of WMSDs among dentists in China is related to multiple factors such as gender, age, length of service and disease classification. The above risk factors should be taken into account in the workplace and preventive measures should be actively implemented to prolong the working life of dentists.

Comparative analysis of work-related musculoskeletal disorders catalogues / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) refer to musculoskeletal disorders caused by work or work as the main cause, which are characterized by high prevalence and heavy burden of disease as a global problem. The classification and catalog of occupational diseases is of great significance for guiding the prevention and control of occupational diseases and safeguarding the rights and interests of workers. The types of WMSDs included in the list of occupational diseases vary greatly from country to country, and the regulations on specific pathogenic factors are also inconsistent. By sorting out and analyzing the lists and characteristics of WMSDs at home and abroad, and using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) in occupational health to standardize of WMSDs in various countries, which would lay the foundation for future multi-country WMSDs occupational health registration and disease burden research, and provide a reference for China to revise the WMSDs list.

The association between long working hours and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms of Korean wage workers: data from the fourth Korean working conditions survey (a cross-sectional study)

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that long working hours are hazardous to the workers’ health. Especially, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have been considered as one of the significant health issues in workplace. The objective of this study was to identify the association between long working hours and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. METHODS: The analysis was conducted using data from the Fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). Subjects of this study were 24,783 wage workers and divided into three groups according to the weekly working hours, which were ≤ 40, 41–52 and > 52 h. The relationship between long working hours and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression method after adjusting for general, occupational characteristics including specific working motions or postures and psychosocial factors. RESULTS: Approximately 18.4% of subjects worked more than 52 h per week and 26.4 and 16.4% of male subjects and 33.0 and 23.4% of female subjects experienced work-related upper and lower limb pains, respectively, over the last 12 months. Moreover, the prevalence of upper and lower limb pain was increased in both genders as the weekly working hours increased. The odds ratios (ORs) of upper limb pain for those working 41–52 h and more than 52 h per week when adjusted for general, occupational characteristics including specific motions or postures and psychosocial factors were 1.36 and 1.40 for male workers and 1.26 and 1.66 for female workers compared to the reference group, respectively. Furthermore, ORs of lower limb pain for the same weekly working hour groups were 1.26 and 1.47 for male workers and 1.20 and 1.47 for female workers, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Long working hours were significantly related to work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in Korean wage workers and appropriate interventions should be implemented to reduce long working hours that can negatively affect workers’ health.

A utilização da análise ergonômica do trabalho como ferramenta do terapeuta ocupacional no estudo da atividade de trabalho de cabeleireiros / The use of ergonomic job analysis as a tool for the occupational therapist inthe study of the labor activity of hairdressers

Este artigo apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa que objetivou analisar a atividade de trabalho de cabeleireiros, bem como demonstrar a utilidade do método da Análise Ergonômica do Trabalho (AET) como base metodológica para o terapeuta ocupacional atuar em situações de trabalho, a fim de diagnosticar os riscos ergonômicos da situação estudada e desenvolver um caderno de encargos com recomendações de melhoria. O estudo foi realizado em um salão de beleza localizado em Curitiba, PR, no período de março a outubro de 2010. A categoria profissional estudada foi ?cabeleireiro? e a atividade de trabalho analisada foi ?escova?. Observou-se que o trabalho é realizado através da adoção de posturas inadequadas, movimentos repetitivos adicionando-se a ausência de pausas para a recuperação das estruturas musculotendíneas e/ou osteomusculares. Evidenciou-se a necessidade de intervir no ambiente de trabalho, focando-se na sua organização e pôde-se concluir que desvios observados nas atividades de trabalho desenvolvidas nesse setor de serviços refletem-se em consequências para a saúde e bem-estar dos trabalhadores.

This article presents the results of a research that aimed to analyze the labor activity of hairdressers, as well as to demonstrate the usefulness of Ergonomic Job Analysis (EJA) work-study method as a methodologicalbasis for the occupational therapist to act in different job situations. Through this method, the therapist is able to diagnose the ergonomic risks of the situation studied and develop a booklet of duties with improvementrecommendations. The research was carried out in a hair salon located in the municipality of Curitiba, State of Parana, from March to October 2010. ?Hairdressing? was the occupational category chosen and ?hair straightening? was the work activity analyzed. It was possible to observe that the activity is performed with the adoption of inadequate posture, repetitive movements, and lack of pauses to allow the recovery of the musculotendinous and/or osteomuscular structures. The need to intervene in this working environment is noticeable, focusing on its organization. In conclusion, the disorders observed in the work activities developed in the Third Services reflect in consequences to the health and welfare of workers.

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Firefighters

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) arising from repetitive work, awkward working postures and exerted force have the potential to occur in almost every workplace. In 2007, WMSDs took 67.3% of the total occupational diseases compensated as industrial accident. Firefighters in particular, are more exposed to the risks of low back pain because they encounter many cases of excessive exertion in unexpected situations. However, the employer (government) and the employees (firefighters) awareness on WMSDs is rather low when compared to the attention given to the industrial accidents. Firefighters' tasks include lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and moving heavy objects with fully equipped turn out gear. These assigned tasks require excessive force and often occur in uncomfortable situations. In some cases, tasks are performed in undesirably high or low temperature environments. Some workers such as emergency call operator retain a static position for long working hours. In addition, the boundaries of fire protection tasks in Korea have extended to include emergency management since 1999, exposing firefighters to the greater risks of WMSDs. According to the U.S. National Fire Protection Association report, strain and sprain took more than 40% of injuries occurred during fire ground operation in 2005. In Korea, 2007, it was reported out of 30,630 firefighters, 279 were involved in work-related accident or injury. Even though there was no exact information reported on WMSDs, it must be acknowledged that during performing fire protection tasks, injuries including low back pain, sprain, strain, and more easily occurs. Also when treating the injured fire prevention related workers, its work-relatedness must be considered, because prevention will become a reality only if work-relatedness is fully understood. Therefore, in order to reduce the occurrence of WMSDs in fire protection related workers, risk factors of WMSDs must be continually reviewed and managed, and all workers must be educated on WMSDs prevention.

The Preventive Programs for the Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in a Telephone Directory Assistance Workplace

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of an in-house work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) preventive programs in a telephone directory assistance workplace. METHODS: The subjects (N=177) were divided into four groups (nonparticipants, 41; preventive exercise, 31; self-physical therapy, 40; both, 65) by program participation type. The results of WMSDs program were obtained by questionnaire, which consisted of upper extremities'(neck, shoulder, arm, hand) symptom prevalence, self-rating symptom severity, and before-after symptom change between 1995 and 1998 data and workers'satisfaction by program participation. RESULTS: The prevalence of symptoms related WMSDs was only reduced in neck region of nonparticipants, other groups not in significant. The pain scale (5-likert) of each region was significantly decreased in neck, arm and hand of nonparticipants. In other groups, there was no significant change in the prevalence of WMSDs. The change of visual analogue scale was decreased by 21.7% in self-physical therapy group (p=0.043). The subjects mostly were satisfied with this in-house programs. Above all, preventive exercise and both program groups showed content over 80%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of before-after symptoms change was not inconsistent, but subjects were showed high satisfaction about the preventive programs. In attempts to improve the WMSDs related symptoms, the best results will be achieved with ongoing in-house preventive programs practice and periodic outcomes assessments.