Risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in the footwear industry: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of biomechanical, psychosocial, environmental and individual factors on local and multisite work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) symptoms among workers at a footwear manufacturing company. The sample comprised 267 workers. The results showed that: (a) age, sedentary lifestyle, inappropriate posture and perceived effort were associated with symptoms in the shoulders, and the combination of these factors increased the odds four-fold; (b) inappropriate posture, perceived effort and bullying were related to symptoms in the wrists, and the combination of these factors increased the odds seven-fold; (c) inappropriate posture, perceived effort, length of work at the company and low social support were associated with multisite symptoms, and their combination increased the odds up to 30-fold. Therefore, mainly biomechanical and psychosocial factors were associated with WMSD symptoms, and their combinations increased the odds of occurrence.

Effects of a worksite physical activities program among men and women: An interventional study in a footwear industry.

The study aims to assess the association between various levels of engagement in a worksite physical activities program and variables related to musculoskeletal symptoms, psychophysiological well-being, difficulty to perform tasks, willingness to work, and interpersonal relationships, among men and women in a footwear industry. This program involved 1113 workers. Data were analysed using an ordinal logistic regression model. In women, an increase in the frequency of participation in the worksite physical activities program was associated with less musculoskeletal pain (OR = 3.12; 2.07-4.71), better relationships among colleagues (OR = 2.83; 1.67-4.81), and a higher level of psychophysiological well-being (OR = 1.98; 1.06-3.70). In men, an increase in the frequency participation in the worksite physical activities program was associated with less difficulty in performing occupational tasks (OR = 0.49; 0.27-0.87). Thus, the association between occupational exercises and studied variables differed between genders.

Students' blood pressure and heart rate while performing cognitive tasks at education institutions in Northern and Northeastern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The use of information and communication technologies improves the versatility of learning environments by broadening the scope of educational practices, allowing students to communicate with other institutions and providing access to information in real time. However, these tools, in addition to environmental characteristics, can increase the internal thermal load, which is directly influenced by the external environment, with a consequent impact on body physiology. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the relationship between air temperature and blood pressure and heart rate among students performing cognitive tasks at computer laboratories in four public universities (three in Northeastern Brazil and one in Northern Brazilian). METHODS: Thermal conditions and physiological parameters were analysed over three consecutive days, and the participants were subjected to changes in air temperature from 20°C to 33°C. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and after testing. RESULTS: Analyses of the experimental data showed changes in heart rate at high temperatures, with a greater risk of students from Teresina and Manaus institutions presenting heart rates above 100 bpm during cognitive tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Within the temperature range applied, on the day of the highest temperature, we observed the highest percentage of participants who reported thermal discomfort (63%, 33°C; 58%, 29°C; 38%, 28°C) and a reduction of cognitive performance (15 to 10 points when the air temperature increases from 20 to 33°C).