Remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic: Computer-related musculoskeletal symptoms in university staff.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in mandatory remote working for workers in many sectors, including education. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the physical characteristics of workspaces, computer use, and prevalence, associated factors, and reported impact of computer-related musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) among university staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of staff in a university in Ireland was conducted in March 2021. An anonymous online survey of computer use, work practices and 3-month prevalence and the reported impact of computer-related MSS (modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire) was conducted. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and relationships were tested using chi-squared analysis. RESULTS: The analysis included 1045 responses. The majority (63%) worked solely from home, used a laptop more frequently than a desktop computer, and worked a greater number of hours. Almost half (48%) did not have a dedicated home workspace. More respondents reported their university workspace (72%) was more comfortable than their home workspace (51.2%) (p < 0.0001). Prevalence of computer-related MSS was 83% : neck (62%), shoulder (57%), lower back (47%). Laptop-related MSS was reported more frequently (82%) than desktop-related MSS (65%) (p < 0.05). Computer-related MSS was associated with workspace, equipment at home, laptop use, female gender, and righthandedness (p < 0.05). A reduction in non-work-related activities (35%), work activities (18%) and seeking medical attention (24%) was reported. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of computer-related MSS was high and associated with remote working. Further studies that aim to mitigate the risks of computer-related MSS in those working remotely or in hybrid models are required.

Elite female athletes' experiences of symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a collection of signs, symptoms and conditions affecting the pelvic floor and urinary incontinence (UI) is the most common type of PFD. Recent systematic reviews have indicated a higher prevalence of UI among female athletes compared to their non-athletic counterparts. To date, no review has been undertaken to investigate female athletes' experiences of PFD. This review aims to offer insight and understanding, through aggregation, summary, synthesis and interpretation of findings from studies that report elite female athletes' experiences of symptoms of PFD. METHODS: The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO in August 2020. A systematic search was conducted in Embase, MEDLINE (OVID), Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web of Science for studies published in the English language reporting elite female athletes' experiences of symptoms of PFD. This review included primary research studies that involved elite female athletes of any age or ethnicity. RESULTS: Of the 1922 citations retrieved in the search, 32 studies met the methodological criteria for data extraction and analysis. Five main themes emerged: (1) triggers for symptoms of PFD; (2) strategies adopted by athletes to manage/mitigate symptoms of PFD; (3) impact on QOL/daily life; (4) impact on performance; (5) impact on emotions. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this review suggest a need to further explore the experiences of PFD among elite female athletes and it is suggested that future research should adopt qualitative methods or incorporate a qualitative component.

Current knowledge of pain after breast cancer treatment: a systematic review.

Pain and functional compromise are reported as effects that can be expected after breast cancer treatment. The reported prevalence of pain after breast cancer treatment varies widely, ranging from 13% (n = 74) to 93% (n = 590). To date, pain after breast cancer treatment has not been the focus of a systematic review. The aim of this study was to present what is known about the prevalence, location, intensity, nature, and temporal factors of the pain experienced by patients after breast cancer treatment. Searches of the Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, Amed, and Cinhal databases identified 69 articles on the topic. Studies were methodologically assessed by two independent reviewers using a checklist of 18 criteria. Twenty-six of the articles were identified as meeting inclusion criteria. Findings related to research conducted on 15 patient cohorts. Pain is confirmed as a prevalent treatment-related symptom experienced by 13%-51% of women in several different anatomic locations. The onset is variable, ranging from immediate to 24 months, highlighting the need to assess for pain at every evaluation interval. Little is known about the nature of the pain, but descriptors used (tenderness, soreness) suggest that the type of pain may not be confined to neuropathic pain. Reported average numeric intensity is low, but no study measured the impact of pain on function. Incidence of posttreatment pain has yet to be established. Further exploration of the nature, temporal factors, and impact that the pain experienced after treatment has on function, activity, and participation is needed to guide intervention and test its efficacy.