Association between postures and work-related musculoskeletal discomforts (WRMD) among beverage bottling workers.

BACKGROUND: Bottling tasks postures may increase risk for developing work related musculoskeletal discomforts (WRMDs). Postural evaluation with epidemiological investigation for possible association may be appropriate for planning ergonomic programs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate working postures and investigate associations between postural risks and prevalence of WRMDs among beverage bottling workers. METHOD: 301 beverage bottling company workers (8 work-stations) participated in this survey. They were required to complete a modified standard Nordic questionnaire, and their working postures examined utilizing Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). RESULTS: Postural risks ratings were high (8- 10) to very high (11- 15). Shoulder was the most commonly reported body part with WRMDs except at the carbonating workstations where Neck, Upper and Lower back discomforts were the most common (60.0%). The compounding workstations recorded the highest prevalence of WRMDs in all body regions except shoulder and wrist. There was a significant association between working posture and occurrence of WRMDs in at least one body part. Similarly, working posture was significantly associated with WRMDs at Neck, Upper back and Wrist. CONCLUSIONS: Working postures may be exposing beverage bottling workers to significant risk of developing WRMDs in at least one body part, more specifically, Shoulder, Neck, Upper back and Wrist. Intervention aimed at reducing postural risks is necessary.

Impact of Computer Related Posture on the Occurrence of Musculoskeletal Discomfort among Secondary School Students in Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Computers have become an essential part of life particularly in industrially advanced countries of the world. Children now have greater accessibility to computers both at school and at home. Recent studies suggest that with this increased exposure, there are associated musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in both school-aged children and adults. OBJECTIVES: To assess the posture assumed by secondary school students during computer use and its impact on the occurrence and severity of reported musculoskeletal discomforts. METHODS: Posture assumed during normal computer class, occurrence of discomforts, body parts involved and the intensity of discomforts were evaluated in 235 school aged children using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) scale, Body Discomfort Chart (BDC) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before and after normal computer class. Inferential statistics of t-test and chi-square were used to determine significance difference between variables, with level of significant set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: None of the participants demonstrated acceptable posture. Computer use produced significant discomforts on the neck, shoulder and low back. There was a significant relationship between participants height and posture assumed. Two hundred and eleven (89.8%) participants reported discomforts/pain during the use of computer. Weight and height were contributory factors to the occurrence of musculoskeletal discomfort/pain (p < 0.05) in some of the body parts studied. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal discomfort was found to be a problem among the school-aged children during computer use. Weight and height were implicated as factors that influenced the form of posture and the nature of the reported discomfort. Creating awareness about the knowledge of ergonomics and safety for promotion of good posture was therefore recommended.

Changes in blood glucose, lipid profile and antioxidant activities in trained and untrained adult male subjects during programmed exercise on the treadmill.

BACKGROUND: Exercise is a physical activity that maintains physical fitness and optimum health of an individual. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine changes in redox-oxidative status, lipid profile, cortisol, testosterone and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in trained and untrained male subjects during a programmed exercise session. METHODS: Twenty (20) trained and twenty (20) untrained young healthy male subjects (age 21.75 +/- 1.15 years, height 1.74 +/- 0.02 m and weight 65.25 +/- 1.46 kg) participated in the study. Their weights, heights, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Subjects who have fasted for 12 hours exercised on the treadmill for 20 minutes at 1.5 km/hr after a warm-up period of exercising at 0.5 km/hr. for 3 minutes. Blood samples (1.5 ml) were withdrawn from the cubital vein before and immediately after the exercise session. Blood samples were analyzed for FBG, lipid profile, testosterone, cortisol and oxidative enzymes activities. Blood pressure and pulse rate were also measured before and after the exercise. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in rate of glucose disappearance in the trained subjects compared with the untrained subjects. The low density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol), TC, TC:HDL and LDL:HDL ratios were significantly higher in the untrained subjects both before and after the exercise while the trained subjects recorded significantly low cholesterol level. Testosterone and cortisol were significantly higher in untrained subjects before the exercise while its level balanced up with that of the trained subjects after the exercise. There was a significant increase in pulse pressure and diastolic pressure in untrained subjects after the exercise compared with trained subjects. Results of antioxidant assay showed that basal GPx and catalase were significantly higher in the trained subjects while GSH and SOD significantly increased in untrained subjects after the programmed exercise. Trained subjects expressed efficient energy utilization with better preparedness to handle oxidative stress better than untrained subjects. CONCLUSION: Exercise improves body lipid profile, cardiovascular system and antioxidant status, thus providing better accommodative adjustment to changes without any significant change to blood pressure parameters during exposure to exercise training.

Exercise training improves walking function in an African group of stroke survivors: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of treadmill walking and overground walking exercise training on recovery of walking function in an African group of stroke survivors. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled study. SETTING: Outpatient stroke rehabilitation unit in a tertiary hospital. SUBJECTS: Sixty patients with chronic stroke (≥3 months). INTERVENTION: All subjects received individual outpatient conventional physiotherapy rehabilitation for 12 weeks. In addition, subjects in Group A (n = 20) received treadmill walking exercise training (TWET) while those in Group B (n = 20) received overground walking exercise training (OWET). Those in Group C (control) (n = 20) received conventional physiotherapy rehabilitation only. MAIN MEASURES: Outcome measures were (i) 10-metre walk time (10MWT) test and (ii) six-minute walk distance (6MWD) test. These were evaluated at entry into the study and at the end of every four weeks. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate the significance of the difference between pre-training and post-training scores on the two measures (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Subjects in the TWET group recorded 22.6 ± 1.5% decrease in 10MWT and 31.0 ± 4.3% increase in 6MWD; those in the OWET group made 26.8 ± 1.3% and 45.2 ± 4.6% improvement in 10MWT and 6MWD respectively. Subjects in the control group made 2.2 ± 0.7% and 2.9 ± 0.8% improvement in the two functions. These changes were significant for the TWET and OWET groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that treadmill and overground walking exercise training programmes, combined with conventional rehabilitation, improved walking function in an African group of adult stroke survivors. Therefore, professionals who conduct stroke rehabilitation programmes should utilize exercise training to optimize patient outcomes.

Effects of two exercise training techniques on walking function in adult patients with stroke.

BACKGROUND: Patients with stroke usually demonstrate activity limitations manifested by reduced ability to perform daily functions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of treadmill walking and overground walking exercise training on walking function in adult patients with stroke. METHODS: Participants were forty (40) patients with stroke comprising 22 males and 18 females. Inclusion criteria included absence of any co-morbidity that could affect rehabilitation. They were randomly assigned to 2 exercise training groups (20 in each group). All study subjects received conventional physiotherapy rehabilitation for 12 weeks. During the same period, subjects in Group A had treadmill walking exercise training (TWET) while those in Group B had overground walking exercise training (OWET) in addition to the conventional physiotherapy. Outcomes were measured as (i) Ten-metre walk time and (ii) Six-minute walk distance. They were evaluated at entry into the study and at the end of every 4 weeks. Results at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12 were used for analysis. For each of the 2 groups, paired t-tests were used to evaluate the significance of the differences between the pre-intervention (week 0) mean scores on both tests and the mean scores at weeks 4, 8 and 12. RESULTS: With 12 weeks of exercise training, both TWET and OWET produced significant improvement in walking function (P < 0.05). However, OWET resulted in significantly greater reduction (26.8%) in mean walking time over 10 metres than TWET (22.6%); and significantly greater increase (45.2%) in mean walking distance over 6 minutes than TWET (31.0%). CONCLUSION: Exercise training, especially overground walking, could be integrated into the traditional rehabilitation care given to adult patients with stroke.