Ergonomic risk factors among computer office workers for complaints of arm, neck and shoulder and workstation evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested an association between computer work and the development of musculoskeletal disorders. However, studies examining the workplace ergonomics assessment of computer offices are scarce in the Pakistani population. OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of ergonomic risk factors in the office using the Rapid Assessment Office Strain (ROSA) method for complaints of arm, neck and shoulder (CANS) among office computer workers. METHODS: From January to August 2019, a cross-sectional study was carried out among office workers who worked at least three hours on computers in their daily work. The prevalence of CANS was measured by using the Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire (MUEQ) and work station evaluation was done by using Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA). Data were collected from 773 computer workers, of whom 443 (56%) worked in the information technology sector, 215 (28%) in industry and 124 (16%) in universities. SPSS version 20 was used for data entry and analysis. RESULTS: Out of 773 computer workers, 448 (58%) reported musculoskeletal pain and the most prevalent were shoulder pain (327, 42%) and neck pain (270, 35%). The mean scores of ROSA sections A, B, C and D were 4.00±0.82, 2.98±0.72, 3.49±0.67 and 3.61±0.72 respectively. The mean ROSA total score in 773 office computer workers was 4.19±0.78, which indicates a low risk of musculoskeletal complaints. There was significant association was found between ROSA section A and shoulder pain (P = 0.043), ROSA section C with complaints of lower arm (P = 0.013), wrist (P = 0.016), and hand pain (P = 0.005), ROSA section D with lower arm (P = 0.002), wrist (P = 0.004) and hand complaints (P = 0.002). A significant association was found between ROSA total score and complaints of shoulder and hand, with p values of 0.012 and 0.006, respectively. CONCLUSION: CANS are prevalent among computer office workers, and there is a significant relationship between CANS and workstation ergonomics.

A non-invasive navigation system for retargeting gastroscopic lesions.

Biopsy is a traditional endoscopic surveillance of premalignant gastric lesions, and endoscopic tattooing is used for marking the biopsy's location. However, the tattooing has several disadvantages. For example, the procedure is an invasive operation and may not be durable due to the diffusion. Moreover, it is procedurally cumbersome with an associated risk of technical failure. In this study, a computer aided endoscopic navigation system (CAEN system) was developed for a non-invasive biopsy procedure. The CAEN system consists of a new, designed six degree of freedom (6-DOF) tracking endoscope device and a computer simulated work station. During the procedure, the endoscopist uses the tip of the tracking endoscope to touch the lesion. Then, the lesion's location is recorded in the work station, which then guides the endoscopist in retargeting the lesions in the follow-ups. The clinical experimental results demonstrate that the accuracy at the angularis is 5.2 ± 2.8 mm, at the antral lesser curvature is 7.2 ± 2.0 mm, at the antral greater curvature is 6.3 ± 3.1 mm, at the antral posterior wall is 8.2 ± 1.6 mm, and at the antral anterior wall is 7.9 ± 1.3 mm. The mean accuracy is 7.5 mm, and the P-value is 0.023, which is likely suitable for clinical practice. Furthermore, the proposed CAEN system requires less procedural time than the tattooing.

Síntomas musculoesqueléticos en conductores de buses de una institución universitaria / Musculoeskeletal symptoms in bus drivers of a university institution

Los síntomas musculoesqueléticos (SME) en conductores de buses han sido asociados a condiciones inadecuadas en su puesto de trabajo. Se determinó la ocurrencia de SME en el total de la población de conductores de buses de una universidad pública (N = 35) y se relacionó con el puesto de trabajo, la carga postural estática, edad, índice de masa corporal (IMC), jornada de trabajo y la antigüedad en el cargo. El rango de edades fue de 27 a 56 años. Se aplicaron el cuestionario estandarizado Nórdico para la determinación de los SME, un cuestionario para recoger información para caracterizar y determinar los riesgos percibidos en el puesto de trabajo y el método de la Regie National Des Usines Renault para medir la carga postural estática. La media (?± DE) de edad fue de 38,89 ±7,31 años y la del IMC de 31,4 ± 5,74 Kg/m². Los SME estuvieron asociados significativamente con el IMC (r s = 0,895; p<0,05). Hubo elevada incidencia de SME (94%), con mayor ocurrencia en cuello (69%), espalda baja (60%), espalda superior (57%) y rodillas (43%); predominó el dolor, que se ubicó mayormente en dolor fuerte y/o de fuerte intensidad en la espalda baja y rodillas. Los hallazgos pudieran estar relacionados con los riesgos presentes en el puesto de trabajo: ausencia de apoya cabeza, soporte lumbar, silla no deslizable y condiciones del ambiente laboral, vibración y ruido. No hubo asociación ni correlación entre los SME y la carga postural estática. Los resultados sugieren que las condiciones inadecuadas del puesto de trabajo, así como el IMC, predisponen a la ocurrencia de SME.

Musculoskeletal symptoms (MSDs) in bus drivers have been associated to the inadequate conditions of the work station. The occurrence of MES was determined in the total population of bus drivers of a public university (N = 35), and these were related with the work station, the posture static load, age, BMI, worked days and the number of years in the position. In this study, the age range was between 27 and 56 years. The standardize Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for the determination of the MSDs, the method of the Regie National Des Usines Renault to measure the static postural load and a questionnaire to collect information of the bus working conditions were applied. The mean (?± SD) age was 39±1.94 years and the body mass index (BMI) was 31±1.95 Kg/m². The MSDs were associated significantly to the BMI (r s=0.895 and p<0.05). There was a high incidence of MSDs (94%) with more occurrences in neck (69%), lower back (60%), superior back (57%) and knees (43%). Pain of strong intensity, located in the lower back and knees, was the main symptom. These findings can be related with the risks at the work station, such as absence of head support, lumbar support, non sliding seat and inadequate conditions of the labor environment: vibration and noise. There was neither association nor correlation of MSDs and the postural static load, or with the others variables in study. The results suggest that inadequate conditions of the work stations as well as the BMI, dominated the occurrence of MSDs.

Ergonomic implementation and work station design for quilt manufacturing unit.

BACKGROUND: Awkward, extreme and repetitive postures have been associated with work related musculoskeletal disorders and injury to the lowerback of workers engaged in quilting manufacturing unit. Basically quilt are made manually by hand stitch and embroidery on the quilts which was done in squatting posture on the floor. Mending, stain removal, washing and packaging were some other associated work performed on wooden table. their work demands to maintain a continuous squatting posture which leads to various injuries related to low back and to calf muscles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was undertaken in Tarai Agroclimatic Zone of Udham Singh Nagar District of Uttarakhand State with the objective to study the physical and physiological parameters as well as the work station layout of the respondent engaged on quilt manufacturing unit. A total of 30 subjects were selected to study the drudgery involved in quilt making enterprise and to make the provision of technology option to reduce the drudgery as well as musculoskeletal disorders, thus enhancing the productivity and comfortability. RESULTS: Findings of the investigation show that majority of workers (93.33 per cent) were female and very few (6.66 per cent) were the male with the mean age of 24.53±6.43. The body mass index and aerobic capacity (lit/min) values were found as 21.40±4.13 and 26.02±6.44 respectively. Forty per cent of the respondents were having the physical fitness index of high average whereas 33.33 per cent of the respondents had low average physical fitness. All the assessed activities involved to make the quilt included a number of the steps which were executed using two types of work station i.e squatting posture on floor and standing posture using wooden table. A comparative study of physiological parameters was also done in the existing conditions as well as in improved conditions by introducing low height chair and wooden spreader to hold the load of quilt while working, to improve the work posture of the worker. The average working heart rate values were found to reduced by performing the activity using improved technology followed by energy expenditure (6.99 kj/min), total cardiac cost of work (1037.95 beats), physiological cost of work (103.79 beats) and rate of perceived rate of exertion to the score of 2.6 Results of postural analysis that is change in motion at cervical region reveal that range of motion in case of extension was found beyond the normal range in existing setup where as it reduced to normal range in improved work station. CONCLUSION: The finding of the study concludes that to ensure safety and to reduce occupational health hazards while performing the activity, an ergonomically designed work station by introduction of improved technology option will be a right choice which also enhances the productivity.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dental surgeons: A pilot study.

AIM: To describe the work-related musculoskeletal disorders among on-job dental surgeons. OBJECTIVES: To identify the musculoskeletal disorders in terms of perception of pain and stiffness experienced by the dental surgeons due to the rigors of dental work, to determine the prevailing working environment with particular reference to dental work station in relation to musculoskeletal disorders, and to find the association between pain and stiffness experienced by the dental surgeons and the selected socio-demographic variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 30 graduated dental surgeons having a work experience of 1 year or more, post graduates and faculty members of various specialties at Yenepoya Dental College Hospital, Mangalore. The subjects were selected randomly from the hospital and they were given closed-ended questionnaire to find out perception of pain and stiffness experienced in the past 6 months. The observation of the working environment was done by walk-through observational survey. RESULTS: The study showed that 6.6% dental surgeons always experienced shoulder pain, while 83.3% dental surgeons sometimes experienced back pain and 70% sometimes experienced neck pain. Majority of the dental surgeons (73.3%) experienced stiffness in the back and 23.3% experienced severe pain in their neck. It was observed that the number of patients attended per day by the dental surgeons had a significant association (P = 0.024) with the pain they experienced in their hip/thigh region. The frequency of pain experienced by the dental surgeons in the hip/thigh and knee joints also showed a significant association (P = 0.037) with the height of the dental surgeons. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that various socio-demographic variables contributed to the musculoskeletal disorders experienced by the dental surgeons. However, the number of patients attended per day by the dental surgeons vis-à-vis pain experienced in the back, wrist, and hip/thigh was significant.

Digital Practice of Large Scale X-Ray Equipment / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To improve X-ray equipment for better medical treatment by digitally transform normal X-ray equipment.Methods Digital image workstation was equipped for digital photography so that ordinary X-ray equipment has the function of a digital X-ray equipment.Results The digital transformation enhance the clinical performance of X-ray equipment.Conclusion It has been proved that some ordinary X-ray equipment can be equipped with digital workstation.

Training for Application of Electronics Medical History Doctor Work Station in New Version / 医疗卫生装备

The training experience on XML doctor work station Version 2.2.7 was introduced.The relationship and differences between 2.2.7 version and word version were analyzed.It is especially highlighted how each function is embodied in the training system.The importance of using 2.2.7 version doctor work station on ex-period training is elucidated.