PMC:4292198 / 16679-22106 JSONTXT

{"project":"2_test","denotations":[{"id":"25598618-16230829-47082765","span":{"begin":320,"end":322},"obj":"16230829"},{"id":"25598618-10658550-47082766","span":{"begin":750,"end":752},"obj":"10658550"},{"id":"25598618-15204301-47082767","span":{"begin":750,"end":754},"obj":"15204301"},{"id":"25598618-3578290-47082768","span":{"begin":967,"end":969},"obj":"3578290"},{"id":"25598618-16884800-47082769","span":{"begin":1079,"end":1081},"obj":"16884800"},{"id":"25598618-16799823-47082770","span":{"begin":2184,"end":2186},"obj":"16799823"},{"id":"25598618-12071487-47082771","span":{"begin":3500,"end":3502},"obj":"12071487"},{"id":"25598618-12071487-47082772","span":{"begin":3927,"end":3929},"obj":"12071487"},{"id":"25598618-12071487-47082773","span":{"begin":4356,"end":4358},"obj":"12071487"},{"id":"25598618-18057814-47082774","span":{"begin":4800,"end":4802},"obj":"18057814"},{"id":"T76487","span":{"begin":320,"end":322},"obj":"16230829"},{"id":"T57542","span":{"begin":750,"end":752},"obj":"10658550"},{"id":"T43768","span":{"begin":750,"end":754},"obj":"15204301"},{"id":"T80218","span":{"begin":967,"end":969},"obj":"3578290"},{"id":"T26275","span":{"begin":1079,"end":1081},"obj":"16884800"},{"id":"T28042","span":{"begin":2184,"end":2186},"obj":"16799823"},{"id":"T70127","span":{"begin":3500,"end":3502},"obj":"12071487"},{"id":"T40351","span":{"begin":3927,"end":3929},"obj":"12071487"},{"id":"T90746","span":{"begin":4356,"end":4358},"obj":"12071487"},{"id":"T73200","span":{"begin":4800,"end":4802},"obj":"18057814"}],"text":"DISCUSSION\n\nPrevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms\nA vast majority of the study population had experienced some form of MSDs during the past 12 months. Lower back symptoms (60.6%), symptoms in ankle/feet (59.0%), knees (58.1%), and upper back (54.6%) were the most prevalent problem. Reports from Thailand[10] and India[1112] confirm the prevalence of MSDs among weavers. Forced back bent sitting work posture due to workspace constraints and informal workstation, high muscle exertion, and repetitive movement of body parts might be attributed to high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the present study. Females reported higher incidence of back pain in comparison to males in the study and the same has been reported by other researchers.[1314] Weaving activities involve repetitive work, causing strain on the musculoskeletal system increasing the likelihood of fatigue and decreasing the opportunity for tissue to recover leading to pain and discomfort.[15] Standing for long hours influence center of pressure points of the body and lumbar extensor muscle fatigue.[16]\n\nDemographic factors and musculoskeletal symptoms\nGender was a significant factor retained in the models for shoulders, wrists/hands, lower back, and ankles/feet with odds ratios ranging from 1.71 to 2.14. This indicated that the chance of MSDs occurring in the above mentioned regions among females was more likely than males. This is in agreement with the findings of Choobineh et al.[17] BMI was also a significant factor for lower back problems with odds ratio equaled to 2.12. This meant that among those with abnormal BMI (BMI \u003c 18.5 or BMI \u003e 26), the chance of musculoskeletal problems occurring in the lower back region was nearly twice more likely than among the subjects with a normal BMI. Although age was found to be a significant factor for wrists/hands symptoms in χ2 test, but it was not retained in the regression model of this region. It could be inferred that age was a confounding variable for this region which was omitted from the model in regression analysis. There was no association between working hours or job tenure and prevalence of MSDs. This is in accord with Bos et al.[18] Continuous working was also a significant factor retained in the regression models of neck, upper back, and knees regions; which increased the chance of MSD occurrence nearly two to three times higher among workers in weaving operations.\n\nPhysical and psychological work demands as associated factors for musculoskeletal symptoms\nAmong the perceived physical demands investigated in this study, activities including pulling/pushing heavy objects, moving/lifting/lowering heavy loads, repetitive motions with hands/wrists, and bent or twisted posture of the trunk, were significantly associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in different body regions. The results revealed that the level of perceived physical demands had significant influence on MSD symptoms occurrence among both men and women; however, the body regions influenced were not the same in both genders (i.e. hip/thigh, knees, and ankles/feet among men and shoulders, elbows, wrists/hands, and knees among women).\nWomen were more susceptible to psychological demands than men. The psychological factors including conflicting demands, the work is not remunerative and not sufficient time to get the job done were significantly associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in different body regions and retained in the regression models. Bongers et al.,[19] in an extensive review on the role of psychosocial factors in the development of musculoskeletal symptoms found that in the majority of the studies reviewed an association between psychosocial factors and upper extremity symptoms had been reported. High perceived workload, time pressure, low control on the job, and poor social support was among those factors consistently associated with these disorders in many studies.[19] In the present study, no psychological factor was retained in the neck and the elbows regression models, but for shoulders and wrists/hands, conflicting demands, and work is not remunerative remained in the regression models, respectively, with noticeable odds ratios showing the influence of these psychological factors on adverse symptoms of these two body regions, which was in agreement with the report of Bongers et al.[19] In the hip/thigh, knees, and ankles/feet regression models the psychological factor work is not remunerative remained in the regression model. In case of upper back regression model, the psychological factor not sufficient time to get the job done remained in the regression model. The results are also similar to those of Italian X-ray technologists study in which psychological workload was found to be associated with occurrence of MSD.[20]\nIn conclusion, the results of this study highlighted the importance of perceived, physical, and psychological demands in relation to reported musculoskeletal symptoms in different body regions. Among the perceived physical demands studied here, those involving manual material handling, were most frequently and strongly associated with reported musculoskeletal symptoms in nearly all body regions. Any interventional program for preventing or reducing musculoskeletal problems should focus particularly on reducing excessive manual material handling demands as well as the psychological aspects of the working environment."}