• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.243-262
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to investigate musculo-skeletal symtoms and working conditions of university library's librarians to search for the risk factors related to musculo-skeletal symptoms. The study subjects were 266 librarians who were working at 20 university libraries. A self-recording questionnaire was used to investigate the general characteristics, working conditions, job intensity, job satisfaction and stress, education of musculoskeletal disorders and nature of musculoskeletal symptom. Statistical analysis was done by using t-test and multiple regression analysis. The complaint proportion of self-reported positive musculoskeletal symptoms was 62.5% and that of severe musculoskeletal symptoms was 26.1%. Multiple regression analysis showed that low satisfaction of working conditions, high job intensity, irregular mealtime, job stress were closely related to the positive rate of musculoskeletal symptoms. Therefore, it will be necessary to make efforts to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders improving working conditions and mitigating the job intensity.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1128-1137
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that affect working environment related musculoskeletal subjective symptoms among dental hygienists. Methods : The subjects in this study were 232 dental hygienists working at dental clinics and general hospitals in Daegu. The data has collected through the self-questionnaire survey from July 9th 2012 to July 31th. Results : 1. Musculoskeletal subjective symptoms were 85.3% in shoulder(right), 81.9% in neck, 74.6% in shoulder(left), 65.5% in wrist(right), 56.5% in lower leg(right). 2. Pain frequency of musculoskeletal subjective symptoms were the highest 24.7% in neck. Seeing the severity pain was the highest 9.0% in foot(left). The investigation of work interference related to substantially pain showed the highest 18.5% in wrist(right). 3. Musculoskeletal subjective symptoms correlated with general characteristics such as age, marital status, regular exercise and medical check-up(p<.05). 4. Musculoskeletal subjective symptoms correlated with working environments such as working career, the night treatment, the average daily number of patients handled, the average daily standing work hours, the regular rest, the major job in work place and physical burden(p<.05). Conclusions : The education or program on wrong working habits and bad postures of dental hygienists is needed to prevent musculoskeletal disorder.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.159-170
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• 2017

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to identify musculoskeletal symptoms and to investigate factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in small and medium sized hospital nurses. Methods: The data were collected from 206 nurses working in Jeonnam. We used self administration questionnaires of KOSHA GUIDE H-9-2012 for musculoskeletal symptoms, PWI-SF for psychosocial stress, KOSS for job stress, and HPLP-II for health behaviors. The collected data were analyzed using the $x^2$, t-test, and logistic regression analysis in SPSS Ver. 23.0. Results: Sixty-six percent of the subjects had musculoskeletal symptoms. The shoulder had the highest symptom at 38.3%, followed by lower back at 32.5%, and neck at 29.1%. The mean and standard deviation score of psychosocial stress were $24.06{\pm}6.01$, those of job stress were $2.38{\pm}0.23$, and those of health behaviors were $2.14{\pm}0.39$. The items that were significantly different according to musculoskeletal symptoms were career ($x^2=6.67$, p<.036), one week overtime ($x^2=7.27$, p<.026), subjective health status ($x^2=4.29$, p<.038), and psychosocial stress ($x^2=7.99$, p<.010). In logistic regression analysis, career, and psychosocial stress were found to affect musculoskeltal symptoms. Conclusion: It is necessary to conduct preventive intervention to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms according to career and psychosocial stress for small and medium sized hospital nurses.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 1991

Musculoskeletal disorders are a major cause of occupational disabilities. Approximately thirty percent state that the major reason for an inability to work is a musculoskeletal problem. A farm work is associated with increased stress and trauma to joints. Chronic overuse injuries are a result of stresses that exceed the body's adaptive or healing capabilities. They can occur in bone, tendons and muscle-tendon-bone junctions. The aim of the investigation was to the study the frequency of pain, ache, and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system among farmers, to find possible correlations between these symptoms and various working positions and different working actions. A questionnaire was answered by 138 farmers. Of those who answered the questionnaire 82% had pain and discomfort from back, shoulders, arms in orders, The result showed that musculoskeletal pain predominate in the farming seasons, and of those who had pain and discomfort 89% thought that farm works had a correlation with the pain and discomfort of musculoskeletal system. But only 17% of quationnaire were put to periodic medical examinations, and 50% of those who had pain and discomfort consulted a doctor. Education in effective pain treatment should therefore be intensifide to ascertain that farmers in rural areas have satisfactory knowledge of the musculoskeletal pain as a chronic overuse syndrome.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.685-693
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• 2012

Objectives : This research was conducted to find the subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system for main jobs and job posture. Methods : A survey was conducted from September 15, 2011 to October 7, 2011 and 357 dental hygienists were responded. The survey was consisted of the working environment and medical equipments, psycho-social characteristics, health habits and education, job posture, subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system pain, and so on. Results : In the survey on the frequency of job posture of dental hygienists by jobs, said they cast down or tilt their head by 15 degrees or more or twist or bend their back. The result of the analysis on the subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system by main job showed that they experienced a pain in neck, shoulder, and back, although the order differed. The order of subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system for casting down or turning head by 15 degrees or more, twisting or bending back, having shoulders not parallel to the ground, sitting at the end of a chair, and supporting the whole body with one leg or pressing on a pedal for treatment was from the shoulders to the neck to the back. The order of subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal system for having arms too far from the body or hunching for treatment and bending wrists inward or outward for treatment was from the shoulders to the back to the neck. Conclusions : Due to the characteristics of the job which requires one to have a proper view of a patient's oral cavity, most of the postures included casting down of head or bending of back. Therefore a development of new postures is needed to replace the existing job postures which pressure the musculoskeletal system. And shift rotation can be used as a preventive measure.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2014

Background: Cassava and corn milling is a growing small-scale enterprise in Africa. We aimed to determine the incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints among vibration-exposed Congolese cassava and corn millers in the previous 12 months. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, prior to a follow-up study, from March to May 2013 among cassava/corn millers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, in which 365 millers age-matched to 365 civil workers anonymously answered a questionnaire. Results: Overall incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints was 25.8% in millers (vs. 5.2% in civil workers; p < 0.001). The risk of experiencing musculoskeletal symptoms was seven times higher in millers [vs. civil workers; odds ratio (OR) = 7.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.03-12.50; p < 0.0001]; 2.4 times higher in smoking millers (vs. smoking civil office workers; OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.42-3.88; p < 0.001); 3.6 times higher in millers with longer daily exposure (> 8 hours; vs. those working ${\leq}8$ hours; OR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.93-3.61; p = 0.026); and 7.4 times higher in young millers (vs. older millers, OR = 7.39; 95% CI: 1.29-75.52; p < 0.001). Smoking, number of cigarettes, and daily exposure duration were positively correlated with musculoskeletal complaints. Conclusion: This study revealed a relatively high incidence of musculoskeletal complaints among African cassava and corn millers. The use of anti-vibration protective equipment and the regulation of this hazardous occupation may reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in millers.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.125-133
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study is to figure out the level of Functional Movement Screen (FMS) of 122 automobile manufacturing workers and to set the FMS score for predicting risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Background: Although today's industrial sites have been becoming automated rapidly, the risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have been on the rise. In the case of WMSDs, it is important to control WMSDs at the early stage. Early detection of WMSDs is very important for the successful treatment. However, the medical examination puts a great financial burden on most workers. To reduce their burden, there is one test to check the musculoskeletal functional condition and to predict the risk of injury, which is called FMS. Method: This research tested the FMS score of 122 workers at a motor company, and also conducted a questionnaire survey of individual characteristics and job characteristics. Results: For the 122 subjects, the average score of FMS is $14.63{\pm}2.27$. There is a negative correlation between FMS and their ages and BMI (p <0.05). FMS is higher when exercising regularly (p <0.05). The FMS scores of musculoskeletal disorder patients are lower than those of normal workers (p <0.05). While it is more likely to become a musculoskeletal disorder patient when FMS score is less than 14, it is more likely to become a normal worker when FMS score is more than or equal to 14. Conclusion: According to the result of FMS test, there is a score difference between individuals with musculoskeletal disorders and normal ones. FMS scores can also predict and identify workers with risk of the musculoskeletal disorders. Application: According to this study, FMS can be expected to have a positive effect on the prevention of WMSDs in worksites.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.76-91
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• 2017

Background: Agricultural work is physically demanding and is associated with a high frequency of musculoskeletal disorders. It is challenging to comprehensively understand the present status of work-related diseases and injuries among farmers in underdeveloped countries. Objects: This study aimed to elucidate the current status of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in local farmers in Tigray, Ethiopia, and identify the agricultural factors associated work-related musculoskeletal pain (AFWMP) and healthy living and healthy behavior factors associated work-related musculoskeletal pain (HFWMP). Methods: The Institute for Poverty Alleviation and International Development at Yonsei University conducted a survey of 126 households in Tigray, Ethiopia in 2014. A total of 116 individuals (73 men, 43 women) representing each household answered the questionnaires. Results: 1) Work-related musculoskeletal pain (WMSP) most commonly occurred when performing heavy lifting and most frequently occurred in the lower back. 2) Age, self-perceived labor intensity, and months of farming work were significantly higher in the pain group than those in the non-pain group. 3) Overall work-related musculoskeletal pain intensity (WPI) showed positive and negative correlations with years of farming experience and self-perceived health status, respectively. 4) In binary logistic regression, the occurrence of WMSP showed significant associations with self-perceived labor intensity. 5) On multiple linear regression analysis, age, months of farming work, and self-perceived health status had a significant impact on overall WPI. Conclusion: The WMSP of farmers in Tigray, Ethiopia was related to the characteristics of farm working and health status. Furthermore, HFWMP and AFWMP were the chief factors affecting the occurrence of WMSP in farmers in Tigray. Therefore, both HFWMP and AFWMP should be considered for clinical health assessments of farmers with WMSP in underdeveloped African countries.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2021

Background: The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationships musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability in terms of age, gender, and employment status Methods: The fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) in 2010 (43,816 participants aged 15 years and over) analyzed for European employees and the third Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) in 2011 (50,032 participants aged 15 years and older) analyzed for Korean employees. In this study, three well known vulnerable factors to musculoskeletal pains (older age, female gender, and precarious employment status) were combined and defined as combined vulnerability. Associations of musculoskeletal pains with combined vulnerability were assessed with prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated by Poisson regression models with robust estimates of variance. Results: The prevalences of musculoskeletal pains were lower but the absolute and relative differences between combined vulnerabilities were higher among Korean employees compared with the European employees. Furthermore, the increased risk of having musculoskeletal pains according to combined vulnerability was modestly explained by socioeconomic factors and exposure to ergonomic risk factors, especially in Republic of Korea. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the labor market may be more unfavorable for female and elderly workers in Republic of Korea. Any prevention strategies to ward off musculoskeletal pains, therefore, should be found and implemented to mitigate or buffer against the most vulnerable work population, older, female, and precarious employment status, in Republic of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.120-131
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of an 8 week, self-managed, app-based and poster-based stretching program on musculoskeletal symptoms, flexibility, stretching frequency, self-efficacy, social support, and musculoskeletal disorder knowledge in small manufacturing business workers. Methods: This was a cluster randomized, two-group pretest-posttest design. Workers were assigned to either an app-based (n=20) or a poster-based (n=25) stretching intervention. Both groups received an educational class. The app group also received mobile phone text messages and an app with stretching videos, stretching alarms, stretching records, and information on musculoskeletal disorders. The poster group received workplace stretching posters. Data were collected from April to September 2018 and analyzed with the 𝑥² test, paired t-test, and independent t-test. Results: There was only a significant difference in social support. Significant increase in flexibility and musculoskeletal symptoms were noted for both groups, but social support and musculoskeletal disorder knowledge were significantly changed only in the poster group. More than half of the workers practiced stretching at least 3 times a week. Conclusion: The 8 week, self-managed, workplace stretching program was effective to increase flexibility and stretching frequency to at least 3 times a week. However, effective interventions for musculoskeletal symptoms could not be identified.