• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.356-363
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• 2017

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate which physical and psychosocial work demands were associated with excellent work ability in individuals with neck pain, and to investigate age and sex differences in these associations. Methods: The study sample was obtained from the Statistics Sweden cross-sectional Work Environment survey and consisted of workers who reported neck pain after work (N = 3,212). Results: The findings showed an association between excellent work ability and self-reported low exposure to lifting, twisted work posture, working with hands in shoulder level or higher, and leaning forward without support and combination of exposures containing these work demands. Low exposure to seated work and high demands showed a reversed association. The associations were present mainly among older workers and were generally stronger for men than for women. Conclusion: This study indicates that a lower level of physically demanding work is an important element to maintain excellent work ability, especially for the older worker with neck pain.

• 한국응급구조학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.33-46
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in 119 EMT during patient-carrying tasks using a long backboard (LBB) and a variable stretcher. Methods: Manikins were used as patients, and 45 new 119 EMT from K Fire Academy were filmed performing patient-carrying tasks on stairs. The tasks were analyzed using Ovako working posture analysis system (OWAS) and Rapid entire body assessment (REBA). Results: In using LBB, the OWAS score was Mode 3(Mean 2.37, Maximum 3), requiring as soon as possible corrective action, the REBA score was Mode 11(Mean 9.16, Maximum 11), requiring immediate improvement. In using variable stretcher, the OWAS score was Mode 1(Mean 2.33, Maximum 3), non-necessity for corrective action, the REBA score was Mode 9(Mean 8.0, Maximum 11), requiring as soon as possible. Conclusion: In conclusion, improvement was needed in one task (carrying a patient using a LBB) in the OWAS and in two tasks (carrying a patient using a LBB, carrying a patient using a variable stretcher) in the REBA. Thereby, required attention and management of WMSDs during training. In addition, it is essential to carry out objective and quantitative assessments through ergonomic analysis by occupational health professionals when designing future training programs to prevent WMSDs.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.183-196
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess the agreement between job physical risk factor analysis by ergonomists using ergonomic methods and physical examinations made by occupational physicians on the presence of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities. Background: Ergonomics is the systematic application of principles concerned with the design of devices and working conditions for enhancing human capabilities and optimizing working and living conditions. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent injuries and physical and emotional stress. The major types of ergonomic injuries and incidents are cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), acute strains, sprains, and system failures. Minimization of use of excessive force and awkward postures can help to prevent such injuries Method: Initial data were collected as part of a larger study by the University of Utah Ergonomics and Safety program field data collection teams and medical data collection teams from the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH). Subjects included 173 male and female workers, 83 at Beehive Clothing (a clothing plant), 74 at Autoliv (a plant making air bags for vehicles), and 16 at Deseret Meat (a meat-processing plant). Posture and effort levels were analyzed using a software program developed at the University of Utah (Utah Ergonomic Analysis Tool). The Ergonomic Epicondylitis Model (EEM) was developed to assess the risk of epicondylitis from observable job physical factors. The model considers five job risk factors: (1) intensity of exertion, (2) forearm rotation, (3) wrist posture, (4) elbow compression, and (5) speed of work. Qualitative ratings of these physical factors were determined during video analysis. Personal variables were also investigated to study their relationship with epicondylitis. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association between risk factors and symptoms of epicondyle pain. Results: Results of this study indicate that gender, smoking status, and BMI do have an effect on the risk of epicondylitis but there is not a statistically significant relationship between EEM and epicondylitis. Conclusion: This research studied the relationship between an Ergonomic Epicondylitis Model (EEM) and the occurrence of epicondylitis. The model was not predictive for epicondylitis. However, it is clear that epicondylitis was associated with some individual risk factors such as smoking status, gender, and BMI. Based on the results, future research may discover risk factors that seem to increase the risk of epicondylitis. Application: Although this research used a combination of questionnaire, ergonomic job analysis, and medical job analysis to specifically verify risk factors related to epicondylitis, there are limitations. This research did not have a very large sample size because only 173 subjects were available for this study. Also, it was conducted in only 3 facilities, a plant making air bags for vehicles, a meat-processing plant, and a clothing plant in Utah. If working conditions in other kinds of facilities are considered, results may improve. Therefore, future research should perform analysis with additional subjects in different kinds of facilities. Repetition and duration of a task were not considered as risk factors in this research. These two factors could be associated with epicondylitis so it could be important to include these factors in future research. Psychosocial data and workplace conditions (e.g., low temperature) were also noted during data collection, and could be used to further study the prevalence of epicondylitis. Univariate analysis methods could be used for each variable of EEM. This research was performed using multivariate analysis. Therefore, it was difficult to recognize the different effect of each variable. Basically, the difference between univariate and multivariate analysis is that univariate analysis deals with one predictor variable at a time, whereas multivariate analysis deals with multiple predictor variables combined in a predetermined manner. The univariate analysis could show how each variable is associated with epicondyle pain. This may allow more appropriate weighting factors to be determined and therefore improve the performance of the EEM.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.185-190
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• 2000

본 연구는 1999년 10월 1일부터 2000년 3월 30일까지 대구시 세종 신경외과의원에서 요통을 진단 받고 물리치료실에 내실한 환자 40명과 대조군 40명을 합한 총 80명을 대상으로 하였다. 대상자에게 요추 1번과 5번의 상연을 연결하는 요추 전만각도 측정에서 요통환자의 $29.88^{\circ}$는 대조군의 $35.31^{\circ}$보다 통계적으로 유의하게 감소했다(p<0.01). 성별 전만도 차이는 여성 환자의 $32.32^{\circ}$가 남성 환자의 $27.32^{\circ}$보다 유의하게 증가했고(p<0.05), 대조군에서도 여성이 $36.63^{\circ}$로 남성의 $34.12^{\circ}$보다 증가했으나 통계적 차이는 없었다. 연령별 전만도 차이는 40세 이하의 환자가 $27.95^{\circ}$로 이상의 $32.32^{\circ}$보다 감소하였으나, 대조군은 각각 $35.82^{\circ}$와 $34.27^{\circ}$ 40세 이하가 조금 증가했으나 통계적 유의성은 없었다. 작업자세와 요추 전만도 차이에서 앉아서 작업하는 환자$(31.35^{\circ})$는 서서 작업하는 환자$(28.93^{\circ})$ 보다 증가했으나, 대조군은 양자가 비슷하였다. 따라서 본 연구결과 환자의 요추 전만도가 대조군 보다 유의하게 감소했고, 여성 환자가 남성 환자 보다 증가했다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.289-299
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• 2007

이 연구는 우리나라 40세 이하 여성근로자들을 대상으로 직종에 따른 직업적 특성과 근골격계 자각증상을 조사하여 사무직과 생산직 여성근로자에서 근골격계 자각증상의 호소율을 파악하고, 근골격계 증상과 관련요인을 알아보고자 하였으며 우리나라 여성근로자의 근골격계 질환 예방 및 건강관리를 위한 기초자료를 제공하고자 하였으며, 그 결과는 다음과 같다. 사무직 여성이 1,002명(53.4%)이고 생산직 여성이 873명(46.6%)를 차자하고 있으며, 흡연과 음주 경험에서도 생산직 여성에서 사무직 여성에 비해 유의하게 높게 나타났다(p<0.001). 사무직 여성들은 생산직 여성에 비해서 하루 4시간 이상의 컴퓨터 작업에 많이 종사하고 있는 반면, 생산직 여성들은 지나친 반복 업무와 부자연스러운 자세를 유지하는 업무 및 무거운 물건을 다루는 작업, 진동공구 등을 이용하는 작업에 상대적으로 더 많이 종사하는 것으로 나타났다. 유해물질에 대한 인식을 살펴본 결과도 사무직 여성들은 전자파에 대한 노출이 있다고 응답한 반면, 분진, 소음 등 기타 유해물질에 대한 노출이 있다고 응답한 경우는 생산직 여성에서 보다 많은 것으로 나타났다. 두 군 모두에서 어깨와 허리가 주요 통증 부위로 나타났다. 근골격계 자각증상 호소율을 비교해 보면, 두 군간에 유의한 차이를 보여 생산직 여성에서 사무직 여성에 비해서 유의하게 높게 나타났다(p<0.01). 이 연구를 통하여 생산직 여성에서 근골격계 자각증상의 호소율이 사무직 여성에 비해 유의하게 높게 나타났으며, 사무직 여성에서도 컴퓨터 작업과 부자연스러운 손목 자세를 유지해야 하는 업무 등을 하고 있는 것으로 나타나 근골격계자각증상 예방을 위한 관리대상에서 제외될 수는 없는 직종으로 생각된다. 따라서 근골격계 증상과 관련될 수 있는 관련작업 형태에 대한 예방대책과 보건교육이 필요하다고 생각되며, 더 나아가 우리나라 여성근로자의 건강보호를 위해서는 사업장 내에서 근무형태와 근무환경에 따른 건강영향을 줄일 수 있는 예방대책이 필요할 것으로 생각되어 향후 이에 대한 보다 많은 연구가 이루어질 필요가 있다고 생각된다.

• 한국보육지원학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.139-155
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• 2012

이 연구는 유아교육실제에서 몸의 교육적 의미를 재인식하기 위한 기초자료 제공을 목적으로 인간공학적 방법을 활용하여 바람직한 몸 교육의 방향에 대한 교훈을 얻고자 하였다. 인간공학 활동분석방법으로 가장 많이 활용되는 OWAS기법을 적용하여 D시에 거주하는 유아를 대상으로 비디오 촬영을 한 후 Snap reading하여 일과 활동내 몸 움직임을 분석하였다. 연구결과에 따르면 유아의 몸 움직임은 활동유형에 따라 다른 양상을 나타내었다. 허리와 팔을 중심으로 한 활동별 움직임은 통계적 유의성을 보이지 않았으며, 다리 활동성을 중심으로 활동 군별로 분석한 결과는 대집단, 소집단, 야외활동 순으로 나타나 전체집단 간 평균분석에서 통계적으로 유의하게 야외활동이 다른 활동보다 월등하게 높게 나타났다. 또 최고 및 최저 움직임을 보인 활동들을 independent t-test를 실시한 결과, 허리의 움직임에서 소집단이 야외활동보다, 다리의 움직임에서 야외활동이 대집단보다 유의하게 활발한 것으로 나타났다. 이 연구의 의의는 인체공학적 활동 분석법을 유아의 몸 움직임 측정에 처음으로 도입한 점과 더불어 이런 적용 결과를 바탕으로 최근 급격히 줄어드는 유아실외활동의 잠재적 위험성에 대해 경각심을 일깨웠다는 데서 찾을 수 있다.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.15-31
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• 2000

The aim was to evaluate the prevailing ergonomic and psychosocial conditions regarding low back injury in an automobile assembly system. This study consisted of two parts. In the first part of the study, analytic biomechanical model and NIOSH guidelines were applied to evaluate risk levels of low back injury for automobile assembly jobs. Total of 246 workers were analysed. There were 20 jobs having greater back compressive forces than 300kg at L5/S1. Also, there were 44 jobs over Action Limit with respect to 1981 NIOSH guidelines. This might in part be explained by the ergonomic conditions of the company analysed generally being good, with a relatively low duration of 'combined' extreme work posture. The relationship between psychosocial factors and low back injury was examined in the second part of the study. It has recently been recognized that overall reaction to working conditions was influenced by a range of factors, some of which were physical and some psychosocial. The psychosocial environment surrounding the work place may contribute to the perception of risk and eventual ill-health. A battery of questionnaires concerning the psychosocial stress based on PWI(Psychosocial Well-being Index) and musculoskeletal pain symptoms at low back was completed by 246 workers at the same plant. Results showed that 207 out 246 workers experienced the symptoms and 27 workers were diagnosed as patients. Two groups(low stressed, high stressed) based on PWI score had no significant relationships with both symptoms and results of diagnosis. However, sensitivities for symptoms and diagnosis by PWI were 91.3% and 92.6% respectively. Finally, relationships between physical work load and psychosocial stress were analysed. Specifically, some postural factors {vertical deviation angle of forearm, horizontal deviation angle of upperarm, vertical deviation angle of thigh, etc) were highly correlated with psychosocial stress. The results illustrated that PWI scores were associated with some physical workloads. However, psychosocial stress levels couldn't be well related with the pain symptom as well as the actual incidence of low back injury since pain or discomfort regarding low back injury were more complex than that of other musculoskeletal disorders.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.13-19
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess excavator drivers in order to determine the proportion showing subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and to evaluate the association between the symptoms and characteristics of the subjects. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the information on participants' age, average working hours per day, duration of career (years), work-related musculoskeletal symptoms, and more. The final dataset included 141 excavator drivers. Frequency and percentage were summarized and then the associations between the characteristics of the subjects and symptoms were evaluated as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Seventy-six percent of the currently reported musculoskeletal symptoms. Those who have musculoskeletal symptoms attributed their symptoms to unstable posture at work, mental stress or vibrations. There was a significant association between symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and career of excavator drivers (P for trend=0.04). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders may be high among excavator drivers and warrants well-designed studies on work-related disorders among excavator drivers.

• 대한치과보철학회지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.328-342
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the factors related to tooth wear. For this study, 78 patients with temporomandibular disorders and 76 dental students without any signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders were selected as the patients group and as the normal group, respectively. Preferred chewing side, Angle's classification, lateral guidance pattern, head and shoulder posture were observed clinically. Electromyographic activity of anterior temporalis and masseter muscle were recorded with $BioEMG^{(R)}$ and occlusal status were recorded with $T-Scan^{(R)}$. Wear facet area of each tooth was measured from working model of upper arch corresponding to the occlusal status from T-Scan. Wear facet area were measured with planimeter in $mm^2$. Total area were divided into incisal, canine, posterior tooth area. Anterior wearfacet area was incisor area plus canine area, and unilateral area was anterior area plus posterior area. The data collected were analyzed by SAS statistical program and the results of this study were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference between the two groups in total werafacet area, and male subjects showed tendency to have larger area in the normal group but female subjects showed tendency vice versa. 2. There was no significant difference related to preferred chewing side and Angle's classification, however some difference was observed by lateral guidance pattern. Anterior wear facet area in subjects of canine guidance was the largest in the three subgroups. 3. Subjects with head tilting to right side had larger posterior and total area, and subjects with higher shoulder in right side had larger canine and anterior area than any other subgrous. 4. Electromyographic activity of masseter muscle was more correlated with wear facet area than anterior temporalis muscle, and tooth contact number and force were significantly correlated with wear facet area, but the most important factor affecting tooth attrition was age.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.12-20
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was designed to find out the effectiveness of vertebral segment instability, muscle fatigue response on lumbar spine after apply lumbosacral stabilization exercise program to 4 patients with chronic low back pain and for 12 weeks. In this study, the lumbar spine motion with blind by MedX test machine and the difference of instability to lumbar vertebra segments in flexion, extension test of standing position and spinal load test(Matthiass Test) by Spinal Mouse. The stabilization exercise program was applied 2 times a week for 12 weeks in hospital and 2 times a day for 20 minutes at home. The results of the present study were as follows: 1. Instability test of lumbar vertebra segment is 2 type differential angle test between vertebrae segment and loading test of spine(matthiass) by Spinal Mouse. It appeared to improve stability of segments in sagittal plane after applying program. So lumbar spine curve increased lordosis toward anterior and was improved of the lumbar spine flexibility in flexion and extension. Specially, in matthiass test, (-) value was increased between lumbar vertebra segment when was the load on spine. And so applying stability improved after program. 2. Fatigue response test(FRT) results, in male, was raised muscle fatigue rate during increase weight, on the other hand female appeared lower than male. As a results, lumbosacral stabilization exercise was aided to improvement of lumbar spine vertebra segments stabilization. Spine instability patients will have a risk when in lifting a load or working with slight flexion posture during the daily of living life and it is probably to increase recurrence rate. Thus, not only lumbar extension muscle strength but also stability of vertebra segments in lumbar spine may be very important.