• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2015

Background: To investigate the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and comorbid health problems, including depression/anxiety disorder, insomnia/sleep disorder, fatigue, and injury by accident, and to determine whether certain physical and psychological factors reduce comorbid health problems. Methods: In total, 29,711 employees were selected from respondents of the Third Korean Working Conditions Survey and categorized into two groups: Musculoskeletal Complaints or Musculoskeletal Sickness Absence. Four self-reported health indicators (overall fatigue, depression/anxiety, insomnia/sleep disorder, and injury by accident) were selected as outcomes, based on their high prevalence in Korea. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the relationship between comorbid health problems, musculoskeletal complaints, and sickness absence. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints and musculoskeletal sickness absence due to muscular pain was 32.26% and 0.59%, respectively. Compared to the reference group, depression/anxiety disorder and overall fatigue were 5.2-6.1 times more prevalent in the Musculoskeletal Complaints Group and insomnia/sleep disorder and injury by accident were 7.6-11.0 times more prevalent in the Sickness Absence Group. When adjusted for individual and work-related physical factors, prevalence of all four comorbid health problems were slightly decreased in both groups. Conclusion: Increases in overall fatigue and depression/anxiety disorder were observed in the Musculoskeletal Complaints Group, while increases in insomnia/sleep disorder and injury by accident were observed in the Sickness Absence Group. For management of musculoskeletal complaints and sickness absence in the workplace, differences in health problems between employees with musculoskeletal complaints and those with sickness absence as well as the physical and psychological risk factors should be considered.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2023

Objective: Training-related injuries and attrition put an additional burden on police and military institutions. Preventing and minimizing musculoskeletal injuries is the primary concern of the Abu Dhabi Police. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between functional movement screen, lower-limb strength, Y-balance test, grip strength and vertical jump and the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among Abu Dhabi police recruits. Design: Observational analytical study. Methods: An observational study was conducted on 400 male police recruits of Abu Dhabi Police Academy. Physical performance was assessed before the 16-weeks basic police training. Spearman's correlation evaluated the correlation between the performance parameters and the outcome measures and logistic regression predicted the risk factors associated with musculoskeletal injuries. Results: 149 (34.4%) participants reported at least one injury during the basic police training. Comparison between injured and non-injured participants showed significant difference in mean right Y-balance, back-leg-chest dynamometer, and vertical jump (p=0.02, p=0.02, and p=0.04, respectively). Spearman's correlation showed a significant negative correlation between risk of injury and back-leg-chest dynamometer and right Y balance (ρ= -0.11, p=0.03). Logistic regression showed that back-leg-chest dynamometer and right Y balance were significant predictors of injury (p =.036 and p=0.037; Odds ratio=0.96; 95% CI (0.92, 0.99) and Odds ratio=0.99; 95% CI (0.98,0.99). Conclusions: Our findings suggest functional movement screen and grip strength may not independently predict injury rates, balance and lower-limb strength needs to be considered in injury prevention strategies to reduce musculoskeletal injuries.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.223-235
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the prevalence of job stress and musculoskeletal symptoms, and to identify the factors that affect work-related musculoskeletal symptoms of the 119 Emergency medical technicians (EMT). Method: From August 26 to September 10, 2010, the data were obtained from 456 EMT working in Daejeon city or Choongnam province. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were performed using SAS version 9.1. Results: Physical environment, job demand, interpersonal conflict, and occupational climate were stressful to 119 EMT. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms of female EMT was higher than those of the male EMT's. After gender and age were adjusted, there ware significant relationships between musculoskeletal symptoms and some risk factors including occupational class, hours of intensive musculoskeletal use, previous injury or work-related injury, physical burden, and job stress. Overall, a higher degree of job stress increased musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusion: Job stress is a major cause of musculoskeletal symptoms. To prevent and manage musculoskeletal disease of 119 EMT, there is a need to develop a management program for musculoskeletal symptoms to reduce occupational stress, considering gender differences.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.24-35
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• 2004

According to the results of this study, we found through preliminary research that most of the workers studied suffered from some sort of musculoskeletal injury, but did not obtain hospital treatment, which shows that although their work was the source of injury, they did not realize the significance of their injury. In addition, there were some subjects that did not even know what musculoskeletal injuries were and in order to solve such problems, companies need to educate their workers about musculoskeletal injuries and show the significance of the injuries. Also, there was a difference in rates of musculoskeletal injuries in different occupations, with higher rates of injury in esthetics, driving and packaging positions. This calls for the use of automated machinery and alteration of the working environment to make it more ergonomic according to the recommended improvement plan, and continuous effort and support on the part of the company in order to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.142-147
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• 2008

The current study investigated the causality between the musculoskeletal injuries of the patients who visited our military hospital and their military-related activities. The surgeon diagnosed the patients and let them answer the questionnaire on pain and causes from April 1, 2008 to May 30, 2008. The included 287 male patients were mean 21 years old(mean height 175 cm and mean weight 69.4Kgf). The visiting time after injury was mean 53 days. The visual analog scale of pain was mean 5.1 points. The 30% of visiting patients answered the most common cause of injury was the military training. The Most common site of injury was the knee, in 38% of patients(111 of 287). Seventy two percent of patients suspected the causality between their injuries and military activities. In military activities, a special stretching program before training, especially for the knee, is required to reduce musculoskeletal injuries. And, the injured military people have to access the medical treat as soon as possible.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.206-213
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to analyze musculoskeletal injuries in combine harvesting operation using a digital human model. In order to analyze problems in combine harvesting operation, the operations were broken into 5 work processes and then we preformed ergonomic and biomechanical analyses such as RULA test, Comfort Assessment and joint kinetic analysis for the each process. As a result, there was a clear need to change the combine operating environment, as the RULA score ranged from 4 to 7. In addition, we could find two major musculoskeletal injury factors which are the standing posture with upperbody forward tilting and inappropriate location of operating levers.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2003

Background and Purpose. Physical therapists are at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Little understand the characteristics of work in physical therapist or the effort they take to prevent injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of work in physical therapist and the efforts for prevent injury Subjects. Standardized questionnaire was administered to 103 physical therapist in Pusan association. Methods. An questionnaire was given to each subject. Questions investigated the characteristics of work in physical therapist, efforts and caring of injury prevention. Chi-square Test used to assess the association of general characteristics with the characteristics of work in physical therapist. AVONA and T-test used to assess the association of efforts of prevent injury in independent variable Results. Physical therapist was reported a higher prevalence of WMSDs in most body areas. These attributes sometimes resulted in behaviors that contributed to the development of their WMSDs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.283-290
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• 2012

Objectives: People who have chronic diseases, as well as gait imbalance or psychiatric drug use, may be susceptible to injuries from falls and slips. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of musculoskeletal diseases on incidental fall-related injuries among adults in Korea. Methods: We analyzed data from the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2009), which are national data obtained by a rolling survey sampling method. The 1-year incidence of fall-related injuries was defined by health service utilization within the last year due to injury occurring after a slip and fall, and musculoskeletal diseases included osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and back pain. To evaluate the effects of preexisting musculoskeletal diseases, adults diagnosed before the last year were considered the exposed group, and adults who had never been diagnosed were the unexposed group. Results: The weighted lifetime prevalence of musculoskeletal disease was 32 540 per 100 000 persons. Musculoskeletal diseases were associated with a higher risk of fall-related injury after adjustment for sex, age, residence, household income, education, occupation, visual disturbance, paralysis due to stroke, and medication for depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.93). As the number of comorbid musculoskeletal diseases increased, the risk of fall-induced injuries increased (p-value for trend <0.001). In particular, patients who had any musculoskeletal condition were at much higher risk of recurrent fall-related injuries (OR, 6.20; 95% CI, 1.06 to 36.08). Conclusions: One must take into account the risk of fall-related injuries and provide prevention strategies among adults who have musculoskeletal diseases.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.68-71
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• 2012

Acute injuries to skeletal muscles can lead to significant pain and disability. Muscle pain results in muscle weakness and range of motion (ROM) decreases. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) promote tissue repair, healing rates and reduce musculoskeletal pain. The results of many previous studies suggest that PEMF can contribute to chronic pain reduction, particularly in musculoskeletal injurys. However, we do not have enough information of its effects compared to a placebo. The principal objective of this study was to investigate differences in acute pain induced by the direct destruction of muscle tissue (extensor digitorum) with varying times of the application of PEMF, measured through the expression of c-fos on the spinal cord. Significant reduction of pain was found in groups exposed to PEMF and the group exposed to PEMF immediately after muscle injury showed the most significant differences. In conclusion, PEMF may be a useful strategy in reducing acute pain in muscle injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.173-181
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the necessity of a musculoskeletal injury-prevention program for automobile parts manufacturing workers by assessing the body composition, muscle strength, and posture according to sex and age. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-two workers (men, 218; women, 64; mean age, 38.97 years; and mean work tenure, 10.29 years) participated in this study. They completed a questionnaire on their general characteristics, excluding personal identification codes. The participants were evaluated for body composition, muscle strength, and posture using InBody, a hand dynamometer, and the Image J program through photography, respectively. An independent t-test and one-way analysis of the variance were used for the comparisons according to sex and age, respectively. RESULTS: Significant sex-related differences in muscle strength and grip force were observed (p<.05). In addition, the left-side pelvic inclination was significantly higher in the female participants than in the male participants (p<.05). Significant age-related differences in the skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength were observed around 40 years (p<.05). Significant correlations were observed among the body composition (skeletal muscle and body fat masses), muscle strength, and posture (pelvic inclination; p<.01). CONCLUSION: Significant differences in pelvic inclination by sex and muscle strength by age were found, even in healthy workers. Additional posture and muscle strength measurements will be needed for workers who participate in the musculoskeletal injury prevention program because they are exposed to an incorrect posture for many hours or in many repetitive tasks.