• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2012

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the associations between physical therapists' work-related musculoskeletal pain, quality of life (QoL), and presenteeism. Methods: Self-reported questionnaires were given to 402 physical therapists in Korea. Variables examined included the prevalence of pain sites related to work, pain intensity, pain pattern, pain frequency, pain duration, pain rating score (PRS), general characteristics, QoL, and presenteeism. Results: Of the 314 physical therapists who responded, 251 (79.9%) reported work -related musculoskeletal pain in at least one body part. The most affected regions included the wrist and hand (21.0%), shoulder (19.6%), and lower back (19.1%). On average patients, QoL and presenteeism differed significantly between physical therapists who reported pain and those who did not (P < 0.05). QoL showed a negative correlation with the work-related musculoskeletal pain (P < 0.01) and presenteeism (P < 0.01), while the presenteeism and work-related musculoskeletal pain showed positive one(P < 0.01). Factors influencing a physical therapist's QoL included presenteeism, Working venues (Convalescent hospital), Work status (Contra ct worker) and professional experience, while the presenteeism included QoL, work status (Intern), PRS, working venues (Convalescent hospital), Area of specialty (Pediatrics), age, sex and working hour. Conclusions: Results show that physical therapists appear to be at a higher risk for work-related musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, administrators need to use the intervention strategies to manage the presenteeism and QoL of physical therapists.

• 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 Physical Therapy Science
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• v.17 no.3_4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2010

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to investigate the current status of the pain in and the dysfunction related to the musculoskeletal system experienced by patients with end-stage renal failure receiving hemodialysis. Methods: A questionnaire survey was given to 107 patients undergoing hemodialysis in M Hospital. The survey was conducted by using a brief pain inventory(BPI) to investigate the body parts in pain, degree of pain, difficulty in daily life, correlation with hemodialysis and the degree of satisfaction with their own health. Results: The investigation of the patients undergoing hemodialysis showed that 89(83.2%) of the 107 patients experienced pain in their musculoskeletal system. Their pain's incidence was highest in the knees(46.1%) and 68.5% of the patients reported that the most severe pain they had experienced within the past 24 hours was at a level between "moderate" and "severe." The limitation of daily life by pain is high most as 47.7% in the accomplishment of works. Conclusion: Most hemodialysis patients experience musculoskeletal related pain that affects their daily life. Hemodialysis patient management programs should include an assessment and management of such pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2023

Background: Smartphone addiction has emerged as a significant social problem. Numerous studies have indicated the association between smartphone use and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system of the upper extremities. Objects: This cross-sectional survey aimed to compare the characteristics of musculoskeletal pain in the neck, trunk, and upper limbs between individuals with smartphone addiction and those without addiction. Methods: We collected a total of 326 healthy individuals' data from China and Korea who had owned and used smartphones for more than 5 years between 20-50s through an online questionnaire consisting of 84 questions in four major sections. The first part contained basic information on the participant's personal characteristics and smartphones. The second part contained questions about smartphone use and posture. The third part was the smartphone addiction. The fourth part was to investigate musculoskeletal pain in various upper body parts. Results: Smartphone addiction has a weak negative correlation with age (r = -0.20, p < 0.01) and a weak positive correlation with the hours of smartphone use (r = 0.376, p < 0.01). Frequent musculoskeletal pain symptoms related to smartphone use were observed in the neck, shoulder, lower back, and wrists. The hours of smartphone use was slightly positively associated with the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder (r = 0.162, p < 0.05) and lower back (r = 0.125, p < 0.05). The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the neck (χ² = 3.993, p < 0.05), shoulder (χ² = 6.465, p < 0.05), and wrist (χ² = 4.645, p < 0.05) was significantly higher among females than males. Conclusion: The results suggest that smartphone addiction should be recognized as a dual concern encompassing both physical health and psychosocial aspects. Furthermore, healthcare professionals, including physicians and physical therapists, should consider clients' smartphone usage patterns when assessing and treating with musculoskeletal pain.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.162-172
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was to explore factors affecting musculoskeletal symptoms of the child care centers' teachers in Korea. Methods: This study was a descriptive research, using a cross-sectional survey. Convenience samples of 230 child care centers' teachers aged 20 to 65 were selected. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure general characteristics, job-related characteristics, exercise habit, fatigue and musculoskeletal symptoms of the body parts. The data were analyzed with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: Shoulder pain (73.5%), low back pain (72.6%) and wrist/hand pain (57.8%) were the most common musculoskeletal symptoms. Shoulder pain significantly differed depending on the age of children in charge at the child care center (p<.047). The exercise habit was related to low back pain (p<.028) and the career was linked to wrist/hand pain (p<.046). The logistic regression analysis revealed exercise habit and fatigue were the risk factors on musculoskeletal symptoms of many body parts. Conclusion: These results suggest that interventions targeting the child care centers' teachers should be considered job-related characteristics and fatigue in order to prevent musculoskeletal disorder. Thus, there continues to be a need to develop exercise program for the child care centers' teachers.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2021

Purpose: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are widely prescribed for postmenopausal women with breast cancer and are known to cause musculoskeletal pain. This study aimed to identify factors associated with AI continuation intention among breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 123 BCS (stages I-III), who had been taking AIs for at least 6 weeks. Participants were recruited from a cancer center in Goyang, Korea, from September to November 2019. Descriptive statistics, Welch analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and simple linear regression were used for the analysis. Results: Beliefs about endocrine therapy was a significant predictor of AI continuation intention (β=.66, p<.001). The majority of participants (87.0%) reported experiencing musculoskeletal pain since taking AIs and the score for the worst pain severity within 24 hours was 5.08±2.80 out of 10. Musculoskeletal pain, however, was not associated with AI continuation intention. Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) was clinically significant (≥13) for 74.0% of the respondents (mean, 17.62±7.14). Musculoskeletal pain severity and pain interference were significantly associated with FCR (r=.21, p<.05; r=.35, p<.01, respectively). Pain interference was significantly associated with beliefs about endocrine therapy (r=-.18, p<.05). Conclusion: AI continuation intention can be modified by reinforcing patients' beliefs about endocrine therapy. Musculoskeletal pain may have a negative effect on beliefs about endocrine therapy and increase FCR among BCS. Thus, awareness of musculoskeletal pain during AI therapy should be raised and further research is required to develop multidisciplinary pain management strategies and clinical guidelines to reinforce beliefs about endocrine therapy.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to gender in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The subjects of this study were 209 elderly individuals who were receiving visiting nursing services from a public health center located in Gangwon-do. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from March to April, 2008. SPSS/WIN 13.0 was used for data analysis. Results: Depression and HRQoL showed a significant difference between male and female subjects. There was a negative correlation between chronic musculoskeletal pain, depression, and HRQoL. In the male elderly, depression was the most significant predictor of HRQoL, while in the female elderly, chronic musculoskeletal pain was the most significant predictor of HRQoL. Conclusion: The study showed that chronic musculoskeletal pain was the variable with the highest explanatory power for HRQoL in the female elderly. Therefore, chronic musculoskeletal pain needs to be assessed and managed first in nursing interventions to improve HRQoL of the female elderly.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2010

This study investigated the relationships between Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), contributing factors, and the occupational stress of physical therapists. Self-reported questionnaires were given to 180 physical therapists in Gangwon Province. Variables examined included the prevalence of pain sites related to WMSDs; pain intensity; pain pattern; and job stress, which is thought to involve the physical environment; job demand; insufficient job control; interpersonal conflict; job insecurity; organizational system; reward system; and occupational culture. Among physical therapists, work-related musculoskeletal pain commonly affected the low back (30.1%), shoulder (29.3%), and wrist (12.2%). The sites of work-related musculoskeletal pain treated medically were the low back (22.8%), shoulder (19.8%), neck (12.7%), and wrist (12.1%). "Repeating the same work constantly" was suggested to be the major cause of the pain. The younger therapists were significantly more likely to feel high job stress due to the physical environment (p<.05), job demand (p<.05), and organizational system (p<.01). Women were more likely to feel greater job stress related to job demand, insufficient job control, the organization system, and job rewards. Men were more likely to feel greater job stress related to job insecurity. Weak positive relationships were observed between work-related musculoskeletal pain and job stress, which is thought to involve the physical environment; job demand; insufficient job control; interpersonal conflict; job insecurity; organizational system; reward system; and occupational culture. Physical therapists appear to be at higher risk of WMSDs because 80.1% of the physical therapists studied experienced work-related musculoskeletal pain. To reduce the risk, we need intervention strategies such as preventive education, ergonomically designed medical equipment, a psychosocial approach to work conditions, improved mechanical conditions related to therapeutic patterns, and an institutional infrastructure with sufficient personnel and scheduling.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.395-399
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• 2020

Background: This study aimed to assess the potential efficacy of purified porcine atelocollagen (PAC) for the management of refractory chronic pain due to suspected connective tissue damage. Methods: Patients treated with PAC were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with chronic refractory pain, suspected to have originated from musculoskeletal damage or defects with the evidence of imaging studies were included. Pain intensity, using the 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS), was assessed before the procedure, and 1 month after the last procedure. Results: Eighty-eight patients were finally included for investigation. The mean NRS score was decreased from 5.8 to 4.1 after 1 month of PAC injection (P < 0.001). No independent factor was reported to be directly related to the decrease in NRS score by more than half. Conclusions: Application of PAC may have potential as a treatment option for refractory chronic musculoskeletal pain. PAC might promote tissue recovery, act as a scaffold for repair, or directly reduce inflammation.