• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-75
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• 2001

The purposes of this study were to investigate risk factors of low back pain in civil airmen and to use this information as basis for the back rehabilitation. Subjects of this study were randomly selected 276 civil airmen who had been employed at four airports in Seoul. These data were analyzed by $X^2$ test, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple logistic regression using SAS. The results were as follows: 1) The prevalence of low back pain among 276 civil airmen was 64.9%. 2) The most common cause of low back pain was load lifting (stewardess), long sitting (aircrew A), and long sitting plus training (aircrew B). 3) There were no statistically significant associations among age, height, body weight, and low back pain. 4) No statistically significant relationships were found among the average monthly working time, total working time, average monthly rest time, working year and low back pain. 5) There was statistically significant relation ship between abnormal posture and low back pain (p<.01). 6) There was statistically significant relation ship between fatigue and low back pain among stewardess and aircrew B. 7) There was a statistically significant relationship between job satisfaction and job-related stress (p<.05). 8) In stewardess, higher satisfaction score was associated with less likelihood of low back pain (odds ratio = .80). The results of this study indicate that civil airmen developed chronicity of low back pain due to unfit seat, poor habitual posture, fatigue symptom, and stress or other risk factors. Therefore, there is a need to improve the working environment for the prevention of posture-related low back pain.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analysis and improve working posture using hazard factor analyzing tools. SI(The Strain Index) came up with the conclusion that RWDR1 and RWDR3 was a dangerous job, but not as dangerous as RWDR2. According to REBA. RWDR3 required some improvements; A mat to prevent fatigue(WIRE/PRESS 2), electric bogie(RWDR1), and waist/wrist protector(RWDR3). Additionally a correct sitting posture m WIRE/PRESS1 and stretching on a regular basis in RWDR2 were recommended.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.473-480
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• 2011

Objective: This paper presents the results of a literature review undertaken to analyze the types and risk factors of unsafe posture in accordance with the crops and the working position and to introduce various ergonomic intervention approaches. Background: There is clear and consistent evidence that agricultural work has been rated as one of the dangerous occupations in the world. A considerable number of adverse health conditions, including musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) are related to agricultural work. Method: An agricultural work requires squatting, kneeling, and bending(stooping) postures for significant periods of the work day which due to a wide variety of activities such as planting, cultivating and harvesting various agricultural products. Thus, each of these postures is analyzed in detail to recommend the improvement methods. Results: Various unsafe postures in agricultural works are revealed and analyzed. It is proven that ergonomics intervention has the potential benefits to reduce MSDs among agricultural workers. Two types of ergonomic intervention methods were discussed to improve unsafe working postures, engineering controls and administrative controls. Conclusion & Application: As a concluding remark, this article can be used as a reference manual for the agricultural workers and also used to raise the research community's awareness to the risk of unsafe working postures for workers in agriculture.

• Proceedings of the Safety Management and Science Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.329-341
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• 2008

The psychosocial stress and musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) have been one of major health problems for hospital workers. This study tried to understand the relationship between symptoms associated with MSDs and risk factors such as working posture, job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. A total number of 655 hospital workers participated in this study. Specifically, REBA was applied for evaluating working posture and a checklist prepared by KOSHA(Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency) was used for symptom survey. A questionnaire from KOSHA was also used for collecting data associated with job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. All these data were formulated and modeled by path analysis which was one of major statistical tools in this study. Specifically, path analysis for the data we collected came up with several major findings. The risk scores from working posture based on REBA had indirect effects via fatigue factor(MFS) as well as direct effects on symptoms. The factors associated with job stress(KOSS) and psychosocial stress(PWI-SF) had significant effects on symptoms. Specifically, indirect effect of job stress factors via fatigue factors(MFS) had bigger than that of direct effect of job stress on symptom.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.253-261
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the causal relationship between workplace stress and working posture and the development of work-related neck pain in office workers. Methods: The study participants included 62 office workers who had not experienced neck pain in the previous 12 months. A battery of measures to evaluate potential workplace risk factors in an office setting were conducted at baseline, and the 12-month incidence of work-related neck pain was reported via monthly questionnaires. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the longitudinal relationship between the workplace risk factors and the development of work-related neck pain. Results: The incidence of work-related neck pain was 1.91 (95% CI: 1.06-3.45) per 100 person months. The incidence of neck pain was predicted to be less likely to happen when workers had a more upright thorax posture during computer work (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89-0.99). However, stress may deteriorate the preventative effects of other risk factors on neck pain and showed a positive relationship with episodes of neck pain (hazard ratio, 1.37; 95% CI: 1.03-1.84). Conclusion: Understanding the psychophysiological effects of neck pain may explain the development of neck pain in office workers. Our interest in prevention plans and treatments should therefore involve a multifactorial pathology of neck pain in the workplace.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.6 s.78
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• pp.106-115
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for continuing study in order to accomplish preventive countermeasures for work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSD) and to examine related factors in connection with each other as: the working environment, the equipment used, working method, pain symptoms of dentists. The investigation period for this study was from November 1, 2004 to February 28, 2005, and we analyzed questionnaire survey of 190 dentists who were giving medical treatment in and around the metropolitan area and Daegu City. Also, we visited 20 dental hospitals personally and examined the work posture through check lists, interviews, and field investigations on work posture using photos and videotaping. This study showed the increasing physical burdens which were related to dentists work accomplishment and attitude, recognizing pain which were affecting work related WMSD. With the access of ergonomics and improving the education and training of awkward medical treatment methods and posture, and continuous public information about WMSD, the occurrence rate of WMSD could be decreased.

• Korean Journal of Rural Living Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 1997

In this study we tried to give a decision on propriety of working conditions, to present ideas on reducing work loads. and to grope for efficiency of agricultural works. For this we examined the actual conditions of working environment, farmer's clothes, working posture, working methods, working time, resting state, fatigue recovery methods during cultivating lettuce in the winter greenhouse. And Ive improved harmful factors that affect farmer's health by considering results of previous study and farmer's subjective sensation. And we measured, compared, and analyzed the farmer's work loads before and after improvement. The results of this study are as follows ; 1. According to examine the actual conditions of cultivating lettuce in the winter greenhouse, farmers have experienced physical and mental chronic fatigue on the basis of the hot and humid crops-centered working environment, the rough ground condition, inconsistent arrangement of working stand and sorter, heavy-weared habits. and unsuitable working posture. 2. When we improved harmful factors that affect farmer's health, conformed the positive effects on important work efficiency index such as heart rate, electromyovolume, body temperature, and microclimate inside clothing and work loads were decreased by improving the hot and humid working environment, eliminating the hillock and obstacles of working path. deliver way, arranging the working stand and sorter consistantly, decreasing the clothing weight, improving the working postures and methods as using assistant appliances, alloting the working time and sequence effectively and presenting the light gymnastic exercises and rest for fatigue restoration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.192-198
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• 1999

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders constitute a major source of employee disability and lost wages. Cumulative Trauma Disorders(CTD) refers to a category of physical conditions which result from chronic musculoskeletal injury. Assessment of CTD risk in industry at early stage allows for early control, a safe environment, and a healthier workforce. In this study, the physical load of the shipping work in the cold storage warehouse were especially investigated. Employees were working with almost unnatural posture in a very restricted work space. The questionnaire and biomechanical analysis were used to evaluate the physical load. Results from analyses showed that they were sufficiently exposed to CTD due to repetition and unnatural posture. Based on the analysis, ways for improving working conditions are proposed. The analysis and proposals in this paper will serve as a basic tool for designing/redesigning working environment such as improvement of tools and equipments, design of times for work/rest cycle.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.57-67
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• 2009

The psychosocial stress and musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) have been one of major health problems for hospital workers. This study tried to understand the relationship between symptoms associated with MSDs and risk factors such as working posture, job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. A total number of 655 hospital workers participated in this study. Specifically, REBA was applied for evaluating working posture and a checklist prepared by KOSHA(Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency) was used for symptom survey. A questionnaire from KOSHA was also used for collecting data associated with job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. All these data were formulated and modeled by path analysis which was one of major statistical tools in this study. Specifically, path analysis for the data we collected came up with several major findings. As a result, as for body part(neck), (waist) and (arms) the degree of risk of work posture measured with the use of job stress(KOSS), psycho-social stress(PWI-SF) and REBA is significantly more affected by fatigue than muscular skeletal disease related consciousness symptom. However, regarding bod(wrist), the degree of risk of work posture measured with the use of job stress(KOSS) and REBA is directly affected by muscular skeletal disease related consciousness symptom. This study is meaningful in that the study clarified the causal relations of the degree of risk of work posture, degree of fatigue, and muscular skeletal disease related consciousness symptoms by each body part measured with the use of work stress(KOSS), psycho-social stress(PWI-SF) and REBA.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.264-271
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• 2020

Background: Because a forward-leaning posture can cause increased back muscle activity and pain. Therefore, an innovative method to reduce back muscle activity and pain is required. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a head support on muscle activity and pain in a forward-leaning posture. Methods: A total of 14 male and 16 female students (average age, 21.65 ± 2.37 years; height, 166.15 ± 7.90 cm; and weight, 60.65 ± 9.00 kg) were recruited for the experiment. Two of them were excluded due to musculoskeletal disorders. The muscle activity and pain in the forward-leaning posture were assessed while participants washed dishes for 7 minutes with and without a head support. The condition of using a head support was randomly performed with a 5-minutes break. To confirm a lumbar flexion angle of 30° during the experiment, myoVIDEO was used, and surface electromyography was used to measure muscle activity. Pain was assessed using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze the data, with p < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results: The cervical, thoracic, and lumbar erector spinae muscle activities significantly decreased with the use of the head support, but there was no significant change in the gluteus maximus. There was a significant decrease in the VAS score for the lumbar erector spinae (p < 0.05), but there was no significant change in the VAS score for the cervical region. Conclusion: The use of a head support in a forward-leaning posture reduced cervical, thoracic, and lumbar erector muscle activity and pain. Therefore, it could be recommended during working in a forward-leaning posture, such as during dishwashing, cooking, and working as a factory employee.