Classroom posture and self-reported back and neck pain in schoolchildren

The study reported here aims to identify the extent of back pain experienced by 11-14 year old schoolchildren, and establish the intensity, duration and frequency of exposure to physical risk factors present in schools. This paper considers the sitting postures of schoolchildren in the classroom. The sitting postures of 66 children were recorded in normal lessons using the Portable Ergonomic Observation Method (PEO). The study found significant associations between flexed postures and low back pain. Static postures and neck and upper back pain were also associated. This study has implications for schools, designers and people in the field of work related musculoskeletal disorders. Further research is required to examine the association between sitting posture and pain reported at different spinal locations.     

Gender analysis of musculoskeletal disorders and emotional exhaustion: interactive effects from physical and psychosocial work exposures and engagement in domestic work

The objective of this study was to assess the relationships between physical and psychosocial work exposures, engagement in domestic work and work-home imbalance in relation to symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and emotional exhaustion in white- and blue-collar men and women. Three thousand employees from 21 companies were asked to answer a questionnaire on family structure, household and child care tasks, work exposure, work-home imbalance and symptoms of neck/shoulder disorders, low back disorders and emotional exhaustion. Women reported more musculoskeletal disorders and engagement in domestic work. Adverse at-work exposures were highest in blue-collar women. High engagement in domestic work was not separately associated with symptoms but paid work exposure factors were associated. High engagement in domestic work interacted with adverse work exposure and increased risk estimates for low back disorders and emotional exhaustion. Reported work-home imbalance was associated with neck/shoulder disorders in women and with emotional exhaustion in both women and men. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: The current article adds to earlier research by showing that high engagement in domestic work is not separately associated with increased symptoms, but interacts with psychosocial work exposure variables to produce emotional exhaustion in both women and men and low back disorders in women.     

School furniture and the user population: an anthropometric perspective

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between reported spinal symptoms in an adolescent student population, and the match between their individual anthropometric dimensions and their school furniture. The hypothesis was that students who were too large or too small for their school furniture, i.e. with anthropometric measurements furthest from the group whose anthropometry was the 'best fit' with the furniture, would have a higher frequency of reported symptoms. From data collected from 1269 schoolchildren, reported spinal symptoms and anthropometric measures were examined. Stature measures were divided into quartiles. A standard government issue school chair and desk was measured and the anthropometric quartile of the population having the 'best fit' with the furniture was identified using standard ergonomics recommendations. Odds ratios were calculated for spinal symptoms reported within each quartile group. The first quartile group (the smallest students) was identified as having the 'best fit' with the school furniture. An overall higher odds of reporting low back pain was noted in students with anthropometric dimensions in the fourth quartile (the tallest students). While it is acknowledged that there is a multifactorial nature of causality of adolescent spinal symptoms, it is contended that the degree of mis-match between child anthropometry and school furniture set-up should be further examined as a strong and plausible associate of adolescent low back pain.     

School furniture and the user population: an anthropometric perspective

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between reported spinal symptoms in an adolescent student population, and the match between their individual anthropometric dimensions and their school furniture. The hypothesis was that students who were too large or too small for their school furniture, i.e. with anthropometric measurements furthest from the group whose anthropometry was the ‘best fit’ with the furniture, would have a higher frequency of reported symptoms. From data collected from 1269 schoolchildren, reported spinal symptoms and anthropometric measures were examined. Stature measures were divided into quartiles. A standard government issue school chair and desk was measured and the anthropometric quartile of the population having the ‘best fit’ with the furniture was identified using standard ergonomics recommendations. Odds ratios were calculated for spinal symptoms reported within each quartile group. The first quartile group (the smallest students) was identified as having the ‘best fit’ with the school furniture. An overall higher odds of reporting low back pain was noted in students with anthropometric dimensions in the fourth quartile (the tallest students). While it is acknowledged that there is a multifactorial nature of causality of adolescent spinal symptoms, it is contended that the degree of mis-match between child anthropometry and school furniture set-up should be further examined as a strong and plausible associate of adolescent low back pain.     

Risk factors associated with back pain in New Zealand school children

This study investigated risk factors associated with back pain in 245 New Zealand intermediate school children aged 11-14 years in a cross-sectional survey, using a self-completion questionnaire for demographic details, pain prevalence, psychosocial parameters, school and leisure activities and family characteristics. The strongest relationships were between back pain and common childhood complaints (stomach ache, headache and sore throats) (p < 0.01) and psychosocial factors (conduct and hyperactivity) (p < 0.01). For physical factors, there was a significant relationship between neck and low back pain and attributes of chairs. Low back pain was significantly related to low desk height (as reported by students) (p < 0.05). School bag weight was not significantly related to low back pain but carrying the bag on one shoulder was (p < 0.05). It is concluded that, amongst these intermediate school children, psychological, social and emotional factors had a stronger relationship with back pain than physical factors. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: This study investigated risk factors associated with back pain amongst New Zealand intermediate school children. It showed that psychological, social and emotional factors may have a stronger relationship with back pain than physical factors.     

Comparative study of two different kinds of school furniture among children

Apart from studies by Aagaard-Hansen and Storr-Paulsen and by Linton and others, most of the studies published on ergonomically designed furniture have been carried out with adults, usually within the office environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate two different kinds of furniture, Mandal's furniture and the ISO standard furniture for schoolchildren, in a real-life environment and on a long-term basis. This study was carried out with 263 children aged from 8 to 11 years after 4 or 5 years of using the same school furniture. Two groups were selected according to the kind of furniture. Pupils answered a questionnaire focusing on back pain and subjective perception of the school furniture. No significant differences were found concerning the prevalence of back pain among the two groups. The features that were found to be significantly better, after multivariate analysis, with the ergonomically designed furniture were the writing position and the chair height, independently of the other subjective factors. A physical examination of the pupils was made after the interview, focusing on scoliosis, kyphosis and stiffness of the hamstrings and the lower back. No significant differences were found between the two groups. This study demonstrates that ergonomically designed furniture is preferred by the schoolchildren. However, there is no modification of the back pain prevalence and the pupil's physical symptoms at this age. The findings of this study are in accordance with those of previous similar studies, but add the additional aspect of a significantly longer intervention period.     

Back pain in school children--where to from here?

Back pain is now recognised to occur early in childhood and is associated with high prevalence rates when estimated by survey. This review paper considers the risk factors associated with back pain in children aged 11-14 years, and particularly those present in a school setting. The risk factors most significantly associated with back pain are primarily characteristics of the individual with less strong associations with factors present in the school environment. The majority of intervention studies undertaken in a school setting have focussed on the effect of school furniture on posture and comfort and were of short-term duration. There is a need for further research in order to achieve a better understanding of the risk factors present in a school environment and to address ways to reduce the currently recognised perceived problem of back pain among school children. A strategy for an evidence-based longitudinal intervention study is proposed, with the content outlined under the headings: policy, school equipment and furniture, individual and family.     

Work activities and musculoskeletal complaints among preschool workers

The potential for musculoskeletal trauma among preschool workers has been largely unexplored in the United States. This case report describes an investigation conducted to identify and evaluate possible causes of back and lower extremity pain among 22 workers at a Montessori day care facility. Investigators met with and distributed a questionnaire to school employees, and made measurements of workstation and furniture dimensions. Investigators also recorded the normal work activities of school employees on videotape, and performed a work sampling study to estimate the percentage of time employees spend performing various tasks and in certain postures.

Questionnaire results from 18 employees indicated that back pain/discomfort was a common musculoskeletal complaint, reported by 61% of respondents. Neck/shoulder pain, lower extremity pain and hand/wrist pain were reported by 33, 33 and 11% of respondents, respectively. Observation and analysis of work activities indicated that employees spend significant periods of time kneeling, sitting on the floor, squatting, or bending at the waist. Furthermore, staff members who work with smaller children (i.e. six weeks to 18 months of age) performed more lifts and assumed more awkward lower extremity postures than employees who work with older children (3–4 years of age). Analysis of two lifting tasks using the revised NIOSH lifting equation indicated that employees who handle small children may be at increased risk of lifting-related low back pain. Investigators concluded that day care employees at this facility are at increased risk of low back pain and lower extremity (i.e. knee) injury due to work activities that require awkward or heavy lifts, and static working postures. Recommendations for reducing or eliminating these risks by modifying the workplace and changing the organization and methods of work are presented.     

The investigation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among female workers in a hazelnut factory: Prevalence,working posture,work-related and psychosocial factors

BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the most common occupational health problems in the industrialized world. The identification of WMSDs specific to occupation is essential to plan and implement preventative programs. This study investigated the prevalence of WMSDs and determined the factors related to the severity of the most common disorders among female workers in a hazelnut factory.MethodsA total of 114 female workers were examined in this cross-sectional study using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and an author-developed questionnaire (for socio-demographic characteristics and psychosocial factors). Working posture, craniovertebral angle, thoracic kyphosis angle (TKA), and lumbar lordosis angle were evaluated based on a photogrammetry method using the ImageJ program.ResultsThe prevalence of WMSDs in at least one body part during the last 12 months was 92.1%. The highest prevalence of WMSDs was in the lower back (61.4%), neck (57.9%), shoulder (53.6%), and upper back (45.6%). The least affected part was the elbow. Lower back, shoulder, and neck disorders were the most common causes of activity limitation. The severity of lower back pain was associated with stress in the workplace and work-related factors. The neck pain severity was related to craniovertebral angle and work-related factors. The shoulder pain severity increased with TKA and employment duration. TKA was related to upper back pain severity.ConclusionsWMSDs are common among female workers in a hazelnut factory. Reorganizing of working posture, work-related factors, and stress at work may be beneficial to decrease the prevalence of WMSDs and pain severity.Relevance to Industry; The female workers in the hazelnut factory are vulnerable to the work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in the spinal region. The employers should endeavor to improve the health of the workers by the adjustment of the working posture and environmental factors.     

Ergonomic,job task,and psychosocial risk factors for work‐related musculoskeletal disorders among teleservice center representatives

A cross‐sectional study was conducted to evaluate the association between work‐related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) and work conditions, perceived exhaustion, job dissatisfaction, and job‐stress issues at two teleservice centers (TSCs). The study covered teleservice representatives who respond to toll‐free calls for assistance. The work involves a computer or manual search for information, and data entry using keyboards. One facility had upgraded the furniture at the workstations; the other facility had not. A questionnaire survey among 114 teleservice representatives and an ergonomic evaluation were conducted to determine WRMDs and their risk factors and perceived job stress. A high prevalence of symptoms of WRMDs was found at both TSCs. Suboptimal ergonomic conditions were associated with neck, shoulder, elbow, and back WRMDs, as well as with increased job dissatisfaction. Perceived increased workload variability and lack of job control were associated with the occurrence of neck and back WRMDs, respectively. WRMDs were more frequently reported by teleservice representatives at the center with older furniture and suboptimal ergonomic conditions. WRMDs may be prevented by improving ergonomic conditions at workstations and addressing work‐organization elements.