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Abstract

The aim of this prospective study was to relate the prevalence of neck, shoulder, and upper back pain to occupational and individual risk factors among a population of technical school students in their transition from school to working life. In addition, we wanted to assess the changes in pain prevalence during follow-up. A cohort consisting of 173 technical school students was followed up during a 3-year period, from their last year of school through their first years of working life. Data on self-reported neck, shoulder, and upper back pain and factors such as mechanical exposure, perceived stress, and physical activity in leisure time were collected. A high prevalence of pain in the neck, shoulder, and upper back among the technical school students was found. There were however few students reporting severe pain. Reporting pain at baseline gave over three times higher risk of reporting it at follow-up. A high level of physical activity outside working hours gave a lower risk of reporting neck, shoulder, and upper back pain at follow-up. High and moderate levels of mechanical exposure and high stress level were not found to be risk factors for pain after entering working life. Neck, shoulder, and upper back pain are common among adolescents and may persist into working life. These results may give potential for preventive efforts at a young age. There is still much uncertainty about the factors leading to musculoskeletal pain, and more research is needed on this topic.

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... Researches manifest that there is an increasing trend of neck pain in undergraduate students. 6 In addition to this, neck pain is considered as a paramount cause of ailment, deficient educational achievement, and absenteeism from the university classes, thus it jeopardizes the professional prospects of students. ...
... This leads to reduced quality of life and consequent psychological problems. 6 Research performed in California concluded that musculoskeletal issues were extremely high in undergraduate dental students. These problems caused trouble in their individual lives. ...
... Most of musculoskeletal pain develops due to the environment of classroom [11,12,13]. Different researchers conducted studies on ergonomics, educational institute furniture, prolonged sitting, posture, heavy bags, student physical activity, and associated musculoskeletal changes, pain and problems [14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. Nurul Asyikin et al (2009) in Malaysia conducted a study on factors that affect the posture and can cause musculoskeletal problems and pain. ...
... As we worked with shoulder levels, the above study was also identified the faulty posture of shoulders in young adults. In another study, Hanvold TN et al (2010) focused on musculoskeletal pain and they found that most of the students had pain in their shoulders and upper trapezius [18]. In our study, students also reported of shoulder pain. ...
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ABSTRACT Background: During lectures, usually students sit in an awkward position, for prolonged period of time and that may cause postural instability. For a good posture, bilateral landmarks should be on same level, when viewed from front or behind. Therefore, both shoulders should also be on same level as well. Any alteration in level of shoulders in healthy individual may lead to deformity in spine or extremity. The objective of this study was to analyze the level of both shoulders in the physical therapy students and to find its correlation with the perception of students about their shoulder balance. Method: An observational (cross – sectional) study was conducted on students of Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) from colleges of Physical Therapy, Karachi. 100 Students were selected by Simple Random Sampling technique. Data from students was collected by administering a questionnaire. It includes close-ended questions. Afterwards, the level of both shoulders of the students, were assessed by using Scoliosis Meter. Results: Response from students showed that 79% of them assumed that both shoulders are in same level. When level of shoulder of students was assessed by scoliosis meter, it showed that 37% students have absolute level shoulder. Spearman’s Correlation coefficient (r = 0.046, p= 0.65) showed a weak, positive correlation between perception of the students about shoulder level and assessment of shoulder tilt. Conclusion: This showed that the perception of students about level of both shoulders was not correlated to the actual levels of the shoulders. Hence, as they were not assuming it uneven, so they may not pay any attention to keep themselves straight.
... Significantly, more women reported low back pain or low back injuries compared to males (Hagberg et al., 2005;Mikkonen et al., 2012). Neck and shoulder pain were also more prevalent among women compared with men (Hanvold et al., 2010;Hanvold et al., 2013). Two studies found that women had an increased risk of musculoskeletal symptoms and aches, pain and numbness, compared to men (Khatun et al., 2004;Korpinen and Paakkonen 2011). ...
... Amongst the papers on upper limb pain, one paper found an association between a high level of sustained trapezius activation during work and neck and shoulder pain (Hanvold et al., 2013). However, the two other studies showed no association between mechanical workload and neck and upper limb pain (Hanvold et al., 2010;Wahlström et al., 2008). Conclusion: There is evidence suggesting an association between heavy lifting and low back pain among young workers in the Nordic countries. ...
... Most of musculoskeletal pain develops due to the environment of classroom [11,12,13]. Different researchers conducted studies on ergonomics, educational institute furniture, prolonged sitting, posture, heavy bags, student physical activity, and associated musculoskeletal changes, pain and problems [14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. Nurul Asyikin et al (2009) in Malaysia conducted a study on factors that affect the posture and can cause musculoskeletal problems and pain. ...
... As we worked with shoulder levels, the above study was also identified the faulty posture of shoulders in young adults. In another study, Hanvold TN et al (2010) focused on musculoskeletal pain and they found that most of the students had pain in their shoulders and upper trapezius [18]. In our study, students also reported of shoulder pain. ...
... MPS such as those of neck, shoulder, and back pain are common among college students and might be carried over to their work life [22]. In addition to reg-ular study tasks such as reading and computer use, AHP curricula require significant physical effort during pre-clinical and clinical training [7]. ...
... MPS in neck, shoulder, and back are not uncommon among college students and might carry on in the work life for many years [22]. One main common factor with all college students is heavy computer and smartphone use [57][58][59]. ...
Article
Background: Very few articles, comprehensively, investigated musculoskeletal pain symptoms (MPS) among wide variety of allied health professions (AHP) students. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MPS and their associated factors among different AHP majors' students. Method: A cross-sectional design was conducted. A sample of AHP students from nine majors (n= 838, Mean age = 21.3 years) completed a validated structured self-administrated questionnaires including Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21), and specific questions regarding demographics and life style. MPS prevalence rate were compared between males and females and between majors. Logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of MPS. Results: MPS in neck, lower back, and shoulder 12-month were the most prevalent (67.1%, and 61.4%, 58.8% respectively). MPS prevalence was significantly higher in females and statistically different among majors. MPS were significantly associated with increased clinical training load, mental stress symptoms, and smartphone average use time. Conclusions: MPS in AHP students are prevalent and statistically higher among females. Students are advised to adhere to different conservative precautions and follow prevention programs. Future studies are needed to assess actual mechanisms causing MPS among AHP students and designing effective prevention programs specific to AHP students.
... Most of musculoskeletal pain develops due to the environment of classroom [11,12,13]. Different researchers conducted studies on ergonomics, educational institute furniture, prolonged sitting, posture, heavy bags, student physical activity, and associated musculoskeletal changes, pain and problems [14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. Nurul Asyikin et al (2009) in Malaysia conducted a study on factors that affect the posture and can cause musculoskeletal problems and pain. ...
... As we worked with shoulder levels, the above study was also identified the faulty posture of shoulders in young adults. In another study, Hanvold TN et al (2010) focused on musculoskeletal pain and they found that most of the students had pain in their shoulders and upper trapezius [18]. In our study, students also reported of shoulder pain. ...
Article
Full-text available
Background: During lectures, usually students sit in an awkward position, for prolonged period of time and that may cause postural instability. For a good posture, bilateral landmarks should be on same level, when viewed from front or behind. Therefore, both shoulders should also be on same level as well. Any alteration in level of shoulders in healthy individual may lead to deformity in spine or extremity. The objective of this study was to analyze the level of both shoulders in the physical therapy students and to find its correlation with the perception of students about their shoulder balance. Methods: An observational (cross – sectional) study was conducted on students of Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) from colleges of Physical Therapy, Karachi. 100 Students were selected by Simple Random Sampling technique. Data from students was collected by administering a questionnaire. It includes close-ended questions. Afterwards, the level of both shoulders of the students, were assessed by using Scoliosis Meter. Results: Response from students showed that 79% of them assumed that both shoulders are in same level. When level of shoulder of students was assessed by scoliosis meter, it showed that 37% students have absolute level shoulder. Spearman’s Correlation coefficient (r = 0.046, p= 0.65) showed a weak, positive correlation between perception of the students about shoulder level and assessment of shoulder tilt. Conclusion: This showed that the perception of students about level of both shoulders was not correlated to the actual levels of the shoulders. Hence, as they were not assuming it uneven, so they may not pay any attention to keep themselves straight.
... A GE Signa HDx 3.0 T MRI machine (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA) with a spine coil was used for MRI scanning. All MR images in this study were obtained in the afternoon to minimize the diurnal variation of T2 values in the IVDs [15]. Sagittal T1-weighted fast spin echo (FSE), and sagittal, transversal, and axial T2-WIs-FSE sequences were used for morphological MRI. ...
... Secondly, partial volume effects still existed attributing to subjectivity and bias of ROIs selection. Thirdly, we did not compare some other imaging techniques such as T1p, T2*(star) or ADC and so on to results of T2 relaxation time [22,30,31], however, many studies had verified the practicability of this technique alone to diagnose lumbar IVDD [15,32]. Additionally, the CTJ structure is not strictly defined. ...
Article
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Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful non-invasive tool for evaluating abnormalities of intervertebral discs. However, there are few studies which applied functional MRI techniques to investigate degenerative changes in cervical and cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) spine among adults. The aim of this study was to compare T2 relaxation time measurement evaluation with morphological grading for assessing cervical and CTJ intervertebral discs (IVD) in the patients suffering neck, shoulder, and upper back pain. Methods Sixty-three patients (378 IVDs) and 60 asymptomatic volunteers (360 IVDs) of the cervical and CTJ discs were assessed using a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol, including an sagittal T2 relaxation time protocol. The relaxation time values of the nucleus pulposus (NP) were recorded and all discs were visually graded according to Pfirrman’s grading system. The correlation between T2 relaxation time values and qualitative clinical grading of degeneration, patient age, sex and anatomic level were analyzed ResultsThere is a clear trend of decreasing mean T2 values of the NP associate with increasing Pfirrmann grades (C2-T1) for both patients and asymptotic volunteers. Significant T2 differences were seen among grades I-V (P < 0.05). However, grade V was not observed in the CTJ. Linear correlation analysis revealed a strong negative association between T2 values of the NP and Pfirrmann grade (r = −0.588, r = −0.808) of C2-7 and C7T1. Age were also significantly correlated NP T2 values (r = −0.525, r = −0.723) for patients and volunteers. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic analysis for average measures in a range from 0.70-0.79 (C2-7) to 0.84-0.89 (C7T1) for patients. ConclusionsT2 quantitation provides a more sensitive and robust approach for detecting and characterizing the early stage of IVD degeneration and age-associated disc changes.
... A longitudinal study tracking 957 nursing students into their professional careers found that 21% who had moderate to severe neck pain in school experienced worsened conditions in the workplace [41]. Similar trends were observed among technical school students [42]. Given these findings, it is crucial to assess the prevalence of neck pain in undergraduate populations. ...
Article
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Objective: Neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition that impacts individuals globally, significantly affecting health and quality of life. For college students, factors like poor posture and gender differences may play a role in the prevalence of neck pain. Our aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of neck pains among Taibah University students, with particular emphasis on the influence of posture and gender. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1153 college students of Taibah University. The questionnaire answered by the participants, which assessed the presence and severity of neck pain, daily activities, and posture habits. A physical examination was also conducted to identify forward head posture and other postural deviations. Statistical data analysis such as chi-square tests and logistic regression were performed to explore the associations between neck pain, posture, and gender. Results: The study found that 95.4% of participants reported experiencing neck pain, with a notably higher prevalence among female (72.1%) compared to male (27.9%). Poor posture, especially forward head posture, was common among those with neck pain. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between the prevalence of neck pain and both gender and posture (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that neck pain is prevalent among college students at Taibah University, with female and those exhibiting poor posture being more affected. These results highlight the need for educational and ergonomic interventions to promote proper posture and reduce the incidence of neck pain in this population.
... LBP is as common as neck discomfort, with a prevalence of 7.6%. Although many individuals have acute self-limited LBP that does not require medical attention, people who experience LBP earlier in adolescence are more likely to experience it later in life (6). Psychological elements, such as depression and psychosomatic symptoms, have also been proposed as risk factors for MSP and are related to a lower quality of life (7). ...
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Introduction Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are rapidly rising in Saudi Arabia, reaching levels similar to those in the Western world. Hence, we aimed to assess the prevalence of neck, shoulder, and lower back pains (musculoskeletal pain, MSP) among students at King Khalid University in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at King Khalid University in Abha, Saudi Arabia, from March 2023 to August 2023. Inclusion criteria were: university students aged 18 years and older of both sexes who agreed to participate in the study. The modified Nordic questionnaire was used, which comprised three parts. Results Out of 536 respondents, 337 were women and 199 were men. The average body mass index (BMI) of the study population was 25.3 ± 4.01. In total, 223 (41.60%) had a history of MSDs. Only 232 (43.28%) of the population did regular exercise. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, factors associated with MSDs are mobile device use (with both hands) with a large neck tilt below the horizon line position (OR = 2.276, CI 1.178–4.397, p = 0.014), family history of trauma (OR = 5.450, 95% CI 3.371–8.811, p = 0.000), family history of MSDs (OR = 4.241, 95% CI 2.296–7.835, p = 0.000), coffee consumption (OR = 1.967, CI 1.281–3.020, p = 0.002), and time spent on electronic devices: 1–3 h (OR = 0.252, 95% CI 0.124–0.511, p = 0.0001), 4–6 h (OR = 0.455, 95% CI 0.237–0.873, p = 0.018), and 6–9 h (OR = 0.348, 95% CI 0.184–0.660, p = 0.001). Conclusion The present study concludes that MSP among university students is high. A history of trauma, a family history of MSDs, the hand and neck position when using electronic devices, the amount of time spent using them, and regular exercise are risk factors that are strongly associated with MSP. There is strong evidence to suggest that increasing physical activity plays a significant role in enhancing the functionality of the musculoskeletal (MSK) system and alleviating pain. It is recommended that universities implement educational programs to raise awareness and health screenings about the impact of device usage on MSK health and the benefits of regular exercise.
... About 64% of individuals go through this pain at some age in their life, especially during their middle age [4,5]. However, increasing evidence suggests that undergraduate college students have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and upper extremities, which ranges from 48-78% [6,7]. This could be because of using computers and other electronic gadgets for prolonged periods during their study duration [8]. ...
Article
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Background: Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal problem that significantly causes disability. Exercise therapy is effective in decreasing pain and improving the functional ability among patients with neck pain. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a home-based neck stabilization exercise program in pain and neck disability among female college students with non-specific neck pain (NSNP). Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a single group pre-test post-test was conducted in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Sixteen participants with NSNP underwent six weeks of training, which included one face-to-face session and 17 sessions of home-based exercise training. The pre-test and post-test values were obtained before and after six training sessions using the Numerical pain rating scale and neck disability index for pain intensity and neck disability, respectively. Results: A significant reduction in neck pain intensity and disability was observed, with a mean difference of 2.88 and 12.4, respectively. The calculated 't' value using the paired 't' test for the numerical pain rating scale was 10.022 (p<0.01), and the neck disability index was 4.934 (p<0.01). Conclusion: Based on the statistical analysis and clinical significance, the present study provides preliminary evidence that a home-based neck stabilization exercise program reduces pain and neck disability among female college students with NSNP.
... However, surgery is often recommended when an anatomical abnormality is detected. 3,4 Scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) is associated with chronic myofascial pain syndrome affecting the thoracic and scapular regions. SCS pain persists for more than three months. ...
Article
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Background: Scapulocostal syndrome, also known as "snapping scapula," is an under-recognized problem involving overhead or throwing motion of the upper extremities. It is often described as a snapping or grinding sensation accompanied with pain as the scapula touches the chest wall and an audible or palpable click near the anteromedial scapula. Method: A prospective observational study was performed at one of the biggest tertiary care centres of central India from September 2021 to March 2023. A total of 50 patients were included in this study. Patient were evaluated clinically in OPD for pain in Scapulothoracic region. All the suspected patients underwent various investigations like X-ray, ultrasonography, electromyography, nerve conduction velocity study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) depending on the condition to reach a diagnosis. The data was recorded and evaluated. Results: A total of 50 patients were included in the study, 30 were females and 20 males, 50 % of our patients were diagnosed with supraspinatus tendinosis, 8 patients were found to have bicipital tendinitis, 3 patients had acromioclavicular joint arthritis, 2 patients developed pain because of glenohumeral joint arthropathy, subscapularis tendinitis. There were some other conditions as well diagnosed in few patients with the help of various investigations. Conclusions: It was found that there were various reasons for pain in patients diagnosed clinically with scapulocostal syndrome. Dominant hand affection was more common. The clinical investigations play a major role in diagnosing these conditions and planning the treatment.
... Apart from low back pain, it was found that neck and shoulder pain are the most common [7] and pain in the neck, shoulders and arms may also affect the students' quality of life [8]. It has been established that female students present with significantly more pain in the neck, shoulders, wrists, hands and upper and lower back compared to male students [9]. ...
Article
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Introduction. Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common types of pain affecting muscles, bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain between students of sports and physical education and health care students. Material and Methods. The cross-sectional study included a total of 50 students, of whom 25 (50%) were students of sports and physical education, and 25 (50%) were students of health care. Data on the musculoskeletal system of students were collected through a questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Results. The results showed that the neck and upper back pain was not negligible (14 respondents, 28%) as well as the lower back pain (27, 54%). Based on the Chi-square test, it was concluded that low back pain was significantly more common in students of health care (c2 = 3.945; p = 0.047 < 0.05) than in students of sports and physical education. Also, neck pain was significantly more common in health care students (c2 = 6.349; p = 0.012 < 0.05). Conclusion. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that students mostly presented with low back pain, followed by the neck and upper back pain. Engaging in proper exercises on weekly basis and excess weight reduction can prevent low back pain.
... The findings obtained from the participants in the study are similar to the literature and the area where pain was most common was the low back and neck. Hanvold et al. (2010) concluded that participants who reported neck, shoulder, and back pain at school had more than three times the risk of reporting pain at 3-year follow-up. ...
Article
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Students in the field of painting work long hours and in inappropriate postures. In this qualitative study, it was aimed to evaluate the experience and awareness of art education teacher candidates about performance-based musculoskeletal disorders and their views on preparatory physical exercises. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 senior students studying at Trakya University, Department of Art Education. As a result of the thematic analysis, twelve sub-themes emerged under five major themes (i.e. “Exercise experience”, “Physical pains”, “Effects of exercise”, “Breath awareness/ Breath hold, “Spent time”). Complaints of neck, low back pain, and then backache and holding breath are common among art education teacher candidates. More research is needed to raise awareness of musculoskeletal pain of students in the field of painting, as well as to prevent such disorders, and to plan and implement ergonomic processes.
... The best way to evaluate may be from the firsthand experience of the beauticiann or the worker importance of occupational ergonomic stressors for the occurrence of MSDs of the low back and upper extremities has been demonstrated. [2]. There can be different reasons for pain such as postural strain, repetitive movements, overuse and prolonged immobilization. ...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Many factors affect patient adherence to physical therapy treatment like unavailability of space and tools, lack of funding and awareness etc. Recognition of these barriers may help the physiotherapists to overcome these hurdles and ultimately improve treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine common MSK problems in beauticians, to identify the cause of MSK disorders, common spine deformity and awareness level of physical therapy among beauticians. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-structured questionnaire which was generated after literature review. 300 beauticians were considered for data collection. Result: Our study revealed that 59.9% of beauticians were having back pain,66% of them were having pain due to prolonged standing,49.3% of them were having normal posture,21.8% were having hyperextended knee and only 19% of them were aware of physical therapy treatment. Conclusion: It is concluded that the presence of back pain due to prolong standing was evident in beauticians. The most common MSK postural problem was found to be rounded shoulder. The awareness of physical therapy amongst beauticians was less evident and those who were aware were also not consulting physical therapists for their MSK problems. Keywords: beauticians, MSDs, posture, work-related disorders, musculoskeletal system.
... Furthermore, the present study showed that the most common age affected by neck pain was 31-51 years. This conclusion is consistent with past research that has demonstrated that adolescents with neck pain are more likely to have similar symptoms in adulthood and that life-long chronic neck pain may have its origins in childhood [11,12]. ...
Article
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Background Neck pain is considered one of the main musculoskeletal conditions affecting the population worldwide. However, it is difficult to identify the precise causes of pain. Objective This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of neck pain and its associated factors in the adult population and surrounding districts. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jazan city and the surrounding districts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 443 adults of both sexes participated in an online questionnaire designed to determine the prevalence of neck pain and the significance of the relationship between neck pain and specific risk factors. The collected data included the participants' characteristics (personal, socioeconomic, demographic, and work-related aspects). Results Neck pain was highly prevalent among adults in Jazan city and the surrounding districts, as 347 of 443 participants (78.3%) experienced neck pain, while 96 (21.7%) did not suffer from neck pain. There was a significant relationship between the most common physical positions while using electronic devices and reading and the prevalence of neck pain (p = 0.015). The most common position accompanied by neck pain was the sitting position compared to the positions of lying, walking, or standing (79.7% vs. 67.9%, 60%, and 0%, respectively). No significant association was observed between the prevalence of neck pain and sex, age, monthly income, place of residence, smoking, or the number of hours spent on electronic devices or reading. Conclusion This study revealed a high prevalence of neck pain among adults in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, and a remarkable association with people who spend many hours daily using electronic devices, reading, performing work, sitting for a long time, and with lack of exercise.
... There has been an increase in the frequency of injuries in the youth over the past few decades [8]. Neck, shoulder, and back pain are common among college students [9,10]. A study whose participants were students, reported that the strengthening training applied to the abdominal muscles caused an increase in the stability of the lumbar spine [11]. ...
Article
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Background: T he aim of this study is to examine the effect of core strength training on the static and dynamic balance and flexibility of the sedentary young indivudals. Material and methods: 4 1 healthy sedentary students participated in the study (age=21.56±1.05; height=171.90±8.18 cm; body weight=66.63±11.99 kg). Training was applied for 20–30 minutes a day, 2 days a week for 6 weeks. The sit-and-reach test, lateral bending test, hip flexion flexibility test, and the static and dynamic balance scores were used for outcome measures, which were calculated using the Balance System SD (Korebalance Premier-19 Systems Inc. USA). Results: Statistically significant increases were observed in the flexibility tests and dynamic balance parameters between before and after training (p<0.05). In static balance, there was no significant difference between the preliminary and final values. Conclusions: 6-week training was effective in increasing dynamic balance and flexibility, but had no effect on static balance. In the light of this information, we think that training should be a part of life, especially when considering functions that require dynamic balance such as walking in sedentary young individuals. We think that this study
... Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is common in the general population and affects up to 40% of children and adolescents [1]. One in every two adolescents develop a MSK pain complaint that lasts for 2 weeks and between 20 and 40% of these adolescents will continue to experience recurrent pain episodes transitioning from adolescence into adulthood [2][3][4][5][6]. Previous research show that back and neck pain alone are the fourth leading cause for years lived with disability globally in 10-14 years old, and similarly for older (15)(16)(17)(18)(19) adolescents [7]. ...
Article
Objectives Musculoskeletal pain is common among children and adolescents. Despite the lack of evidence regarding harms and benefits, musculoskeletal pain is often managed with pain medication. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the prevalence of pain medication use for musculoskeletal pain among children and adolescents and the factors and side effects associated with use. Content Three databases (EMBASE, CINAHL and PsychINFO) were systematically searched to identify studies designed to examine the prevalence, frequency or factors associated with the use of pain medication for musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents (aged 6–19 years). The included studies were assessed for study quality and data were extracted. Summary The search initially provided 20,135 studies. After screening titles, abstracts and full-texts, 20 studies were included. In school settings, 8–42% of children used pain medication for musculoskeletal pain, and 67–75% of children in sports clubs and from pain clinics used pain medication. The most consistent factors associated with the use of pain medications were pain characteristics and psychological factors (e.g. being bullied, low-self-esteem), while mixed evidence was found for increasing age and female gender. Only two studies reported on the duration of use and only one study on adverse effects related to the use of pain medication. Outlook We found that 8–42% of adolescents from school-based samples use pain medication for MSK pain, while the prevalence among adolescents from sports clubs and pain clinics is higher (67–75%). Pain characteristics (pain duration, severity, intensity, disability levels and the presence of ≥2 pain conditions or multisite pain) and psychological factors were associated with a higher use of pain medication, while for higher age and female gender the evidence of association was mixed. Future studies should systematically collect information on the type, duration of use of pain medication and side effects to confirm the findings of this review.
... Using smartphones can lead their users to be in awkward postures, which can cause neck pain [48]. In addition, neck pain is common among university students [49]. About 22.9% of our participants are using smartphones for online studying and 62.0% o reported using laptop, 15.9% preferred to take their online courses in living room without a table, and 31.1% preferred studding in bed or on floor, which are not healthy posture particularly if sustained for long time. ...
Article
Background: The sudden shift into distance learning during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown might have impacted university students' well-being. Objective: This study aimed to investigate undergraduate healthcare university students' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its predictors during COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study used an online self-administered questionnaire. The study targeted undergraduate medical, dental, pharmacy, and nursing students at Jordanian universities. Data collected included demographics,12-item Short Form health survey (SF-12), students' evaluation of distance learning, Neck Disability Index (NDI), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Descriptive analyses were conducted to summarize primary outcome measures data. Predictors of HRQoL were determined using a multiple variable regression analysis. Results: In total, 485 university students successfully completed this study with a mean age of 20.6 (±2.0). Participants' HRQoL level measured by SF-12 mean scores were 66.5 (±20.2) for physical health component and 44.8 (±21.2) for mental health component. The regression model explained 65.5% of the variation (r2 = 0.655, F = 127.8, P < 0.001) in participants' HRQoL. Factors significantly associated with HRQoL included depression, neck disability index score, stress, health self-evaluation, average of satisfaction with distance learning, IPAQ score, and weekly studying hours. Conclusions: This study showed that healthcare students had a relatively low level of HRQoL during COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan. Academic and non-academic factors associated with HRQoL were identified and should be considered by healthcare educational institutions for better academic planning in future similar pandemics.
... Walaupun begitu, jika dilihat dari besaran signifikansi dalam capaian produktivitas, maka perlakuan antara pemberian olahraga peregangan dan asupan buah pisang raja secara bersamaan memiliki pengaruh yang lebih signifikan dibandingkan perlakuan lainnya. Peningkatan produktivitas kerja dapat dilakukan melalui perbaikan sistem kerja, metode, pengaturan waktu kerja atau hal administratif lainnya terkait orientasi pada human factor (Hanvold, et al., 2010). ...
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p> One of the factors that cause a decrease in productivity is the work environment load, namely physiological factors and the capacity of workers such as work nutrition intake. Static work that is carried out with a long duration and heavy workload will cause a contractionary effect on the muscles and cause pain which will have an impact on work productivity. PT Apac Inti Corpora Semarang, especially in the garment finishing section, does ironing work in a standing position for 8 hours of work and without additional food for workers. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of stretching and intake of bananas (Musa Textilia) toward the employee’s productivity in the garment finishing section, PT Apac Inti Corpora Semarang. This type of research is a quantitative method with a quasi-experimental design. The population in this study was 40 people and the sample was taken using the total sampling technique . The samples were divided into 4 groups, namely the intervention of stretching exercise group, intake of banana, stretching exercise and intake of bananas simultaneously, and the control group. Each group contains 10 respondents. Measurement of productivity variables uses the number of production targets for workers The results showed that there was an effect and increase in productivity (p-value=0,001) after intervening with stretching exercises and giving intake of bananas (Musa Textilia) simultaneously.</p
... Based on the results of the current study, the statistical analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the mean values of post cervical ROM, pain intensity and functional disability between the groups in favor of the group B who received SNAGs in addition to conventional physical therapy. The percentages of improvement in the three groups were, regarding flexion 35 Neck pain is most commonly between people who work with a neck bent-forward posture which could, in turn, result in referred pain to the upper limb that could affect the function of both cervical region and upper limb [26]. Therefore, to evaluate and treat pain and functional disability in chronic mechanical neck pain patients, a valid and reliable tool should be used to measure pain and functional disability at baseline and after treatment to detect changes that occur in cervical region as rehabilitation progresses are needed. ...
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Background: Mechanical neck dysfunction (MND) is a common disorder prevailing among the individuals of different populations. It is characterized by pain and limited range of motion (ROM) which, in turn, affects the activities of daily living and quality of life. Although manual therapy is commonly used in MND treatment to restore a range of motion and reduce pain, some techniques have low evidence in treating MND. Aim: This study was conducted to compare the effect of sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAGs) with positional release therapy (PRT) on cervical ROM, pain intensity, and functional disability in patients with chronic mechanical neck dysfunction. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients from both genders, where they were divided randomly into three groups. Group A received conventional physical therapy, group B received conventional therapy in addition to SNAGs, and group C received conventional therapy plus PRT three times per week for eight weeks. The universal goniometer was used to measure cervical ROM, numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) was used to measure pain intensity, and neck disability index was used to measure cervical function disability at two intervals, pretreatment and post-treatment. Results: The results showed significant difference in the cervical ROM, NPRS, and NDI between the three groups (p < 0.001) in favor of the group B. Conclusion: SNAGs with conventional physical therapy have been proven to be effective method in treating patients with chronic mechanical neck dysfunction patients.
... Self-reported muscle pain intensity for four separate regions of the body was reported for the preceding 4 weeks: neck, shoulders, and upper back; lower back; upper extremities (arms and hands); and lower extremities (hips, legs, knees, and feet). The pain intensity was reported as no pain, mild pain, moderate pain, or severe pain (Hanvold et al., 2010). A sum score of pain in the four body regions was used in the analyses. ...
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We have recently found that nondirective meditation facilitates stress reduction. This supplementary study investigated whether defensive functioning would moderate these beneficial effects. We explored the occurrence of defense mechanisms and the impact of defensive functioning on the outcome of companies’ stress management programs regarding worries nervousness, mental distress, sleep problems, and muscle pain. The sample was a population of active, working professionals recruited from Norwegian companies (n = 105). The intervention group obtained significant benefits on all outcome measures, but there were no effects in the control group. We analyzed defensive functioning with the self-report questionnaire, Life Style Index, at four time points. The healthy adults who participated had a low level of defense scores at the outset. There was a significant reduction in the level of defenses in both groups over the study period, 6 months. Defensive functioning significantly moderated the change of the outcome measures from baseline to follow-up in the intervention group, but not in the control group.
... A portion of the primary causes of upper back pain are poor posture, inappropriate lifting, carrying a heavy backpack, injury/damage, infection, and osteoporosis. 2 Respiratory and musculoskeletal issues, for example, elbow, shoulder and back pain are higher in beauticians as compared to office workers. These musculoskeletal issues were related with manual taking care of; prolong standing, extreme shoulder movements, and awkward body posture. ...
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Background: Upper back pain is a major complaint of female beauticians and only poor posture is considered as a serious cause of upper back pain. Objectives: To find out the frequency of upper back pain and its causes in female beauticians. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study was done on 200 female beauticians through convenient sampling technique data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire including closed ended questions regarding pain and its causes by using VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), SPADI (Shoulder pain and disability Index), NDI (Neck Disability Index) as a tool ethical approval was taken from ethical review committee of Islamabad federal college. Written informed consent from the participants was taken before filling up each questionnaire. The analysis was done by using SPSS 21. Results: Out of 200 female beauticians with age of mean + SD 29.06 + 5.62, total body mass index were observed as 79 (39.5%) had normal BMI, 67(33.5%) had overweight, working hours had 94 (47%) worked for 7-9 hours, 84 (42%) worked for 10-13 hours, worst pain was 37 (18.5%), 61 (30.5%) had severe pain, rounded shoulder and forward head posture was 150 (75%), shoulder Pain and disability was 74 (37%) while neck disability was 69 (34.5%). Conclusion: It is concluded that the frequency of moderate to severe type of upper back pain and disabilities of neck and shoulder was higher in beauticians. Most obvious causes in beautician were overweight, poor posture and prolong standing as well as duty hours. Keywords: Disability, Female Beauticians, Thoracic-Cervical Pain, Upper Back Pain
... Öğrencilerde de ergonomik sorunlar, postüral bozukluklar (Hänninen & Koskelo, 2003;Pacheco vd., 2018;Smith & Leggat, 2007), anksiyete, depresyon, stres gibi psikolojik temelli problemler (Monteiro vd., 2011) ve buna benzer psikososyal faktörlerle (Brink, Crous, Louw, Grimmer-Somers & Schreve, 2009) ilişkili olarak ağrı yakınmaları sıkça görülmektedir. Üniversite öğrencilerinde kas-iskelet sistemi ağrılarını inceleyen pek çok çalışmada en çok boyun, sırt ve bel bölgelerinde ağrı ile karşılaşıldığı bildirilmiştir (Hanvold, Veiersted & Waersted 2010;Penkala, El-Debal & Coxon, 2018;Haroon, Mehmood, Imtiaz, Ali & Sarfraz; Yorgunluk, öğrencilerde sık rastlanan durumlar arasında olup, yapılan çalışmalarda yorgunluğun akademik performans sorunları, derslere devam ile ilgili problemler gibi düşük akademik başarıya işaret eden faktörlerle ilişkili olduğu gösterilmiştir (Tanaka, Mizuno, Fukuda, Shigihara & Watanabe, 2008). Çalışmamızda farklı öğrenme stillerinde yorgunluk fark göstermemiştir. ...
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Amaç: Üniversite öğrencilerinde öğrenme stilleri öğrenme süreci ve akademik başarı ile ilişkili olup, eğiticiler için önem taşımaktadır. Yapılan çalışmalarda öğrenme stillerinin farklı faktörlerden etkilendiği gösterilmiş olmakla birlikte bu konuda var olan bilgiler çelişkili olup öğrenme stilleri ile fiziksel aktivite, yorgunluk ve muskuloskeletal ağrıyı ilişkilendiren herhangi bir çalışmaya rastlanmamıştır. Çalışmamızın amacı, farklı öğrenme stillerine sahip üniversite öğrencilerinde fiziksel aktivite, yorgunluk ve muskuloskeletal ağrının karşılaştırılmasıdır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel olarak planlanan çalışmamıza; 125 gönüllü üniversite öğrencisi [Ortanca yaş; 21 (20/22) yıl] dâhil edildi. Öğrenciler; Öğrenme Stilleri Envanteri ile sahip oldukları öğrenme stillerine göre bedensel, işitsel ve görsel olmak üzere üç gruba ayrıldı. Fiziksel aktivite değerlendirilmesi için Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Anketi Kısa Formu, yorgunluk düzeylerinin değerlendirilmesi için Yorgunluk Şiddet Ölçeği, muskuloskeletal ağrı değerlendirilmesi için İskandinav Kas İskelet Sistemi Sorgusu kullanıldı. Bulgular: Öğrencilerin ortanca total fiziksel aktivite skorları 2220 (1092/3800) MET-dakika/hafta, yorgunluk skorları ise 4 (3/5) idi. Gruplar arasında yorgunluk şiddetleri ve fiziksel aktivite skorları açısından anlamlı fark bulunamadı (p>.05). Görsel öğrenme stiline sahip öğrencilerde bel ve boyun ağrısı görülme yüzdesi diğer gruplara göre anlamlı olarak daha fazlaydı (p<.05). Sonuç: Çalışmamızda farklı öğrenme stillerine sahip üniversite öğrencilerinin fiziksel aktivite ve yorgunluk düzeylerinin benzer olduğu ancak görsel öğrenme stiline sahip öğrencilerde bel ve boyun ağrılarının daha fazla görüldüğü sonucuna varıldı. Objective: Learning styles in university students are associated with the learning process and academic success and are important for educators. Although studies have shown that learning styles are affected by different factors, the available information is contradictory and no studies associating learning styles with physical activity, fatigue and musculoskeletal pain have been found. The purpose of our study is to compare physical activity, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain in university students with different learning styles. Material and Methods: In our cross-sectional study; 125 volunteer university students [Median age; 21 (20/22) years] were included. Students were divided into three groups as physical, auditory, and visual learning styles according to the Learning Styles Inventory. International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form for the physical activity assessment, Fatigue Severity Scale for the assessment of fatigue levels, and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for the musculoskeletal pain assessment were used. Findings: The median total physical activity score was 2220 (1092,3800) METmin/ week and fatigue score was 4 (3,5). There was no significant difference between the fatigue and physical activity scores of the groups (p>.05). The percentage of neck and low back pain in students with visual learning style was significantly higher than the other groups (p<.05). Conclusion: In our study, the fatigue and physical activity scores were similar in students with different learning styles, however, low back and neck pains were more common in students with the visual learning style.
... There is growing concern among teachers, health professionals, and parents regarding the increase in back pain among adolescents [1,2]. An investigation recently undertaken in 2019 concludes that chronic back pain is a considerable public health worry [3] which has consequences at both educational and health levels; this has a significant impact on health system costs [4] and consumes considerable healthcare services [5]. ...
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Background: The prevalence of back pain in adolescents is steadily increasing, with negative repercussions on students' social and academic life. This study sought to improve the ergonomics and musculoskeletal health of adolescents in secondary school by implementing physiotherapy actions within the educational context. Methods: A qualitative collaborative action research approach was used, comprising 49 students, 9 teachers, 11 family members, and 9 physiotherapists. Workshops on ergonomics, stretching, and massage were held. Visual materials were developed to support the assimilation of the information given at the workshops. Data collection included field notes, reflexive diaries, in-depth interviews, and discussion groups. The data were analyzed using the Atlas.ti 6.0 program (Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin, Germany). Results: The presence of a physiotherapist in the school context facilitates the acquisition of healthy postural habits. All the adolescents perceived a decrease in back pain after undergoing the program. Conclusions: physiotherapy activities offer students new tools to decrease their back pain and improve their health.
... Stock et al. studied students from seven different countries and con rmed the results of this study that women are more likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders in the neck [43]. The results of this study were approved for both students and the general population in longitudinal studyies [44][45][46]. In line with the results of this study, Dianat et al. highlighted the difference between male and female students in the report of neck pain [47]. ...
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Background The high prevalence and also multiple consequences of addiction to various online content, including online games and social networks, have become a major challenge. The ability to predict musculoskeletal disorders from this addiction can help reveal in students' health status in the near future. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this addiction and the ability to predict neck pain from this matter in students. Methods This study was carried out among 665 students. Data collection was performed through three questionnaires on problematic use of online games, social networking addiction, and Nordic musculoskeletal disorders. Data were compared with Chi-square and independent T-test, and the logistic regression model was then presented at a significant level of 0.05. Finally, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Discriminant analysis with SPSS and STATA software were conducted to clarify associations. Results The prevalence of Internet-related content addiction was 32.8%. The results showed that addiction to social networks and online games can increase the risk of neck disorder. Also 0.58 area under ROC curve depicted the ability to predict neck pain from this addiction. Conclusions In students with internet - related content addiction, neck disorder can be predicted. Given the high prevalence of internet addiction in students, it is essential to take immediate and appropriate interventions to avoid the associated adverse effects such as neck problems.
... Stock et al. studied students from seven different countries and con rmed the results of this study that women are more likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders in the neck [43]. The results of this study were approved for both students and the general population in longitudinal studyies [44][45][46]. In line with the results of this study, Dianat et al. highlighted the difference between male and female students in the report of neck pain [47]. ...
Preprint
Full-text available
Background The high prevalence and also multiple consequences of addiction to various online content, including online games and social networks, have become a major challenge. The ability to predict musculoskeletal disorders from this addiction can help reveal in students' health status in the near future. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this addiction and the ability to predict neck pain from this matter in students. Methods This study was carried out among 665 students. Data collection was performed through three questionnaires on problematic use of online games, social networking addiction, and Nordic musculoskeletal disorders. Data were compared with Chi-square and independent T-test, and the logistic regression model was then presented at a significant level of 0.05. Finally, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Discriminant analysis with SPSS and STATA software were conducted to clarify associations. Results The prevalence of Internet-related content addiction was 32.8%. The results showed that addiction to social networks and online games can increase the risk of neck disorder. Also 0.58 area under ROC curve depicted the ability to predict neck pain from this addiction. Conclusions In students with internet - related content addiction, neck disorder can be predicted. Given the high prevalence of internet addiction in students, it is essential to take immediate and appropriate interventions to avoid the associated adverse effects such as neck problems.
... A three-year longitudinal study followed 957 nursing students until two years after their graduation (Lovgren et al., 2014) found that 21% of the students who initially had a moderate or high level of neck pain at school progressed to more severe neck pain at work. Similarly, Hanvold and Veiersted (2010) found that neck pain in technical school students persisted even after they entered the workforce. Given that an early onset of neck pain may lead to repetitive or persistent neck pain in future (Croft et al., 2001;Hoving et al., 2004), it is paramount to determine the prevalence of neck pain in undergraduates so that proper prevention or intervention can be provided. ...
Article
Background: Neck pain is a pervasive ailment causing work absenteeism, disabilities, and sleep disturbance among working adults. While the onset of neck pain in many individuals may date back to college-age, little is known regarding the prevalence of neck pain and associated risk factors among undergraduates. The current study aimed to compare the prevalence of neck pain among students in different undergraduate programs and to investigate their risk factors. Methods: Undergraduates from two universities were invited to participate in a self-administered online survey. The survey collected data regarding demographics, previous and the current neck pain symptoms, and potential risk factors (e.g., gender, age, body mass index, study programs, electronic devices usage, study hours, sports participation, and anxiety and depression levels, etc.). Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to identify risk factors for neck pain. Results: A total of 5,195 invitation emails were sent. Of 1,002 respondents, 22.3% reported having current neck pain. Physiotherapy (26.5%) and nursing students (26.1%) had significantly higher prevalence of neck pain as compared to business students (13.2%). Anxiety (odds ratio (OR):1.11, 95%CI:1.07-1.16), concurrent low back pain (OR:3.28, 95%CI:2.15-5.00) and senior years of studies (OR:1.19,95%CI:1.01-1.41) were significantly associated with the presence of neck pain. Taller students (OR:1.02,95%CI:0.99-1.05) and prolonged smart-phone usage (OR:1.05,95%CI:0.99-1.12) appeared to be associated with the presence of neck pain. Conclusion: This study not only revealed the high prevalence of neck pain among undergraduates but also identified several modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for neck pain in this population. Specific prevention strategies should be developed and implemented to reduce the risk of neck pain in vulnerable students.
... ideally aligned neck has a slight lordotic curvature and who use computer for longer period of time, sitting with rounded shoulders and faulty neck posture disturbs the normal lordotic curve of neck which leads to muscular imbalance and consequently neck pain [2][3][4]. Physical fitness is "the ability to carry out daily tasks with vigour and alertness, without undue fatigue and with ample energy to enjoy leisuretime pursuits and to meet unforeseen emergencies" [5]. A video display terminal (VDT) is defined as a device, either in the form of Cathode Ray Tube, Liquid Crystal Display or any other form of image projection technology that converts electrical signals into visual display. ...
... Although many patients experience acute self-limited LBP without the need to visit a physician, having LBP at working life is more common on people who suffered LBP earlier at adolescent hood. [11][12][13][14] The goal of the study was to measure the prevalence of NSP and LBP among high school students and the associated risk factors, in Riyadh, and to identify the associated factors responsible for their occurrence. ...
... The most common manifestation of MSDs are musculoskeletal pain symptoms (MPS) [17]. Neck, shoulder, and back pain are common among college students, including physiotherapy students [18,19]. A strong association has been reported between the educational posture of "sitting looking down" and one-month prevalence of low back pain among physiotherapy students [19]. ...
Article
Introduction and objective Low levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary lifestyle have become a major public health problem in developed countries, even among the young population. The aim of the study was to determine and compare physical activity levels, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain symptoms (MPS) among the students of Physiotherapy and Social Sciences. Material and methods A cross-sectional survey was performed on 517 participants and included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form, SF-36 Health Survey, and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Results The majority of students (61.7%) met the criteria for the category “high” PA, and 11% respondents were in the “low” category. Male students accumulated higher levels of vigorous- and moderate-intensity PA, and scored higher in the domains of general health, vitality, and social functioning, while females scored higher in mental health (p
... Apprentice farmers were studied in two of the articles, and both found no association between farming exposures and lung symptoms [64,65]. Four articles focused on musculoskeletal pain outcomes: One prospective study found an increase of neck and shoulder pain during vocational school [56]; another found increased low back pain during nursing training, and twisted and bent postures were found as risk factors for low back pain for young adults in nursing training [59]; one article found increased wrist/hand pain for increasing instrumental practice for training musicians [62]; and in a prospective study, mechanical workload such as elevated arms was associated with neck/shoulder pain for young adults in vocational training [57]. The effect of a low back pain prevention program among nursing assistant students did not have any effect [67]. ...
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This review aimed to identify risk factors for occupational accidents and illnesses among young workers in the Nordic countries and to attain knowledge on specific vulnerable groups within the young working force that may need special attention. We conducted a systematic review from 1994 to 2014 using five online databases. Of the 12,528 retrieved articles, 54 met the review criteria and were quality assessed, in which data were extracted focusing on identifying occupational safety, health risk factors, and vulnerable groups among the young workers. The review shows that mechanical factors such as heavy lifting, psychosocial factors such as low control over work pace, and organizational factors such as safety climate are all associated with increased injury risk for young Nordic workers. Results show that exposures to chemical substances were associated with skin reactions, e.g., hand eczema. Heavy lifting and awkward postures were risk factors for low back pain, and high job demands were risk factors for mental health outcomes. The review identified young unskilled workers including school drop-out workers as particularly vulnerable groups when it comes to occupational accidents. In addition, apprentices and young skilled workers were found to be vulnerable to work-related illnesses. It is essential to avoid stereotyping young Nordic workers into one group using only age as a factor, as young workers are a heterogeneous group and their vulnerabilities to occupational safety and health risks are contextual. Politicians, researchers, and practitioners should account for this complexity in the education, training and organization of work, and workplace health and safety culture.
... Há vários fatores de risco relacionados para dor musculoesquelética, como sexo, idade e uso de dispositivos eletrônicos. 4,9,19 Outros fatores de risco podem estar associados a esses sintomas durante o processo de crescimento, como esporte com treino de força, postura e atividades recreativas. 7 Neste estudo, dor musculoesquelética foi relatada em aproximadamente dois terços dos indivíduos e predominantemente em adolescentes mais velhos, conforme relatado em outros estudos no Brasil, Finlândia e Itália. ...
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Objective To evaluate television and simultaneous electronic devices use in adolescents with musculoskeletal pain and musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Methods A cross‐sectional study was performed in 299 healthy adolescents of a private school. All students completed a self‐administered questionnaire, including: demographic data, physical activities, musculoskeletal pain symptoms, and use of simultaneous television/electronic devices (computer, internet, electronic games, and cell phones). Seven musculoskeletal pain syndromes were also evaluated: juvenile fibromyalgia, benign joint hypermobility syndrome, myofascial syndrome, tendinitis, bursitis, epicondylitis, and complex regional pain syndrome. Results Inter‐rater agreement between pretest and retest was 0.83. Musculoskeletal pain and musculoskeletal pain syndrome were found in 183/299 (61%) and 60/183 (33%), respectively. The median age (15 [10–18] vs. 14 [10–18] years, p = 0.032) and years of education (10 [5–12] vs. 9 [5–12] years, p = 0.011) were significantly higher in adolescents with musculoskeletal pain when compared with those without this condition. The frequencies of female gender (59% vs. 47%, p = 0.019), cell phone use (93% vs. 81%, p = 0.003), and simultaneous use of at least two electronic devices (80% vs. 67%, p = 0.011) were significantly higher in the former group. Further comparisons between adolescents with and without musculoskeletal pain syndromes revealed that the frequency of female gender was significantly higher in the former group (75% vs. 25%, p = 0.002), and with a significantly reduced median of weekends/holidays electronic games use (1.5 [0–10] vs. 3 [0–17] h/day, p = 0.006). Conclusions A high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain/syndromes was observed in female adolescents. Musculoskeletal pain was mostly reported at a median age of 15 years, and students used at least two electronic devices. Reduced use of electronic games was associated with musculoskeletal pain syndromes.
... The frequency of MSDs and other subjective health complaints seems to increase in adolescents (Alricsson et al. 2006;Hanvold et al. 2010). Our study showed that more than 57% Point: the day the assessment was performed of students complained of musculoskeletal pain during the past year. ...
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Purpose To determine the correlation between musculoskeletal system disorders and the physical activity levels of adolescents. Methods A total of 417 high school students were included in this cross-sectional study. To explain the musculoskeletal pain and physical activity, a self-administered questionnaire which included the Nordic International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was distributed. Results The standardised Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire showed that 57.3% of the students reported having musculoskeletal disorders in one or more body parts, and 52.2% of them consisted of girls. The mean weekly energy consumption as linked to the physical activity of the participants was found to be 2534.58 (± 2371.31) metabolic equivalent task (MET/wk): 45.8% of the individuals exhibited low levels of activity. A statistically significant relationship was found between experiencing upper/low back pain and the participants’ low physical activity levels. Conclusions The current study has shown that the prevalence of MSDs was high among high school students, with a correlation being found between low physical activity and back pain. Physical activity levels should hence be considered when evaluating adolescents with musculoskeletal disorders.
... Self-reported intensity of muscle pain the preceding four weeks was scored independently for four different body regions: Neck, shoulders and upper back; Lower back; Upper extremities (arms and hands); Lower extremities (hips, legs, knees and feet). The participants rated pain intensity: no pain (0), mild pain (1), moderate pain (2) and severe pain (3) (Hanvold, Veiersted, & Waersted, 2010). A sum score of the pain in the four body regions was used in the analyses. ...
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Aims: The present field study investigated the difference between practicing a nondirective relaxation technique – Acem Meditation – for stress relief and merely learning about stress and stress management in a population of active, working professionals. Methods: A six-months follow-up of an intervention group (N = 73) and a control group (N = 47) recruited from six large Norwegian companies. Results: The findings revealed significant improvements in the intervention group on all outcome variables – comprising mental distress (GHQ-12), worries and nervousness (EPQ-N), sleep problems (BIS) and musculoskeletal pain. In the control group, there were no changes. The differences between the intervention group and control group were significant, regarding EPQ-N, GHQ-12 and musculoskeletal pain. Conclusion: A nondirective meditation technique promoted specific bodily and psychological benefits for active working professionals: less pain and sleep problems, and a personal style less characterized by worries and nervousness. Acem Meditation used as a stress management technique may be a positive supplement to other measures a company puts forward, both to reduce negative health impacts of stress and to improve the capacity to cope with the stressors at work and in daily life. Replications of this study with an RCT design are warranted.
... Há vários fatores de risco relacionados para dor musculoesquelética, como sexo, idade e uso de dispositivos eletrônicos. 4,9,19 Outros fatores de risco podem estar associados a esses sintomas durante o processo de crescimento, como esporte com treino de força, postura e atividades recreativas. 7 Neste estudo, dor musculoesquelética foi relatada em aproximadamente dois terços dos indivíduos e predominantemente em adolescentes mais velhos, conforme relatado em outros estudos no Brasil, Finlândia e Itália. ...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: To evaluate television and simultaneous electronic devices use in adolescents with musculoskeletal pain and musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 299 healthy adolescents of a private school. All students completed a self-administered questionnaire, including: demographic data, physical activities, musculoskeletal pain symptoms, and use of simultaneous television/electronic devices (computer, internet, electronic games, and cell phones). Seven musculoskeletal pain syndromes were also evaluated: juvenile fibromyalgia, benign joint hypermobility syndrome, myofascial syndrome, tendinitis, bursitis, epicondylitis, and complex regional pain syndrome. Results: Inter-rater agreement between pretest and retest was 0.83. Musculoskeletal pain and musculoskeletal pain syndrome were found in 183/299 (61%) and 60/183 (33%), respectively. The median age (15 [10-18] vs. 14 [10-18] years, p=0.032) and years of education (10 [5-12] vs. 9 [5-12] years, p=0.011) were significantly higher in adolescents with musculoskeletal pain when compared with those without this condition. The frequencies of female gender (59% vs. 47%, p=0.019), cell phone use (93% vs. 81%, p=0.003), and simultaneous use of at least two electronic devices (80% vs. 67%, p=0.011) were significantly higher in the former group. Further comparisons between adolescents with and without musculoskeletal pain syndromes revealed that the frequency of female gender was significantly higher in the former group (75% vs. 25%, p=0.002), and with a significantly reduced median of weekends/holidays electronic games use (1.5 [0-10] vs. 3 [0-17]h/day, p=0.006). Conclusions: A high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain/syndromes was observed in female adolescents. Musculoskeletal pain was mostly reported at a median age of 15 years, and students used at least two electronic devices. Reduced use of electronic games was associated with musculoskeletal pain syndromes.
... 2,5,7,8 Work-related neck, shoulder, and upper back musculoskeletal disorders include tension neck syndrome, rotator cuff syndrome, upper back pain, and shoulder tendonitis or tenosynovitis. [9][10][11][12] These conditions may cause deterioration of joints, muscles, and soft tissue, persistent pain in related body areas, and disability. 6 Workplace interventions (eg, resistance training, stretching exercise programs) may help to prevent and manage musculoskeletal disorders. ...
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Background/objective Guaifenesin, an over-the-counter (OTC) expectorant, has exhibited muscle relaxant effects preclinically and clinically. This proof-of-principle study explored whether OTC doses of guaifenesin can provide relief from acute upper back, neck, or shoulder muscle spasm and pain. Methods This multicenter, placebo-controlled, repeat-dose, parallel study randomly assigned adults experiencing acute pain and muscle spasm in their upper back, neck, or shoulder to guaifenesin 600 or 1200 mg or matched placebo twice daily (BID) in a 2:2:1:1 ratio for 7 days. The primary end point was the change from baseline in muscle spasm relief, measured using an 11-point numeric rating scale (0=not present to 10=unbearable) recorded twice daily and averaged over the 7-day treatment period. Analyses were performed using a linear mixed model that included treatment as a fixed effect and site as a random effect. Results A total of 77 subjects were included in the 4 treatment groups. Least squares mean muscle spasm score over 7 days was 1.77 with guaifenesin 1200 mg, 1.42 with its matched placebo, 1.53 with guaifenesin 600 mg, and 1.74 with its matched placebo. Treatment with guaifenesin 1200 mg BID provided 25% greater reduction in mean muscle spasm over its matched placebo and 16% greater reduction than guaifenesin 600 mg BID. These differences were not statistically significant. Based on comparisons of absolute mean values, a consistent directional change in effect was observed, suggesting some benefit from placebo to lower-to-upper doses of guaifenesin with regard to muscle spasm, tension, pain, discomfort, and relaxation. No severe or serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion Results suggest the potential for OTC dose of guaifenesin 1200 mg BID to provide symptomatic relief of upper back musculoskeletal pain and spasm. Confirmation of this preliminary result in a larger, adequately powered study is needed.
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Background Among children and adolescents, up to 40% will experience musculoskeletal pain (MP), which can significantly impair functional ability, reduce quality of life, cause emotional distress, and lead to sleeping disorders for both patients and their families. The first-line treatment often involves pharmacological interventions, even though there is a lack of evidence supporting the efficacy or the safety of this approach in this specific age group. Recent guidelines recommend the implementation of preventative strategies and physical tools as the first option to minimize the use of medications. We aimed to provide an expert opinion on the use of heat therapy for MP management in young patients. Methods This paper is the result of a virtual advisory board held by the authors in order to discuss and provide an expert opinion about the use of heat therapy in MP in children and adolescents. Results MP is a significant burden affecting children and adolescents. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are currently the first-choice treatment of acute and chronic MP in children and adolescents, avoiding or reducing them in such patients is advisable, to reduce side effects and to prevent the development of chronic pain and medication overuse headaches. Heat therapy can be an additional treatment option due to its ability to promote muscle relaxation, enhance blood circulation, and modulate nociceptors with a good safety profile. Conclusions MP in children and adolescents is a common condition that should be approached multidisciplinary, including information, therapeutic exercise and physical therapies like hot or cold therapies. Future studies should be conducted to evaluate the safety, efficacy and indications of each treatment in MP.
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Background: Musculoskeletal disorders consider an important global health problem, which are more obvious in school students, and the prevention during this stage very important to reduce musculoskeletal pain and deformity in adulthood. Aim: the study aimed to evaluate the effects of a primary prevention program for musculoskeletal disorders among school age students in Ismailia city. Design: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. Setting: the study was conducted in six primary schools in Ismailia city. Sample: A multistage random sample technique used in this study, it consisted of 168 students in 6th grades randomly selected and 27 from their teachers/managers who are available during the study period. Tools: two tools were used in the present study, the first tool was self-administered questionnaires which included three parts: socio-demographic data, knowledge and practices regarding prevention of musculoskeletal disorders among studied subjects and physical assessment sheet to assess musculoskeletal pain among students, the second tool was an observational checklist for assessment safety school environment. Results: the results revealed that, statistically significant (P<0.001) difference between studied students mean scores of knowledge and practices regarding the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (pre/post) implementing of the program and reduced musculoskeletal pain among studied students' after implementing the program. Conclusion: The knowledge and practices related to the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders among school age students were improved after implementing the program. Recommendation: Develop a health educational program among school teachers'/ managers' regarding prevention of musculoskeletal disorders to be applied to their students.
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Objective: To find the frequency and risk factors associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among the medical students of Rawalpindi. Study Design: Analytical cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Army Medical College students, Rawalpindi Pakistan, were enrolled from Mar 2022 to Jul 2022. Methodology: An online, self-administered, altered version of the standardized Nordic Questionnaire was distributed among the students of Army Medical College, Foundation Medical University and Rawalpindi Medical University. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS-25. Frequencies and means were calculated. Chi-square test and student’s t test were done to find any significant associations with p-value <0.05 taken as statistically significant. Results: The study population consisted of 371 medical students of which 127(34.2%) were males and 244(65.8%) were females. Musculoskeletal pain prevalence reported in the last week was significantly higher in students of clinical years (p=0.008), those with history of trauma (p=0.005), family history of musculoskeletal pain (p<0.001) and those with a higher screen time (p=0.007). Similarly, musculoskeletal pain prevalence reported in the last year was significantly higher in students of clinical years (p=0.003), those with a history of trauma (p=0.004), family history of musculoskeletal pain (p=0.011) and those with higher screen time (p=0.017). Coffee consumption, hours of study and body mass index had no significant association with musculoskeletal pain prevalence. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal pain prevalence proved to be significantly high among the medical students of Rawalpindi.Awareness needs to be spread about this highly prevalent problem with medical colleges taking steps to reduce the contributing factors.
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Background: Body awareness is an expression of the extent of sensitivity and attentiveness to internal bodily signals and sensations. The foot has a critical function in providing interoceptive and exteroceptive information. The purposes of this study were to 1) compare body awareness in individuals with and without hallux valgus (HV) deformity, and 2) investigate the relationship between body awareness and HV-related parameters. Methods: A total of 129 participants completed the assessments. The severity of the HV was evaluated using the Manchester Scale; pain severity was evaluated using the numeric pain rating scale; and the functional status was evaluated using the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the Manchester Scale scores as the presence or absence of HV. The body awareness of the individuals with HV was assessed using the Body Awareness Questionnaire. Results: Included in this study were 69 participants with HV and 60 healthy participants. There was no difference between groups in terms of demographic properties. Two groups were found different only in pain severity (P < 0.01). The correlation analysis showed that there was a low correlation between the body awareness score and pain severity in both feet (right foot r: 0.306, P = 0.011; left foot r: 0.320, P = 0.007) in individuals with HV. Conclusions: Participants with HV had higher pain severity and the pain severity was associated with the body awareness. The level of body awareness should be assessed and taken into consideration in the management of pain in patients with HV.
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Background: Many cross-sectional studies have examined the predictors of neck pain among adolescents and working-age populations, but there are limited studies included undergraduate students. Objective: To investigate the predictors of neck disability among undergraduate students. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered online survey. Students completed the survey that included socio-demographic factors, academic-related factors, health and lifestyle factors, and standardized questionnaires including Neck Disability Index (NDI), 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Students who reported an NDI score higher than 15 were considered as having a neck disability. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the significant predictors of neck disability. Results: Of all students (n = 1292), 20.8% reported neck disability. Among all possible predictors, students' major satisfaction (OR 1.46 [95% CI 1.06-2.01]; p = 0.019), DASS-21 anxiety score (OR 1.06 [95% CI 1.03-1.09]; p < 0.001), SF-12 total score (OR 0.89 [95% CI 0.86-92]; p < 0.001), and PSQI score (OR 1.21 [95% CI 1.15-1.28]; p < 0.001) were the only significant predictors of neck disability. Conclusions: Increased levels of academic stressors and anxiety, and decreased levels of quality of life and sleep quality are associated with increased neck disability among undergraduate students.
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OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and association of cervicogenic pain and poorsitting posture among the students of Physical Therapy.A cross sectional survey was conducted among the students through convenientsampling, aged 18 – 30 years. A Structure questionnaire was used to collectthe data. Both descriptive and interference statistics were used to analyzed thedata.A cross- sectional study design was selected for this study.Students (n=100) has been selected from the different private and governmentPhysical Therapy institutes of Karachi.From the sample size (n=100) including students of Physical Therapy, hadstudying for more than 8 hours. During the analysis of data it was found that 71%of students were aware about the correct sitting posture and only in 36% ofstudents’ cervicogenic pain is the reason of decrease their activities.The result of the study shows that the prevalence of cervicogenic pain is higheramong the students but poor sitting posture is not consistent reason of painthere were other associated factors too. Maximum numbers of students wereaware about the correct posture during sitting for study and using computer.Among entire population ratio of pain was higher in female than male students.
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Introduction: The protective role of muscles in the passive structures of the spine means that their stability and consequent maintenance are associated with pain, especially in the region of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. Objective: To determine the prevalence of pain and its association with muscle deficits in higher education students. Method: Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study that evaluated 120 university students through questionnaires (sample characterization, Nordic musculoskeletal symptoms, pain visual analogue scale and international physical activity). Trunk muscle strength and bridge tests with unilateral knee extension (pelvic alignment) were performed. Results: A high prevalence of pain was found in the lower back (58.41%). There was no association between the presence of pain, muscle strength and pelvic alignment (p> 0.05). There was an association between the trunk extension and pelvic tilt tests (p = 0.009). Conclusion: A high prevalence of low back pain, poor performance in the trunk muscle endurance tests and mild and moderate pelvic misalignment were identified. There was no association between pain, trunk muscle weakness and pelvic misalignment. There was an association between pelvic misalignment and trunk extensor muscle weakness.
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Background: In subcontinental underground mines, coal mining is carried out manually and requires many laborers to practice traditional means of coal excavation. Each task of this occupation disturbs workers’ musculoskeletal order. In order to propose and practice possible ergonomic interventions, it is necessary to know what tasks (drilling and blasting, coal cutting, dumping, transporting, timbering and supporting, loading and unloading) cause disorder in either upper limbs, lower limbs, or both. Methods: To this end, R-programming, version R 3.1.2 and SPSS, software 20, were used to calculate data obtained by studying 260 workers (working at different tasks of coal mining) from 20 mines of four districts of Punjab, Pakistan. In addition, a Standard Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (SNMQ) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) sheet were used to collect data and to analyze postures respectively. Results: In multi regression models, significance of the five tasks for upper and lower limb disorder is 0.00, which means that task based prevalence of upper and lower limb disorders are common in underground coal mines. The results of the multiple bar chart showed that 96 coal cutters got upper limb disorders and 82 got lower limb disorders. The task of timbering and supporting was shown to be dangerous for the lower limbs and relatively less dangerous for the upper limbs, with 25 workers reporting pain in their lower limbs, and 19 workers reporting pain in their upper limbs. Documented on the RULA sheet, all tasks got the maximum possible score (7), meaning that each of these tasks pose a threat to the posture of 100% of workers. The majority of participants (182) fell in the age group of 26 to 35 years. Of those workers, 131 reported pain in the lower limbs and slight discomfort (128) in the upper limbs. The significance value of age was 0.00 for upper limb disorder and was 0.012 for lower limb disorder. Frequency graphs show age in direct proportion to severity of pain while in inverse proportion with number of repetitions performed per min. Conclusions: All findings infer that each task of underground coal mining inflicts different levels of disorder in a workers’ musculoskeletal structure of the upper and lower limbs. It highlighted the need for urgent intervention in postural aspects of each task.
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Vel 75 % av alle voksne i Norge opplever smerter eller plager fra muskel- og skjelettsystemet i en eller annen form i løpet av en måned. Det meste av dette er lette plager, som ikke krever behandling. Det er imidlertid en betydelig del av befolkningen som har kroniske smerter. Det er vanligst å ha plager fra korsryggen, nakken og skuldrene. Det er også mange som har smerter i hofter, bekken og knær. Ofte er det ikke mulig å stille spesifikke diagnoser på slike plager, og mange har symptomdiagnoser. De fleste som har plager fra muskel- og skjelettsystemet har plager fra flere områder og ofte mange symptomer fra andre organer og kropsdeler. Korsryggsplager er den hyppigste årsaken til sykefravær (11 %) og uførhet (9 %) blant muskel- og skjelettplagene. Nakke- og skulderplager er også vanlige årsaker til sykefravær. Utbredte og uspesifikke muskel- og skjelettsmerter, ofte sammen med andre symptomer, er en viktig risikofaktor for uførhet.
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Several studies examine the musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in university students sustaining physical load as part of their compulsory learning. However, only two somewhat outdated cross-sectional studies examine the physical education teacher (PET) students. This study aimed to explore the neck, shoulder and low back MSP prevalence in Greek PET students in a series of academic years. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to record the past 12-month neck, shoulder and, low back pain, across three academic years ( n = 479). The year association to MSP prevalence was examined with the cross-tabulation analysis (using the column proportion test for the year comparison) and, the gender association to MSP prevalence with the χ 2 test (SPSS 22.0, p ≤ 0.05). The year association to MSP prevalence was not significant ( p > 0.05). The overall prevalence was 67.6%, with multiple pain at 25.7% and, the low back presenting the highest prevalence (40.9%). Women reported a higher prevalence of neck (36%) and low back (47%) pain ( p ≤ 0.05). The majority of pain and time loss duration was 1-7 days. The low back required higher medical attention (19.0%) than the neck (9.2%) and the shoulder (12.9%). The recurrent pain was at 30%, with the previous injury/accident rate at 5.8%, 14.4% and 14.6% for the neck, shoulder and low back. Our PET students present an alarming MSP prevalence. Due to their distinct work demands as PE teachers, entering working life with the healthiest possible musculoskeletal system is of critical importance. Thus, university authorities should consider strategies for the prevention of MSP risk.
Article
Several studies examine the musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in university students sustaining physical load as part of their compulsory learning. However, only two somewhat outdated cross-sectional studies examine the physical education teacher (PET) students. This study aimed to explore the neck, shoulder and low back MSP prevalence in Greek PET students in a series of academic years. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to record the past 12-month neck, shoulder and, low back pain, across three academic years ( n = 479). The year association to MSP prevalence was examined with the cross-tabulation analysis (using the column proportion test for the year comparison) and, the gender association to MSP prevalence with the χ 2 test (SPSS 22.0, p ≤ 0.05). The year association to MSP prevalence was not significant ( p > 0.05). The overall prevalence was 67.6%, with multiple pain at 25.7% and, the low back presenting the highest prevalence (40.9%). Women reported a higher prevalence of neck (36%) and low back (47%) pain ( p ≤ 0.05). The majority of pain and time loss duration was 1-7 days. The low back required higher medical attention (19.0%) than the neck (9.2%) and the shoulder (12.9%). The recurrent pain was at 30%, with the previous injury/accident rate at 5.8%, 14.4% and 14.6% for the neck, shoulder and low back. Our PET students present an alarming MSP prevalence. Due to their distinct work demands as PE teachers, entering working life with the healthiest possible musculoskeletal system is of critical importance. Thus, university authorities should consider strategies for the prevention of MSP risk.
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BACKGROUND Mechanical neck pain is also known as nonspecific neck pain. It is a common complaint which affects 45-54% of the general population. Pain develops in the neck and may spread to the shoulder or base of the skull. It is most common in people with a working age group of 20-50yrs. Myofascial Release (MFR)is a, hands-on approach to healthcare. It is a form of manual therapy technique that has a profound effect upon the musculoskeletal system. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of gross myofascial release on upper limb and neck in subjects with mechanical neck pain in order to reduce pain and improve functional abilities. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen participants with mechanical neck pain along with referred pain to unilateral upper limb were included for the study. Pre and post assessment was done using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Northwick Park Questionnaire (NPQ) and Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH). All the participants of the study were given gross stretch of upper quarter (arm pull) and gross stretch of posterior cervical musculature along with TENS for 5 days. RESULTS The subjects showed significant reduction in pain according to VAS and improvement in functional activities according to NPQ and DASH with p<0.001 in all domains. CONCLUSION Gross MFR is effective in reducing mechanical neck pain and in improving functional abilities. .
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The main aim was to examine the prevalence of neck, shoulder and upper back pain, and evaluate possible associations between such symptoms and physical activity, self-efficacy and relaxation ability in a sample of adolescents. The data come from a cross-sectional field study on 416 Norwegian second-year electrician, hairdresser, art/design and media students from 13 technical schools, 265 females and 151 males. The mean age was 17.5 years. Data was acquired from a questionnaire and clinical examination. More female than male students (28% vs. 15%) reported high pain complaint levels. Females were engaged in less physical activity and obtained lower self-efficacy scores, but demonstrated better relaxation ability than male students. In bivariate analyses, high self-efficacy scores were significantly associated with high levels of physical activity and poor relaxation ability among males. No significant associations were found in multivariate analyses between physical activity, self-efficacy or relaxation ability and pain symptoms in either males or females. Among males, a tendency of increasing pain odds ratios with increasing physical activity level was seen. Follow-up research on this cohort is needed to explore further differences between males and females, and identify factors associated with neck, shoulder or upper back pain among these adolescents.
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This systematic review assessed aspects of physical load during work and leisure time as risk factors for back pain. Several reviews on this topic are available, but this one is based on a strict systematic approach to identify and summarize the evidence, comparable with that applied in the clinical literature on the efficacy of intervention for back pain. A computerized bibliographical search was made of several data bases for studies with a cohort or case-referent design. Cross-sectional studies were excluded. A rating system was used to assess the strength of the evidence, based on the methodological quality of 28 cohort and 3 case-referent studies and the consistency of the findings. Strong evidence exists for manual materials handling, bending and twisting, and whole-body vibration as risk factors for back pain. The evidence was moderate for patient handling and heavy physical work, and no evidence was found for standing or walking, sitting, sports, and total leisure-time physical activity.
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To identify physical risk factors for neck pain, a systematic review of the literature was carried out. Based on methodological quality and study design, 4 levels of evidence were defined to establish the strength of evidence for the relationship between risk factors and neck pain. Altogether, 22 cross-sectional studies, 2 prospective cohort studies, and 1 case-referent study were eligible for determining the level of evidence. The results showed some evidence for a positive relationship between neck pain and the duration of sitting and twisting or bending of the trunk. A sensitivity analysis was carried out excluding 3 items of the quality list, the importance of which seemed doubtful. On the basis of this sensitivity analysis, it was concluded that there is some evidence for a positive relationship between neck pain and the following work-related risk factors: neck flexion, arm force, arm posture, duration of sitting, twisting or bending of the trunk, hand-arm vibration, and workplace design.
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To systematically evaluate the available evidence on occupational risk factors of shoulder pain. Relevant reports were identified by a systematic search of Medline, Embase, Psychlit, Cinahl, and Current Contents. The quality of the methods of all selected publications was assessed by two independent reviewers using a standardised checklist. Details were extracted on the study population, exposures (physical load and psychosocial work environment), and results for the association between exposure variables and shoulder pain. 29 Studies were included in the review; three case-control studies and 26 cross sectional designs. The median method score was 60% of the maximum attainable score. Potential risk factors related to physical load and included heavy work load, awkward postures, repetitive movements, vibration, and duration of employment. Consistent findings were found for repetitive movements, vibration, and duration of employment (odds ratio (OR) 1.4-46 in studies with method scores >/= 60%). Nearly all studies that assessed psychosocial risk factors reported at least one positive association with shoulder pain, but the results were not consistent across studies for either high psychological demands, poor control at work, poor social support, or job dissatisfaction. Studies with a method score >/=60% reported ORs between 1.3 and 4.0. Substantial heterogeneity across studies for methods used for exposure assessment and data analysis impeded statistical pooling of results. It seems likely that shoulder pain is the result of many factors, including physical load and the psychosocial work environment. The available evidence was not consistent across studies, however, and the associations were generally not strong. Future longitudinal research should evaluate the relative importance of each individual risk factor and the role of potential confounding variables-such as exposure during leisure time-to set priorities for the prevention of shoulder pain in occupational settings.
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This study attempts to construct valid indices for mechanical exposure of the shoulder-neck region with relation to the development of shoulder-neck pain in a 1-year perspective study of a general population. A comprehensive questionnaire was presented to 14 556 subjects aged 45 or 65 years and repeated after 12 months. Twenty-four questions concerning positions, movements, and manual materials handling were registered on a 3-point impact scale. Musculoskeletal problems were reported on a slightly modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire for the Analysis of Musculoskeletal Symptoms. Test-retest stability after 2 weeks was calculated for 232 consecutive participants. Based on mechanistic theories, 4 exposure indices were formed. Another 5 constructs were obtained by factor analysis. All the indices showed good test-retest stability, and 5 of them had very good internal consistency. Due to overlaps between the indices, 2 indices stood out as having unique properties. One of them concerned mainly postures and the other dealt primarily with measured lifting. However, the latter was not related to the shoulder-neck pain outcome when adjusted for the posture index. The posture index showed an exposure-effect relationship with the outcome. The job titles implied a large degree of exposure misclassification. The posture index is recommended as a mechanical exposure index for analyses of interaction with other possible determinants of shoulder-neck pain (ie, psychosocial factors). The use of such an index instead of job titles in large population studies will reduce the risk of misclassification.
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To study the effects of work related and individual factors affecting radiating neck pain. A longitudinal study was carried out with repeated measurements. A total of 5180 Finnish forest industry workers replied to a questionnaire survey in 1992 (response rate 75%). Response rates to follow up questionnaires in 1993, 1994, and 1995 were 83%, 77%, and 90%, respectively. The outcome variable was the number of days with radiating neck pain during the preceding 12 months with three levels (<8, 8-30, >30 days). The generalised estimating equations method was used to fit a marginal model and a transition model was used in a predictive analysis. Items showing associations with radiating neck pain in both analyses were sex, age, body mass index, smoking, duration of work with a hand above shoulder level, mental stress, and other musculoskeletal pains. In the transition model, radiating neck pain in a previous questionnaire was included in the model. Although it was a strong predictor, the variables already mentioned retained their significance. Programmes targeted to reduce physical load at work, mental stress, being overweight, and smoking could potentially prevent radiating neck pain.
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To evaluate the effects of work related and individual factors as well as physical activity and sports on the incidence and persistence of shoulder pain among forestry workers. Workers in a large Finnish forestry company replied to a questionnaire (a modified version of the Nordic questionnaire) on musculoskeletal pain and its possible risk factors for 4 consecutive years 1992-5. This 1 year follow up study covers the time 1994-5. Year 1994 was chosen as baseline because in that year the questionnaire contained for the first time more detailed questions about different sports. The response rate in 1995 was 90%. The effects of the predictors on 1 year incidence and persistence of shoulder pain were studied with multivariate logistic regression modelling. At baseline, 2094 subjects had been free of shoulder pain during the preceding 12 months. After 1 year, 14% (n=285) reported having mild or severe shoulder pain. Higher age, obesity, and mental stress as well as physically strenuous work and working with trunk forward flexed or with a hand above shoulder level increased the risk of incident shoulder pain. Of the different sports activities, dancing increased the risk of incident pain whereas jogging decreased the risk significantly. Of those 419 workers who had severe shoulder pain at baseline, 55% (n=230) still had severe pain 1 year later. Higher age, overload at work, and working with a hand above shoulder level increased the risk of persistent severe shoulder pain whereas cross country skiing and general sports activity decreased the risk. Our results support the current view that shoulder pain is the result of many factors, including occupational and individual factors. In this longitudinal study, physical work with a heavy load, awkward work postures, mental stress, and obesity were the risk factors at which preventive measures could be aimed. As a new finding, physical exercise had more protective than impairing effects on the shoulders.
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While research has suggested that interventions targeted at occupational stress (job stress) factors may improve clinical and work outcomes related to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, the emerging hypotheses relating occupational stress to work-related upper extremity disorders (WRUEDs) are not particularly well known among occupational health providers and researchers. Generic job stress and health models and multivariable models of WRUEDs were described and evaluated. Models on occupational stress and health/WRUEDs offer unique perspectives on the role of occupational stressors on WRUEDs. However, the limited support for the structure and proposed mechanisms of these models suggest that investigations examining and validating proposed biobehavioral pathways are still needed. Difficulties in conceptualizing occupational stress have, in the past, hindered its systematic incorporation into occupational health research and prevention/intervention strategies. The present paper provides a common basis for researchers and practitioners with diverse backgrounds to understand job stress and its relation to WRUEDs in order to enhance future efforts. Given the present limitations in the field and the need for comprehensive approaches to WRUEDs, there is great potential for occupational health researchers and clinicians to advance knowledge in this area.
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The objective of this paper was to study whether subjects in a workplace setting are able to assess the intensity of musculoskeletal pain retrospectively for a period of 3 months. The intensity of average pain and maximum pain in eight anatomic regions was assessed on a numeric rating scale. The results of 12 consecutive weekly pain recordings were compared with a final retrospective assessment of pain intensity covering the same 3-month period (119 subjects). The degree of agreement was good or excellent. The subjects were able to distinguish between the worst complaints and average complaints, and the subjective perception of aggravations or improvements corresponded to the direction of a change in score. Current complaint status slightly influenced the memory of pain. The reproducibility of the questionnaire was also assessed and showed kappa coefficients between 0.44 and 0.91 (36 subjects). The results suggest that subjects are able to accurately recall and rate the severity of pain or discomfort for a period of 3 months. These findings are of practical importance in epidemiologic studies, because they imply that retrospective reports on pain intensity are sufficiently reliable.
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To quantify the relative contribution of work related physical factors, psychosocial workplace factors, and individual factors and aspects of somatisation to the onset of neck/shoulder pain. Four year prospective cohort study of workers from industrial and service companies in Denmark. Participants were 3123 workers, previously enrolled in a cross sectional study, where objective measurement of physical workplace factors was used. Eligible participants were followed on three subsequent occasions with approximately one year intervals. Outcomes of interest were: new onset of neck/shoulder pain (symptom cases); and neck/shoulder pain with pressure tenderness in the muscles of the neck/shoulder region (clinical cases). During follow up, 636 (14.1%) participants reported neck/shoulder pain of new onset; among these, 82 (1.7%) also had clinical signs of substantial muscle tenderness. High shoulder repetition was related to being a future symptom case, and a future clinical case. Repetition was strongly intercorrelated with other physical measures. High job demands were associated with future status as a symptom case, and as a clinical case. A high level of distress predicted subsequent neck/shoulder pain, and neck/shoulder pain with pressure tenderness. High levels of distress, and physical and psychosocial workplace factors are predictors of onset of pain in the neck and/or shoulders, particularly pain with pressure tenderness in the muscles.
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Low back pain has been estimated to be the most costly ailment of people of working age. Both work characteristics and individual factors have been identified as risk factors. The first interaction between work characteristics and individual factors occurs when workers start in their first job. To investigate work-related risk factors for first-ever low back pain in young workers in their first employment. A cross-sectional analysis was performed on 278 young workers in their first employment and without a history of low back pain prior to working. Work-related physical factors, psychosocial work characteristics, individual variables and first-ever low back pain were queried by means of a questionnaire. About half of the workers who developed low back pain after job start did so in the first year of employment. An increased risk was observed for (i) long periods of seated work [relative risk (RR) = 3.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6-6.4]; (ii) more than 12 flexion or rotation movements of the trunk per hour (RR = 3.0, 95%CI = 1.4-6.4); and (iii) more than 3 years seniority in a job involving lifting more than 25 kg at least once an hour (RR = 3.7, 95%CI = 1.4-9.4). As to psychosocial work characteristics, first-ever low back pain was associated with a combination of low psychological job demands and low supervisor support. Work-related physical factors and psychosocial work characteristics should be considered as risk factors for first-ever low back pain. First-ever episodes of low back pain are common in the first year of employment. This may reflect a lack of work experience or training.
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Patients, as well as healthy people, often fail to remember prior symptoms, illnesses, or treatments. The authors investigated how well people in a workplace recalled their prior musculoskeletal pain and which factors influenced recall accuracy. In this prospective study (1992-1998), among a cohort of automobile manufacturing workers (N=464), musculoskeletal pain reported at baseline was compared with recalled pain at follow-up. Two outcomes (ie, forgetting and over-recalling) were examined in relation to several personal and occupational characteristics. Of those who had experienced pain or discomfort in the upper extremities at baseline, 72% did not recall it 6 years later. Symptoms at the time of recall strongly influenced pain recall; forgetting approached 100% among those with no current or recent symptoms. However, forgetting was considerable even among those with current symptoms (45%). Prior pain status was over-recalled by 37% of those with upper-extremity pain at the time of recall, but only by 3% of those without symptoms. Women, those with history of an upper-extremity disorder or systemic disease, who were clinical cases or had more anatomical areas in pain at baseline forgot less often. Over-recalling was related to age, having current symptoms, or being a clinical case. The results were similar for low-back and knee pain. Prior musculoskeletal symptoms are poorly remembered after some years, and the recall is strongly influenced by current symptoms. Recalled information should not be relied upon when an epidemiologic case definition is being constructed or when an attempt is being made to describe the natural history of a disorder.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate how school pupils perceive their own health and how this perception changes over time. A representative sample of 7th grade pupils in Hordaland county (510 boys and 414 girls) were surveyed every year from 1990 to 1993. The results indicated that boys and girls in the lower secondary school had very different conceptions of their own health. The girls reported more frequent somatic health problems than the boys did, were more often depressed, and did not perceive their own health to be as good as boys of the same age did This gender difference seemed to increase with increasing age. A high degree of stability in reported health problems was seen over time. To a large extent, it is the same pupils who report having poor somatic health and being depressed and who perceive their general health as less good. Health complaints among adolescents should be taken seriously, since this may indicate a need for both medical and psychological intervention.
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The objective of this paper was to study whether subjects in a workplace setting are able to assess the intensity of musculoskeletal pain retrospectively for a period of 3 months. The intensity of average pain and maximum pain in eight anatomic regions was assessed on a numeric rating scale. The results of 12 consecutive weekly pain recordings were compared with a final retrospective assessment of pain intensity covering the same 3-month period (119 subjects). The degree of agreement was good or excellent. The subjects were able to distinguish between the worst complaints and average complaints, and the subjective perception of aggravations or improvements corresponded to the direction of a change in score. Current complaint status slightly influenced the memory of pain. The reproducibility of the questionnaire was also assessed and showed kappa coefficients between 0.44 and 0.91 (36 subjects). The results suggest that subjects are able to accurately recall and rate the severity of pain or discomfort for a period of 3 months. These findings are of practical importance in epidemiologic studies, because they imply that retrospective reports on pain intensity are sufficiently reliable. musculoskeletal diseases; pain measurement; questionnaires; reproducibility of results
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A prospective, longitudinal investigation was conducted to investigate anthropometric and clinical examination measures as predictors of future back pain reports in industry. Associations between these measures and a history of back problems were examined as well. Participants in the study included 3,020 aircraft manufacturing employees who underwent an examination and then were tracked for >4 years for subsequent back pain reports. Back symptoms elicited on straight leg raising (SLR) was the measure most significantly associated with subsequent back pain reporting among both men and women (p <0.0001). The only variables to add predictive value in addition to back pain on SLR were age and weight in women, and history of back problems and age in men. (C) Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
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Disputats, Universitetet i Bergen, 2006. Med litteraturhenvisninger. Delvis optryk af artikler: Subjective health complaints in adolescence : dimensional structure and variation across gender and age / Jørn Hetland, Torbjørn Torsheim and Leif E. Aarø. Stability and change in subjective health complaints from adolescence to early childhood / J. Hetland ... et al. Subjective health complaints and bullying in early adolescence : a logitudinal study / Jørn Hetland, John Freeman, and Oddrun Samdal.
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A prospective, longitudinal investigation was conducted to investigate anthropometric and clinical examination measures as predictors of future back pain reports in industry. Associations between these measures and a history of back problems were examined as well. Participants in the study included 3,020 aircraft manufacturing employees who underwent an examination and then were tracked for greater than 4 years for subsequent back pain reports. Back symptoms elicited on straight leg raising (SLR) was the measure most significantly associated with subsequent back pain reporting among both men and women (p less than 0.0001). The only variables to add predictive value in addition to back pain on SLR were age and weight in women, and history of back problems and age in men.
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Interest in the assessment and management of pain increased dramatically after 1965, when the gate control theory was introduced. This increase is concurrent with enormous advances in our understanding of the plasticity and complexity of pain processing. New information about internal pain-inhibitory systems and the factors that trigger them has revolutionized traditional approaches to pain control. This article describes some of the new information on the factors that influence human pain perception, specifically the environmental and psychological factors that modify how pain is experienced. Pain is a complex, multidimensional perception that varies in quality, strength, duration, location, and unpleasantness. The strength and unpleasantness of pain is neither simply nor directly related to the nature and extent of tissue damage. Even newborn infants may experience different pains from the same stimulus, because of the differences in the situations in which it is administered. Pain experiences can range from an inability to perceive pain, regardless of the strength of stimulation, to the actual perception of pain in a limb that has been amputated. The perception of, expression of, and reaction to pain are influenced by genetic, developmental, familial, psychological, social and cultural variables. Psychological factors, such as the situational and emotional factors that exist when we experience pain, can profoundly alter the strength of these perceptions. Attention, understanding, control, expectations, and the aversive significance can affect pain perceptions. Consequently, the understanding of pain requires not only understanding of the nociceptive system, but recognition and control of the many environmental and psychological factors that modify human pain perceptions.
Article
The purpose of this study was to investigate how school pupils perceive their own health and how this perception changes over time. A representative sample of 7th grade pupils in Hordaland county (510 boys and 414 girls) were surveyed every year from 1990 to 1993. The results indicated that boys and girls in the lower secondary school had very different conceptions of their own health. The girls reported more frequent somatic health problems than the boys did, were more often depressed, and did not perceive their own health to be as good as boys of the same age did. This gender difference seemed to increase with increasing age. A high degree of stability in reported health problems was seen overtime. To a large extent, it is the same pupils who report having poor somatic health and being depressed and who perceive their general health as less good. Health complaints among adolescents should be taken seriously, since this may indicate a need for both medical and psychological intervention.
Article
The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms among high school students and associated psychosocial factors. High school students (718) completed a questionnaire concerning neck and shoulder pain and psychosocial factors such as stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy. A participant was classified into the "no disturbing symptoms" group or into the "disturbing symptoms" group according to the frequency of the neck and shoulder symptoms. The sum of mean scores of stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy were compared between these groups. Twenty-one percent of the girls and 10% of the boys suffered from disturbing neck and shoulder symptoms. Stress symptoms and depressive symptoms were more common among the girls than the boys. For both sexes, the sum of stress scores and those of depressive symptom scores were significantly higher in the "disturbing symptoms" group than the "no disturbing symptoms" group. Among the girls, the sum of the self-efficacy scores was lower in the "disturbing symptoms" group than in the "no disturbing symptoms" group. Neck and shoulder symptoms are common among adolescents and psychosocial factors such as stress and depressive symptoms seem to be associated with these symptoms, especially among girls. More knowledge about the etiologic factors associated with neck and shoulder symptoms in adolescents may result in preventive programs with the potential for reducing morbidity of neck and shoulder symptoms in adulthood.
Article
Work-related low-back disorders (LBDs) continue to be one of the single largest sources of compensation costs. The relative contributions of personal, workplace, organizational, and environmental variables to the development and severity of LBDs are not completely understood. The inclusion of personal variables in epidemiologic studies of LBDs has been inconsistent, and different authors have different opinions concerning the importance of such variables. Personal variables either known or suspected to influence outcomes are discussed to elucidate the importance of these variables with respect to understanding LBDs and conducting epidemiological studies in industry. The authors suggest that age, gender, injury history, relative strength, smoking, and psychosocial variables be studied further, and that height, weight, pathologies, genetic factors, maximum oxygen uptake, and absolute strength are unlikely to produce significant effects in industrial populations.
Article
A combined cross-sectional and longitudinal design. To investigate relation between, on one hand, self-reported neck-shoulder symptoms and, on the other hand, low back symptoms and self-reported work-related physical load, psychosocial factors, and individual characteristics and to study the influence of physical capacity in adolescence on neck-shoulder and low back symptoms in adulthood. Heavy physical work and exposure to vibration constitute risk factors for low back problems, and repetitive and static work are risk factors for neck-shoulder symptoms in many jobs. The interplay between individual factors and work-related psychosocial and physical exposure, however, is not well documented. This study addresses effects of adolescent capacity on this interplay in a general population. A random sample of 425 Swedish students was investigated when the students were 16 years and 34 years of age. Sixty-five percent participated in both examinations; only those who worked > or = 16 hours/week at the follow-up period, 148 men and 90 women, were included in these analyses. Data about musculoskeletal symptoms, work, and sociodemographic and individual characteristics were collected at the age of 34 years; physical performance data were collected at the ages of 16 years and 34 years. Among the men, self-employment and worry were associated with neck-shoulder symptoms; among the women, monotonous work and high decision latitude were associated with neck-shoulder symptoms. Low back problems were related to monotonous work among men and women and to exposure to vibration among men. Performance in certain fitness tests at the ages of 16 years and 34 years was negatively associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. The inverse relationships between performance at the age of 16 years and adult musculoskeletal symptoms may imply benefits of early fitness training.
Article
Musculoskeletal pain disorders such as low back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain are a major and ever increasing public health problem among the working population in industrialized countries with social insurance. Especially the economic impact of these diseases on society has been rising, but the disorders do also produce a lot of pain and suffering to the people. It is an important challenge to the health care systems to prevent and treat these disorders, but at the moment poor understanding of the risk factors of these diseases has failed in giving any effective tools to control the musculoskeletal pain disorder epidemic. Most of the epidemiological studies made are cross-sectional and they do not extend to childhood and adolescence, when the organs are developing, achieving their loading strength and possibly being traumatized and starting their degenerative process. The longitudinal Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort study offers a unique opportunity to find early risk factors for musculoskeletal pain syndromes.
Article
A longitudinal epidemiologic study conducted over 12 months among active workers in different occupations. The study was primarily designed to evaluate intervention for prevention of low back and other spinal disorders. To determine factors that predict incidence, recurrence, and persistence of neck disorders (ND), taking into account various dimensions of ND. Neck pain is often supposed to have essentially the same risk factors as back pain; however, there is comparatively little data relevant to this issue. Moreover, there is a lack of prospective studies that take into account a diversity of predictive factors. The Nordic questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms was completed twice at a 12-month interval by 568 workers. Predictive factors were studied with logistic models for four dimensions of ND from the second questionnaire: 1) any ND in the past 6 months; 2) ND for more than 30 days; 3) treatment for ND; and 4) visit to a health care professional for ND. The predictive factors were obtained from the first questionnaire and included gender, age, occupational group, level of psychological distress and psychosomatic problems, and ND at baseline. Female gender and older age were predictors of ND. Headaches or pain in the head, psychological distress, and psychosomatic problems were predictors for all dimensions of ND. These effects were observed for both incidence and persistence of ND. The results emphasize the role of psychosomatic and psychological factors in the occurrence and course of ND for various dimensions of the disorder.
Article
To assess the association between leisure time physical activity and musculoskeletal morbidity, as well as possible interactions with physical activity at work. A literature search was performed to collect all studies on musculoskeletal disorders in which physical activity was involved as a variable. Next, an analysis was made of questionnaire data on a group of 2,030 workers in various occupations, on self-reported physical activity in leisure time and at work, musculoskeletal symptoms (from low back, neck-shoulder and lower extremity) and sick leave due to these symptoms. A logistic regression analysis was carried out to estimate the association between musculoskeletal morbidity and four physical-activity indices (participation in sports and sedentary activities, active life style, sedentary life style), adjusted for age, gender, education and work load. Interaction of leisure activities with age and work load was tested too. Available literature data (39 studies) showed inconsistent results. Most studies did not show any effects. Some studies indicated favourable effects of physical activity, both on low back and neck pain. Participation in some vigorous sports seemed associated with unfavourable effects. The empirical data showed no association between participation in sports and/or other physical activities in leisure time and musculoskeletal symptoms. Sedentary activity in leisure time was associated with higher prevalence rates of low back symptoms and sick leave due to low back symptoms. Stimulation of leisure time physical activity may constitute one of the means of reducing musculoskeletal morbidity in the working population, in particular in sedentary workers.
Article
Musculoskeletal complaints are frequently reported not only by adults, but also by children. Sedentary lifestyle has been suggested as a possible cause. 569 pupils in primary school in a Norwegian municipality, aged 10-15 years, answered a questionnaire on bodily pain, self-esteem, body image and physical activity. We found a tendency that the least and the most physically active children reported most complaints. The two groups reported complaints from different regions. Whether complaints in childhood develop into adult chronic pain conditions, and whether increased activity among the most physically passive children can hinder such a development are still unanswered questions.
Article
Measuring health complaints by administrating a single report is common. Our aim was to assess variation in pain and other subjective complaints over an extended period, whether a single-sample produces representative data, and determine associations between complaints. Health-complaint reports were collected from postal workers at monthly intervals over a period of 32-34 consecutive months (1997-2000). We computed six compound complaint-severity indices of 30 complaint-severity scores (intensity score x duration score, scale 0-9). In 67% of the scores, the complaints exhibited larger deviation from a reference (12 consecutive reports in the last 24 months of the study period) when using one report from the respective reference period compared with the mean of two consecutive reports. Four consecutive samples were needed to obtain agreement for 95% of the data when the criterion of accepted deviation from the reference was set to +/-1.0. Neither inspection of graphs nor statistical tests revealed any seasonal pattern or trend on either a group or individual level. The musculoskeletal and psychological complaint-severity indices correlated strongly (rs > 0.66). Correlations between the different somatic indices were generally weak or moderate (rs < 0.55). The initial report produced higher complaint ratings than subsequent reports did. Due to large intra-individual complaint variability and higher complaint-severity level exhibited on the initial report compared to those that followed, measuring subjective health with a single-sample approach does not produce data representativeness for average complaints over a period. More than two samples should be collected when the purpose is to reveal changes in health.
Article
Standardised questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms in an ergonomic or occupational health context are presented. The questions are forced choice variants and may be either self-administered or used in interviews. They concentrate on symptoms most often encountered in an occupational setting. The reliability of the questionnaires has been shown to be acceptable. Specific characteristics of work strain are reflected in the frequency of responses to the questionnaires.
Article
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are thought to be declining based on Bureau of Labor Statistics survey data, but there is also evidence of MSD under-reporting, raising the possibility of contrary trends. The magnitude of MSD under-reporting over time, and its industry distribution have not been adequately described. Capture-recapture analysis of 7 years of Connecticut MSD (1995-2001), utilizing Workers' Compensation a