| 1. |
- Lindegård, Agneta, et al.
(författare)
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Perceived exertion, comfort and working technique in professional computer users and associations with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms.
- 2012
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Ingår i: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. - London : BioMed Central. - 1471-2474. ; 13, s. 38-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate whether perceived exertion, perceived comfort and working technique is associated with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms among professional computer users. METHODS: At baseline a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 853 participants from 46 different work sites (382 men and 471 women) who, at baseline, had been free from neck and upper extremity symptoms during the preceding month. Work-related exposures, individual factors, and symptoms from the neck and upper extremities were assessed. Observations of working technique were performed by ergonomists using an ergonomic checklist. Incidence data were collected by means of 10 monthly questionnaires, asking for information on the occurrence of neck, shoulder and arm/hand symptoms. Perceived exertion was rated on a modified Borg RPE scale ranging from 0 (very, very light) to 14 (very, very strenuous). Perceived comfort was rated on a 9-point scale ranging from -4 (very, very poor) to +4 (very, very good) in relation to the chair, computer screen, keyboard, and computer mouse. RESULTS: The median follow up time was 10.3 months. The incidence of symptoms from the neck, shoulders and arm/hands were 50, 24 and 34 cases per 100 person years, respectively.Higher perceived exertion in the neck, shoulder or arm/hands was associated with an increased risk of developing symptoms in the corresponding body region. Moreover, a dose-response relationship between the level of exertion and the risk of developing symptoms was recorded for all three regions. There was an association between low comfort and an increased risk for neck symptoms, but not for shoulder and arm/hand symptoms, although a trend towards such an association (not statistically significant) could be seen. Working technique was, in this study, not associated with the risk of developing symptoms in any of the investigated body regions. CONCLUSION: There was a strong association between high perceived exertion and the development of neck, shoulder, and arm/hand symptoms. Moreover, there was an association between poor perceived comfort and neck pain. Surveillance of computer users may include perceived exertion and comfort to target individuals at risk for neck and upper extremity symptoms.
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| 2. |
- Jackson, Jennie, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational biomechanical risk factors for radial nerve entrapment in a 13-year prospective study among male construction workers
- 2019
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : BMJ Publishing Group. - 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 76:5, s. 326-331
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives The aim was to assess the association between occupational biomechanical exposure and the occurrence of radial nerve entrapment (RNE) in construction workers over a 13-year follow-up period. Methods A cohort of 229 707 male construction workers who participated in a national occupational health surveillance programme (1971-1993) was examined prospectively (2001-2013) for RNE. Height, weight, age, smoking status and job title (construction trade) were obtained on health examination. RNE case status was defined by surgical release of RNE, with data from the Swedish national registry for out-patient surgery records. A job exposure matrix was developed, and biomechanical exposure estimates were assigned according to job title. Highly correlated exposures were summed into biomechanical exposure scores. Negative binomial models were used to estimate the relative risks (RR) (incidence rate ratios) of RNE surgical release for the biomechanical factors and exposure sum scores. Predicted incidence was assessed for each exposure score modelled as a continuous variable to assess exposure-response relationships. Results The total incidence rate of surgically treated RNE over the 13-year observation period was 3.53 cases per 100 000 person-years. There were 92 cases with occupational information. Increased risk for RNE was seen in workers with elevated hand-grip forces (RR=1.79, 95% CI 0.97 to 3.28) and exposure to hand-arm vibration (RR=1.47, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.00). Conclusions Occupational exposure to forceful handgrip work and vibration increased the risk for surgical treatment of RNE.
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| 3. |
- Lindegård, A., et al.
(författare)
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Can biofeedback training in combination with ergonomic information reduce pain among young adult computer users with neck and upper extremity symptoms? : A randomized controlled intervention study
- 2024
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Ingår i: Applied Ergonomics. - : Elsevier. - 0003-6870 .- 1872-9126. ; 114
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this randomized controlled study was to explore if an intervention with biofeedback training in combination with ergonomic discussions, could improve working technique and work postures, and reduce pain intensity and perceived exertion in young adult computer users with ongoing neck and upper extremity symptoms. 39 participants were divided into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention consisted of 4 sessions during a three-month period. Working technique, working postures, rated perceived exertion, pain intensity, and duration of computer use were measured at baseline and follow ups after 6 and 12 months. The intervention did not significantly improve working technique and working postures, nor reduce pain intensity and perceived exertion in the intervention group compared to the control group. However, there was a statistically significant reduction in reported pain intensity in the neck/shoulder for the whole group. Also, there was a trend that time spent with computer work without breaks was more reduced in the intervention group than in the control group.
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| 4. |
- Svedmark, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of Workplace Exposure and Stress on Neck Pain and Disabilities in Women : A Longitudinal Follow-up After a Rehabilitation Intervention
- 2018
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Ingår i: Annals of Work Exposures and Health. - : Oxford University Press. - 2398-7316 .- 2398-7308. ; 62:5, s. 591-603
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The aim was to evaluate if pain, disability, and work productivity are influenced by physical and psychosocial work exposures as well as by stress, up to 1 year after a randomized controlled trial treatment intervention, and to determine whether any such association differed between treatment and control groups.Methods: Ninety-seven working women suffering non-specific neck pain (n = 67 treatment group, n = 30 control group) were followed from end of treatment intervention and at 9- and 15-month follow-ups, respectively. Physical and psychosocial exposures, as well as perceived stress, were assessed after the treatment intervention. Pain, neck disability, and work productivity were assessed at baseline, after intervention 3 months later and at 9- and 15-month follow-ups. Longitudinal assessment was conducted using the exposure level at 3 months as predictor of pain, disability, and work productivity at 3, 9, and 15 months, respectively. Mixed models were used to estimate longitudinal associations, accounting for within-individual correlation of repeated outcome measures by incorporation of a random intercept. Age and duration of neck pain were adjusted for in all models. To evaluate group differences, interactions between exposures and treatment groups were estimated.Results: High perceived stress was associated with more neck pain, more neck disability, and decreased work productivity in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. High 'control of decision' was associated with less neck pain, less neck disability, and higher work productivity in cross-sectional analyses but only to less disability and higher productivity in longitudinal analyses. Shoulder/arm load was the only physical exposure variable that was significantly associated with work productivity in the univariate analyses. Only small differences were observed between treatment and control groups.Conclusion: High perceived stress and low 'control of decision' were associated with more neck pain, increased neck disability, and decreased work productivity. Treatment interventions for individuals with neck pain should take into account psychosocial workplace exposures and stress to improve intermediate and long-term results.
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| 5. |
- Eklöf, Mats, et al.
(författare)
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Workplace intervention for improved risk perception and preventive activity among workers : using hand-held vibrating machines: a pilot study
- 2023
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This article presents a pilot study of a 1-h workplace educational intervention implemented among ten construction workers who were highly exposed to hand–arm vibration. The intervention combined risk communication and normative expert advice intended to reinforce preventive behaviour related to vibration, noise, and biomechanical loads. Data for this study comprised intervention notes and interview data from interventionists, and pre- and post-intervention interview data from participating workers.The results suggested that the intervention was sensitive to disturbances and should be directed only to motivated workers possessing sufficient self-efficacy, and only in circumstances in which exposure may be controlled on the local workplace level and by locally implemented measures. Unless these conditions are present, the studied intervention may fail to influence preventive behaviour, and may instead cause cognitive dissonance and frustration among participants and interventionists.
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| 6. |
- Stjernbrandt, Albin, et al.
(författare)
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Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway : a descriptive study
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Circumpolar Health. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1239-9736 .- 2242-3982. ; 82:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This cross-sectional study aimed to describe exposure to cold climate and hand-arm vibration (HAV) as well as neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings among open-pit Arctic miners. It was based on data from questionnaires and physical examinations, including 177 men and 75 women from two open-pit mines in Sweden and Norway (response rate 54%). Working outdoors or in an unheated building or machine for at least two hours per day was reported by 44% and HAV exposure of the same duration by 10%. Neurosensory symptoms (e.g. reduced perception of touch) in the hands were reported by 47% and Raynaud’s phenomenon by 14%. In brief conclusion, the study showed that Arctic miners were commonly exposed to both cold temperatures and HAV. They also reported a broad range of neurosensory and vascular symptoms in their hands and had abnormal clinical findings related to the symptoms. The results emphasise the need for additional preventive measures in this occupational setting.
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| 7. |
- Stjernbrandt, Albin, et al.
(författare)
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Raynaud's phenomenon in the feet of Arctic open-pit miners
- 2024
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Ingår i: International Journal of Circumpolar Health. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1239-9736 .- 2242-3982. ; 83:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The literature on Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in the feet is scarce, especially in the occupational setting. The primary aim of our study was to investigate the occurrence of RP in the feet of miners. As part of the MineHealth project, written surveys and clinical examinations were completed by 260 Arctic open-pit miners working in northern Sweden and Norway (participation rate 53.6%). Data on RP were collected using standardised colour charts and questionnaire items. Clinical examination included assessing the perception of vibration and pain in both feet. There were eight women and three men who reported RP in the feet. Four also had RP in their hands but none acknowledged any first-degree relatives with the condition. Nine reported exposure to foot-transmitted vibration and one to hand-arm vibration. Seven showed signs of neurosensory injury in the feet. To conclude, the occurrence of RP in the feet of miners was 4.4%. Most cases with RP in the feet did not report the condition in the hands and were exposed to vibration transmitted directly to the feet. There were no reports of a hereditary component. Most cases with RP in the feet also had clinical findings suggestive of peripheral neuropathy in the feet.
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| 8. |
- Trask, Catherine, et al.
(författare)
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Data processing costs for three posture assessment methods
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMC Medical Research Methodology. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2288. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Data processing contributes a non-trivial proportion to total research costs, but documentation of these costs is rare. This paper employed a priori cost tracking for three posture assessment methods (self-report, observation of video, and inclinometry), developed a model describing the fixed and variable cost components, and simulated additional study scenarios to demonstrate the utility of the model.METHODS: Trunk and shoulder postures of aircraft baggage handlers were assessed for 80 working days using all three methods. A model was developed to estimate data processing phase costs, including fixed and variable components related to study planning and administration, custom software development, training of analysts, and processing time.RESULTS: Observation of video was the most costly data processing method with total cost of € 30,630, and was 1.2-fold more costly than inclinometry (€ 26,255), and 2.5-fold more costly than self-reported data (€ 12,491). Simulated scenarios showed altering design strategy could substantially impact processing costs. This was shown for both fixed parameters, such as software development and training costs, and variable parameters, such as the number of work-shift files processed, as well as the sampling frequency for video observation. When data collection and data processing costs were combined, the cost difference between video and inclinometer methods was reduced to 7%; simulated data showed this difference could be diminished and, even, reversed at larger study sample sizes. Self-report remained substantially less costly under all design strategies, but produced alternate exposure metrics.CONCLUSIONS: These findings build on the previously published data collection phase cost model by reporting costs for post-collection data processing of the same data set. Together, these models permit empirically based study planning and identification of cost-efficient study designs.
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| 9. |
- Trask, Catherine, et al.
(författare)
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Modeling costs of exposure assessment methods in industrial environments
- 2012
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Ingår i: Work. - 1051-9815 .- 1875-9270. ; 41:supplement 1, s. 6079-6086
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Documentation of posture measurement cost is rare and cost models that do exist are generally naive. This paper provides a comprehensive cost model for ergonomic research, documents the monetary costs of three exposure assessment methods (inclinometry, video observation, and self-report), and discusses cost components. Trunk and shoulder posture were assessed for 27 aircraft baggage handlers for 3 full shifts each using three methods typical to ergonomics: self-report via questionnaire, observation via video film, and full-shift inclinometer registration. The model accounted for costs related to meetings to plan the study, administration, recruitment, equipment, training of data collectors, travel, and onsite data collection. Findings show that inclinometer was the most expensive method, followed by observation and then self report; the majority of costs (90%) were borne by researchers. Study design parameters such as sample size, measurement scheduling and spacing, concurrent measurements, location and travel, and equipment acquisition were shown to have wide-ranging impacts on costs. This study provided empirical cost data for use in cost models that can facilitate decision making and planning of future studies, and can be used to investigate cost efficiency in future studies.
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| 10. |
- Björ, Bodil, et al.
(författare)
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Cold health impacts in northern Sweden
- 2016
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Ingår i: International Journal of Circumpolar Health. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1239-9736 .- 2242-3982. ; 75:33200
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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