Showing 5 results for Disability
Azar Soltani, Mohsen Aliabadi, Rostam Golmohammadi, Majid Motamedzade,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (6-2018)
Abstract
Background: Exposure to hand-arm vibration is one of the most common physical harmful factors. The purpose of this study was Experimental study of the level of manual performance disability caused by exposure to hand-arm vibration among automobile casting workers.
Methods: This study was performed on 53 casting workers as case group and 28 controls as control group. The measurement of the vibration of the worker's arms and hands was carried out in accordance with the ISO 5349 standard. The level of manual performance disability was evaluated using skeletal-muscular, sensory-neural and vascular tests. Also, a questionnaire was used for the level of disability of the arm, shoulder and hand DASH. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software.
Results: The 8-hour vibration exposure was 8.33 m / s2 (4.49), which is exceeded the permissible level. Skill and dexterity, fingers and grip strength of the dominant hand in the case group were decreased by 4%, 13.3% and 11%, respectively (p <0.05). The regeneration time of the dominant hand in the case group was 41.2% higher than the control group (p <0.05). Sensory-neurological complications increased in the case group compared to the control group, however, it was not statistically significant. The DASH score in the case group was 10.7 (13.4) and the control group was 4.1 (5.1).
Conclusion: Hand-arm manual performance disability in workers exposed to vibration decreased from 4% to 14%, which confirmed the DASH score. In addition, workers showed a higher level of vascular complications compared with sensory-neurological complications.
Mohsen Aliabadi, Ramin Rahmani, Ebrahim Darvishi, Maryam Farhadian, Masoud Shafiee Motlagh, Neda Mahdavi,
Volume 9, Issue 3 (12-2021)
Abstract
Background: Exposure to vibration is one of the occupational agents that causes a variety of health effects. The aim of this study was to determine the association between exposure to human vibration and the physical performance of mining drivers.
Methods: In the present study, 65 drivers working in one of the Iron Ore mines, were asked to complete the standard questionnaire for assessing the level of disability of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH). Exposure to human vibration was measured using Svantek 106 vibrometer. Drivers' physical performance was assessed based on grip strength, Pegboard dexterity, and monofilament finger sensory tests. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software.
Results: The average vibration acceleration whole body (WBV) and hand-arm (HAV) were 1.00±0.23 and 2.46±0.68 m/s2 respectively. There was a significant relationship between exposure to HAV and grip strength and hand dexterity (p <0.05). According to the DASH score, 56.9% of drivers had mild and 43.1% had moderate upper limb disability. The results of the multiple regression model with a coefficient of determination of 0.207 showed that the WBV in the presence of other predictor variables had a significant effect on DASH score (p<0.05).
Conclusion: In mining truck drivers, WBV exposure was higher and HAV exposure was lower than the national exposure limits. The results confirmed that WBV caused by mining trucks is the most important risk factor affecting the level of drivers' disability.
Ali Akbar Sufizadeh, Mehrdad Anbarian,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders among smartphone users. The purpose of the present study was to compare the immediate effects of rest and McKenzie exercise on pain level and disability index among individuals who complained of pain and discomfort in the neck after using a smartphone.
Methods: Ten males and 14 females with an average age of 25.71 years, who complained of pain and discomfort in the neck after using a smartphone, participated in this clinical trial study. During two consecutive days, they received conservative interventions including rest and Mackenzie exercise. The duration of each intervention was one session. The level of pain and disability was measured with the visual analog scale (VAS) and the neck disability index questionnaire before starting the treatment (immediately after using the smartphone), and after performing rest interventions and McKenzie exercises. The data were analyzed by ANOVA with repeated measures (P < 0.05).
Results: Subjects reported lower levels of pain and disability following both intervention methods (rest and McKenzie exercise) compared to before the start of the treatment period. The Cohen's d effect size index showed the high effectiveness of Mckenzie's exercise compared to the resting condition on the level of pain and disability.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that McKenzie's exercise can more effectively decrease the amount of pain and disability in the neck and shoulder areas following the use of a smartphone compared to rest.
Samin Asghari Eskoui, Mahmood Reza Azghani, Sadra Jalali,
Volume 13, Issue 3 (9-2025)
Abstract
Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), particularly foot problems, are among the leading causes of reduced quality of life and work productivity. Evidence suggests that occupational conditions and daily activities play a crucial role in the development of foot pain. This study aimed to examine the relationship between occupational status, severity of foot pain, and functional impairment in various occupational groups using the Foot Function Index (FFI).
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2,848 participants from East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Based on occupational status, participants were categorized as employees, self-employed, housewives (only women), and students. Data were collected using the FFI questionnaire. The data's normality was tested using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests. Since the distribution was non-normal, inter-group comparisons were performed using the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by pairwise comparisons with the Mann–Whitney U test and the Bonferroni correction, as necessary.
Results: The results revealed that students, both men and women, reported the highest levels of foot functional problems, while employees and self-employed individuals had lower FFI scores. Among women, housewives reported fewer problems than students. Statistical analyses confirmed significant differences among the occupational groups (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that occupational status is directly associated with foot pain and functional impairment. The results highlight that students, as a high-risk group, require special attention in preventive programs and orthopedic and ergonomic interventions. Identifying the impact of occupational factors on foot health can provide a basis for designing strategies to improve occupational health and reduce the burden of MSDs.
Fatemeh Hajialikhani, Fatemeh Shahbazi, Neda Mahdavi,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (6-2026)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Handicraft artists in Isfahan Province are at heightened risk of developing upper‑extremity musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of their work, which involves repetitive movements and awkward postures. This study was conducted to examine the influence of hand‑tool characteristics on upper‑extremity musculoskeletal discomfort among these artisans.
Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study, 191 artisans (70 women and 121 men) working in the fields of enameling, turquoise inlaying, miniature painting, and metal engraving were selected through random sampling. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, the Quick version of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Quick-DASH) questionnaire, and the Comfort QH (CQH) tool comfort questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata version 17, and a significance level of less than 0.05 was considered for all statistical tests.
Results: The mean and standard deviation of the Quick-DASH score were estimated at 28.89 and 4.91, respectively. The highest Quick-DASH score was related to the engravers, with a mean of 30.89 and a standard deviation of 2.91. Work experience was a factor influencing the Quick-DASH score (P = 0.003). The mean CQH questionnaire score for artists was 1.09 with a standard deviation of 0.26. Turquoise inlay workers and engravers had the most discomfort from the tools, with a mean (standard deviation) of 1.04(0.23). No significant correlation was observed between upper limb disability and tool comfort.
Conclusion: The handicraft artists of Isfahan, who routinely perform highly repetitive and fine manual tasks, are exposed to a considerable risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. Although no statistically significant association was found between musculoskeletal disability and discomfort related to hand tools, both univariate and multivariate analyses highlighted the substantial impact of hand‑tool comfort on upper‑extremity musculoskeletal discomfort.
