Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

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Background: Patient Manual handling is one of the major risk factors in musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to estimate the mechanical force on the low back of the staff responsible for patient manual handling and to exam in the effect of patient manual handling by two people on the level forces exerted on HCWs ҆ low back. methods: the participants of this study were 10 health care workersdoing patient manual handling individually and by two people . To determine the posture of these people, we filmed them both from front and side and force plate was used to determine the weight of the patient handling by HCWs. 3DSSPP was used to estimate theforces exerted on the their low back during patient manual handling. Results: Results showed that among the four studied tasks, the maximum compression forces exerted on discs L4/L5 and L5/S1 were 3591 ± 863 and 3342 ± 827 respectively when the patient was seated on wheelchair. The Maximum shear force exerted on the disc L4/L5 and L5/S1 were 252 ± 122 432 ± 36 N respectively when patient was seated on the bed. No significant difference was seen in the average forces exerted on low back except seating patient on wheelchair. ( P> 0.05) Conclusions: The comparison of exerted force on disks with recommended limits revealed that only the task of placing patient on wheelchair exerted force on low back exceed NIOSH recommended weight limit. patient manual handling by two people most tasks of this study does not created significant difference. Therefore to reduce exert force on low back need ergonomic intervention including bed design, beds appropriate stabilization, training.

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Introduction: Manual load lifting is the most common and most stressful activity in manual handling of loads that imposes the highest possible amount of biomechanical pressure on the body, particularly on the spine. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and to estimate the mechanical force exerted on the lower back in workers responsible for manual load lifting.

Material and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 workers responsible for manual load lifting activities in 7 industrial settings in the city of Shiraz. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used for determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and the 3DSSPP software was used to estimate the forces exerted on the lower back during load lifting. Data were then analyzed in SPSS-19.Findings: The results showed that lower back problems constitute the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder (68.3%). Evaluations conducted in 3DSSPP showed that in 17.5% of the cases, compressive forces, and in 10.8% of the cases, shearing forces exerted on the L5-S1 disc were higher in the workers than the permissible levels. There were no significant differences between the rate of the prevalence of lower back pain at different levels of compressive and shearing forces exerted on the disc (p>0/05).

Results: This finding might indicate the limitations of the method used in this study for conducting a comprehensive assessment of loads exerted on the spine.

Conclusion: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, in particular lower back pain, was estimated to be high among the subjects studied. The risk levels of compressive and shearing forces exceeded the permissible amount in a low percentage of the workers studied. The 3DSSPP software might have certain limitations in the assessment of the pressure exerted on the spine.

 

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Introduction: Low back pain is the most common cause of chronic pain syndrome which leads to activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between severity of low back pain and work limitation in patients with acute and chronic low back pain.

Methods: Ninety patients with acute and chronic low back pain who attended the rheumatology Clinic of Booali Hospital were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire containing demographic information and one about the onset and cause of low back pain were asked from patients. Work Limitation Questionnaire was asked from patients. Severity of pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale. All the data were analysed using SPSS software.

Results: The results showed that the most common cause of low back pain was discopathy with 33 patients (36.7%). There was no significant difference between males and females in terms of work limitation (P = 0.66). Patients with discopathy showed the most severe work limitations (72%). Also, there was a significant relationship between severity of work limitation and patients' age. Older patients had more severity of work limitations (P < 0.001, r = 0.42). There was a significant correlation between work limitation and severity of pain. Patients with increasing pain had more severity of work limitations (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Our results showed that with increasing age and pain work limitations will increase due to low back pain.

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