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Showing 4 results for Musculoskeletal Diseases
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Relationships with the Quality of Life in Nurses
Davood Nasiry Zarrin Ghabaee, Mehdi Haresabadi, Masoumeh Bagheri Nesami, Freshteh Talebpour Amiri ,
Volume 4, Issue 1 (6-2016)
Abstract

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the most common occupational health problems, reported with high costs and loss of productivity in nurses. On one hand, the quality of life is a multidimensional concept that affects factors such as physical and psychological ones. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between WMSDs and quality of life in nurses.

Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 940 nursing staff in Hospitals of Sari, Iran. The samples were selected by census sampling method. Data were gathered using particular questionnaires of musculoskeletal disorders (Nordic) and quality of life (SF-36). Collected data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-test and Pearson's correlation using SPSS software (version 18).

Results: The results showed that low back disorder with prevalence of 60.9% was the most prevalent disorder among nurses. All aspects of quality of life, except for social functioning, were significantly correlated with WMSDs (P<0.05). In addition, there was a statistically significant relationship in age, gender and education level with WMSDs as well as in gender and work with quality of life (P<0.05).

Conclusions: According to this study, the prevalence of WMSDs was relatively high in nurses. In the majority of nurses, moderate quality of life was observed. Therefore, any intervention to improve quality of life and prevent WMSDs should be focused on, to reduce the physical needs and psychological pressures.


Relationship Between Workload and Prevalence of Wrist Disorders in Assembly Line Workers of Manufacturing Industry
Zahra Ordudari, Farzane Fadaei, Ehsanolah Habibi, Akbar Hassanzadeh,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (11-2019)
Abstract

Background and Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders cause about half of all work-related disease, and are the major cause of loss of time, increased costs, and labor injury. This study aims to evaluate the workload and its association with the prevalence of wrist disorders. It was carried out in the assembly workers of a manufacturing industry.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 female workers employed. Theit mental workload, physical workload and prevalence of wrist MSDs were evaluated using the NASA-TLX, the OCRA method and the Nordic wrist and hand scan questionnaire respectively.
Results: The NASA-TLX showed that the physical demands and effort with mean scores of 78.79 and 78.37 were respectively the most important subjective mental workload (SMWL) scale. Also The results on the basis of the OCRA risk level showed that the highest right-hand risk was at risk level 3 and the highest left-hand risk was at risk level 1 .The Statistical analysis showed that OCRA risk levels and mean scale physical demands and efforts were significantly higher in those with wrist pain than those without pain (P<0.05).There was a direct correlation between the severity of the wrist pain with the OCRA risk index in both hands (P=0.001) and the total score of NASA (r=0.232, P<0.05).
Conclusion: It was revealed that mental load was high in assembly lines of the manufacturing industry and this result was also confirmed by physical evaluation. This study indicated that overall score of SMWL can affect the incidence of MSDs. That is why mental workload should be considered as a risk factor for MSDs.


Effectiveness of an Educational–ergonomic Intervention on Psychosocial Factors, Musculoskeletal Disorders, and Productivity of Administrative Staff in the Health Network: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Abbas Mohammadi, Leila Aghaei, Marzieh Sadeghian, Mohammad Sadegh Loeloe,
Volume 14, Issue 1 (3-2026)
Abstract
Objectives: Office staff in health networks are exposed to adverse psychosocial factors and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) associated with improper working posture, which may reduce productivity. The present study aimed to examine the relationships between psychosocial factors and WMSDs with productivity among administrative staff of a health network and to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational–ergonomic intervention on these outcomes.
Methods: This quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study was conducted among 150 employees of the Behbahan health network in Iran. Data were collected using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III), the Hersey and Goldsmith ACHIEVE productivity questionnaire, and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Working posture was assessed using the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) checklist in a random subsample (n=15). A three-month educational–ergonomic intervention was delivered in small groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 26), and statistical significance was set at 0.05.
Results: Overall psychosocial score was positively correlated with total productivity (r=0.633, p<0.01). The WMSDs demonstrated significant negative correlations with selected productivity dimensions (p<0.05). After the intervention, psychosocial dimensions and overall productivity improved significantly (p<0.001), with a marked increase in total productivity (2.82 to 4.03; Cohen’s d=1.51). The WMSDs decreased significantly (5.36 to 4.24; p<0.001). Moreover, no significant change was observed in the ROSA score (p=0.640).
Conclusion: The educational–ergonomic intervention improved workplace psychosocial conditions and reduced musculoskeletal complaints, thereby increasing productivity among administrative staff in the health network. In addition, it is recommended to conduct controlled studies.

Developing a Mixed-Integer Quadratic Programming Model for Equitable Construction Task Allocation to Mitigate Cumulative Low-Back Load Based on the MDD Model
Hamed Salmanzadeh, Arash Mirhaji Moghanjoughi,
Volume 14, Issue 3 (10-2026)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Low back musculoskeletal disorders are among the major concerns in the construction industry and are primarily caused by biomechanical loads imposed on the lower back. Previous studies on task allocation have mainly focused on reducing maximum physical risk and, in some cases, psychological risk, while ergonomic indices have predominantly been assessed using qualitative or semi-quantitative methods. However, fairness in the distribution of risk and working time among workers has received less attention. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop a model for reducing risk and ensuring its equitable distribution, as well as the equitable distribution of working time. From a macroergonomic perspective, such a model can enhance personnel motivation and prevent tensions arising from perceived inequality in the workplace.

Methods: This cross-sectional study employed a mathematical modeling approach. Postural and force exertion data were collected from four construction workers performing nine distinct tasks. Compressive forces on the lumbar region were determined using 3DSSPP software. Subsequently, the quantitative risk associated with force intensity and exposure duration was computed using the Mainz-Dortmund Dosis Model (MDD), following which a mathematical model was formulated to facilitate the fair assignment of tasks.
Results: Implementation of the developed mixed-integer quadratic programming model revealed that, under divisible task allocation, the cumulative low-back risk and static exposure time per worker were 5,138 newton-hours(Nh) ( below the permissible threshold of 5,500) and 1.575 hours, respectively. Furthermore, the objective function's proximity to zero substantiates the equitable distribution of both risk and working time.
Conclusion: While maintaining operational constraints, the proposed model improves ergonomic equity and can be used as a decision-making tool to protect workers’ lumbar region

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