Ergonomics SA : Journal of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa, Oct 17, 2016
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) represent a significant occupational problem among... more Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) represent a significant occupational problem among road construction workers. This study conducted a prevalence and symptom survey of WRMDs among road construction workers in a Nigerian community and its relationship with risk factors over a twelve month period. The study involved 100 consecutively sampled respondents from construction workers in a Nigerian community. The short version of the Dutch Musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, 12 months' prevalence, risk factor and health seeking behavior of respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while spearman rank correlation was used to test correlation at 0.05 α level. A high WRMDs prevalence of 66% rate was reported, with low back (55%) being the most frequently reported body part for symptoms, followed by neck at 45%, while the least prevalent was the left hip/thigh (8%). Significant correlations existed between WRMDs and BMI (p = 0.003), work hours per week (p = 0.018), work exertion (p = 0.004), risk factors (p = 0.001). Logistics regression analysis showed that work organizational factors were significant predictors of WRMDs report of symptoms. Meanwhile, self-medication was the major means adopted by the respondents to alleviate musculoskeletal pain. It is recommended that preventive strategies be adopted to minimize occurrence of WRMDs among these workers in Nigeria.
Objective: To investigate the effects of six-week cervical traction and infrared therapy on neck ... more Objective: To investigate the effects of six-week cervical traction and infrared therapy on neck pain intensity (PI) and neck disability index (NDI) among individuals with cervical spondylosis. Methods: This study was a non-randomized cross-over cohort design. A total of 40 participants (men=20, and women=20) who were purposively selected, received a six-week infrared therapy, observed a one-week washout period, and then six-week concurrent infrared therapy and cervical traction. The PI and NDI were measured at baseline, after infrared therapy, the washout period, and infrared plus cervical traction. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA), Friedman’s ANOVA, independent samples t-test, and Kendall’s tau correlation test. Result: The mean age of the participants was 40±8.60 years. Infrared therapy plus cervical traction significantly reduced PI: [Formula: see text]2(3)=102.06, [Formula: see text], and NDI: F (1, 39) = 222.56, [Formula: see text], re...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected anthropometric cha... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected anthropometric characteristics (body mass index, head proportion, and body length) and aspects of gross motor development among infants with neurologically normal 18-month outcomes. One hundred thirty-two infants born full-term were assessed at intervals through the first 15 months of life using standard techniques to measure length, weight, and head circumference, which provided the data to calculate indices for body mass and head proportion. A modified Primitive Reflex Profile, the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales were administered, capturing the motor functions of the stepping reflex, abilities in prone and sitting, and stair-climbing proficiency, respectively. Only head proportion revealed a significant finding: infants with proportionately larger heads had lower prone motor scores at six weeks of age. Otherwise, these selected anthropometric characteristics made nonsignificant independent contributions to early motor development. Additional investigations should be conducted using multivariate nonlinear statistical methods incorporating interactions among variables on prospective data collected from samples of infants developing typically, those at-risk, and those with identified motor disabilities.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are very common among industrial labourers, leading to sick leav... more Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are very common among industrial labourers, leading to sick leave absence, disability and low productivity at work. MSDs have multifactorial causes, thereby making it difficult to pinpoint the extent of the contributions of the various risks regarding the mechanism of its pathophysiology. Previously, attempts were made to study regional pain symptoms in varying occupational groups, disregarding the particularities of the different workplace situations. It is important to highlight, that quantifying physical exposure factors that contribute to MSDs occurrence using quantitative approach alone could be inadequate. It is therefore imperative to incorporate qualitative approach to unmask accompanying psychosocial stressors, which are mostly explanatory variables. The study investigated the following: 12-month retrospective prevalence of MSDs, prospective incidence, risk factors and pattern of MSDs in a 6-month follow-up survey of selected quarry minework...
Objective: Work related musculoskeletal disorder (W MSD) is an occupational problem which timber ... more Objective: Work related musculoskeletal disorder (W MSD) is an occupational problem which timber workers are prone to because of the nature of their job. This study sought to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal pain (WRMS pain) among timber workers in Enugu metropolis, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was used. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the survey instrument. Four hundred and sixteen questio nnaires were duly completed and all the respondents were males. Descriptive statistics of f requency and percentages and inferential statistics of chi-square were used as appropriate for data analys is. Results: The results showed that 90.8% of the timbe r workers have had WRMS pain once or more in their occupational lives. The twelve-month prevalen ce of WRMS pain was 90.1%. The low back was the commonly affected body area reported by timber workers for complaints in the last twelve months. Performing the same tasks over and over (73.8%),...
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different heel heights on selected ga... more The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different heel heights on selected gait parameters in a sample of young Nigerian females. A purposive sample of eighty apparently healthy undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus participated in the study. Their mean age, height, and weight were 21.98± 1.83 years, 1.65±0.06 meters, 59.50±9.34 kilograms respectively. An ex post facto design was used to investigate the effect of different heel heights (3.2cm, 7.8cm and 11.0cm) on selected gait parameters. This was done using a prepared protocol and measurement of gait parameters were taken with a tape rule and stop watch respectively. One-way ANOVA was used to compare differences across the groups. Level of significance was set at 0.05. There were significant differences in mean values of selected gait parameters across the different heel heights for stride length, step length, stride width, cadence, and velocity respectively. However, with post hoc test, no ...
Advances in Physical Ergonomics & Human Factors, 2018
Musculoskeletal disorders remains a major constraint to mining task performance. Task analyses we... more Musculoskeletal disorders remains a major constraint to mining task performance. Task analyses were conducted of different mining jobs from several work shifts. The 3DSSPP program was utilized for biomechanical stressors evaluation in mining jobs. The energy cost and muscle activities of Latissmus Dorsi and upper Trapezius muscles of miners were assessed for different job categories using heart rate, VO2 max and electromyogram. The muscle activities showed right dominance among the miners. There were high energy demand on miner’s tasks, with compressive and shearing forces for most jobs exceeding safety NIOSH scores. There is need for task formalization considering miner’s capabilities.
International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2016
String instrumentalists experience musculoskeletal symptoms that are likely associated with strin... more String instrumentalists experience musculoskeletal symptoms that are likely associated with string playing, due to repetitive precise and delicate movements required to play the instruments. The study evaluated prevalence and associated risk factors of MSS among string instrumentalists in the Nigerian population. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to evaluate 12-month prevalence of MS symptoms using a 41-item questionnaire adapted for the Nigerian string instrumentalists, which sought information on; socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, playing history and habitual practices, 12-month prevalence, symptoms distribution and duration, occupational stress and performance anxiety and lastly subjective health complaints, using perceived general health status of respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean, frequency and percentages, while Chi-square was used to test association with alpha level set at p < 0.05. The result showed a very high 12-month prevalence of 81.4% of MSS among string instrumentalists in the Nigerian population. The wrists, neck and lower back were the most affected by 75.3, 74.2 and 66.7%, respectively. It was observed that 12-month prevalence of MSS was significantly associated with the number of instruments played, carriage method, warm-up, cool-down, general life and work stress (p < 0.05), while age, years of practice and duration of playing were not significantly associated with MSS. The study showed that MSS are highly prevalent among Nigerian string instrumentalists. Thus, providing appropriate occupational/ergonomic interventions is imperative.
Ergonomics SA : Journal of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa, Oct 17, 2016
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) represent a significant occupational problem among... more Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) represent a significant occupational problem among road construction workers. This study conducted a prevalence and symptom survey of WRMDs among road construction workers in a Nigerian community and its relationship with risk factors over a twelve month period. The study involved 100 consecutively sampled respondents from construction workers in a Nigerian community. The short version of the Dutch Musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, 12 months' prevalence, risk factor and health seeking behavior of respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while spearman rank correlation was used to test correlation at 0.05 α level. A high WRMDs prevalence of 66% rate was reported, with low back (55%) being the most frequently reported body part for symptoms, followed by neck at 45%, while the least prevalent was the left hip/thigh (8%). Significant correlations existed between WRMDs and BMI (p = 0.003), work hours per week (p = 0.018), work exertion (p = 0.004), risk factors (p = 0.001). Logistics regression analysis showed that work organizational factors were significant predictors of WRMDs report of symptoms. Meanwhile, self-medication was the major means adopted by the respondents to alleviate musculoskeletal pain. It is recommended that preventive strategies be adopted to minimize occurrence of WRMDs among these workers in Nigeria.
Objective: To investigate the effects of six-week cervical traction and infrared therapy on neck ... more Objective: To investigate the effects of six-week cervical traction and infrared therapy on neck pain intensity (PI) and neck disability index (NDI) among individuals with cervical spondylosis. Methods: This study was a non-randomized cross-over cohort design. A total of 40 participants (men=20, and women=20) who were purposively selected, received a six-week infrared therapy, observed a one-week washout period, and then six-week concurrent infrared therapy and cervical traction. The PI and NDI were measured at baseline, after infrared therapy, the washout period, and infrared plus cervical traction. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA), Friedman’s ANOVA, independent samples t-test, and Kendall’s tau correlation test. Result: The mean age of the participants was 40±8.60 years. Infrared therapy plus cervical traction significantly reduced PI: [Formula: see text]2(3)=102.06, [Formula: see text], and NDI: F (1, 39) = 222.56, [Formula: see text], re...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected anthropometric cha... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected anthropometric characteristics (body mass index, head proportion, and body length) and aspects of gross motor development among infants with neurologically normal 18-month outcomes. One hundred thirty-two infants born full-term were assessed at intervals through the first 15 months of life using standard techniques to measure length, weight, and head circumference, which provided the data to calculate indices for body mass and head proportion. A modified Primitive Reflex Profile, the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales were administered, capturing the motor functions of the stepping reflex, abilities in prone and sitting, and stair-climbing proficiency, respectively. Only head proportion revealed a significant finding: infants with proportionately larger heads had lower prone motor scores at six weeks of age. Otherwise, these selected anthropometric characteristics made nonsignificant independent contributions to early motor development. Additional investigations should be conducted using multivariate nonlinear statistical methods incorporating interactions among variables on prospective data collected from samples of infants developing typically, those at-risk, and those with identified motor disabilities.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are very common among industrial labourers, leading to sick leav... more Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are very common among industrial labourers, leading to sick leave absence, disability and low productivity at work. MSDs have multifactorial causes, thereby making it difficult to pinpoint the extent of the contributions of the various risks regarding the mechanism of its pathophysiology. Previously, attempts were made to study regional pain symptoms in varying occupational groups, disregarding the particularities of the different workplace situations. It is important to highlight, that quantifying physical exposure factors that contribute to MSDs occurrence using quantitative approach alone could be inadequate. It is therefore imperative to incorporate qualitative approach to unmask accompanying psychosocial stressors, which are mostly explanatory variables. The study investigated the following: 12-month retrospective prevalence of MSDs, prospective incidence, risk factors and pattern of MSDs in a 6-month follow-up survey of selected quarry minework...
Objective: Work related musculoskeletal disorder (W MSD) is an occupational problem which timber ... more Objective: Work related musculoskeletal disorder (W MSD) is an occupational problem which timber workers are prone to because of the nature of their job. This study sought to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal pain (WRMS pain) among timber workers in Enugu metropolis, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was used. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the survey instrument. Four hundred and sixteen questio nnaires were duly completed and all the respondents were males. Descriptive statistics of f requency and percentages and inferential statistics of chi-square were used as appropriate for data analys is. Results: The results showed that 90.8% of the timbe r workers have had WRMS pain once or more in their occupational lives. The twelve-month prevalen ce of WRMS pain was 90.1%. The low back was the commonly affected body area reported by timber workers for complaints in the last twelve months. Performing the same tasks over and over (73.8%),...
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different heel heights on selected ga... more The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different heel heights on selected gait parameters in a sample of young Nigerian females. A purposive sample of eighty apparently healthy undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus participated in the study. Their mean age, height, and weight were 21.98± 1.83 years, 1.65±0.06 meters, 59.50±9.34 kilograms respectively. An ex post facto design was used to investigate the effect of different heel heights (3.2cm, 7.8cm and 11.0cm) on selected gait parameters. This was done using a prepared protocol and measurement of gait parameters were taken with a tape rule and stop watch respectively. One-way ANOVA was used to compare differences across the groups. Level of significance was set at 0.05. There were significant differences in mean values of selected gait parameters across the different heel heights for stride length, step length, stride width, cadence, and velocity respectively. However, with post hoc test, no ...
Advances in Physical Ergonomics & Human Factors, 2018
Musculoskeletal disorders remains a major constraint to mining task performance. Task analyses we... more Musculoskeletal disorders remains a major constraint to mining task performance. Task analyses were conducted of different mining jobs from several work shifts. The 3DSSPP program was utilized for biomechanical stressors evaluation in mining jobs. The energy cost and muscle activities of Latissmus Dorsi and upper Trapezius muscles of miners were assessed for different job categories using heart rate, VO2 max and electromyogram. The muscle activities showed right dominance among the miners. There were high energy demand on miner’s tasks, with compressive and shearing forces for most jobs exceeding safety NIOSH scores. There is need for task formalization considering miner’s capabilities.
International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2016
String instrumentalists experience musculoskeletal symptoms that are likely associated with strin... more String instrumentalists experience musculoskeletal symptoms that are likely associated with string playing, due to repetitive precise and delicate movements required to play the instruments. The study evaluated prevalence and associated risk factors of MSS among string instrumentalists in the Nigerian population. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to evaluate 12-month prevalence of MS symptoms using a 41-item questionnaire adapted for the Nigerian string instrumentalists, which sought information on; socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, playing history and habitual practices, 12-month prevalence, symptoms distribution and duration, occupational stress and performance anxiety and lastly subjective health complaints, using perceived general health status of respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean, frequency and percentages, while Chi-square was used to test association with alpha level set at p < 0.05. The result showed a very high 12-month prevalence of 81.4% of MSS among string instrumentalists in the Nigerian population. The wrists, neck and lower back were the most affected by 75.3, 74.2 and 66.7%, respectively. It was observed that 12-month prevalence of MSS was significantly associated with the number of instruments played, carriage method, warm-up, cool-down, general life and work stress (p < 0.05), while age, years of practice and duration of playing were not significantly associated with MSS. The study showed that MSS are highly prevalent among Nigerian string instrumentalists. Thus, providing appropriate occupational/ergonomic interventions is imperative.
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