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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2023) | Viewed by 9686

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Prof. Dr. Dohyung Kee

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Department of Industrial Engineering, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
Interests: musculoskeletal disorders; industrial safety; posture classification scheme; systems ergonomics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a set of injuries and symptoms affecting the osteomuscular system and associated structures such as the bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and the circulatory system. Work-related MSDs (WMSDs) are the leading cause of occupational disabilities in both developed and developing countries, with rising costs of wage compensation and medical expenses, reduced productivity, and lower quality of life. WMSDs account for approximately 40% of the global compensation costs of occupational and work-related injuries and diseases. In the USA, WMSDs amounted to 29‒35% of occupational injuries and illness involving days away from work in 1992‒2010. The total cost, including direct and indirect, was estimated to be USD 2.6 billion in 2007. Implementing intervention programs for reducing exposure to MSD-related risk factors is the best-known prevention strategy.

This Special Issue focuses on updating current knowledge on WMSDs, especially the relationships between work-related risk factors and WMSDs. New research papers, reviews, case studies and any studies relevant to WMSDs are also welcome for this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Dohyung Kee
Guest Editor

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Keywords

prevalence by industry and country
symptoms by body parts
assessment tools and their applications to industry
(participatory) intervention programs and their effects
relationship between risk factors and specific WMSD diseases
diagnosis method
WMSD risk factors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Korea

by Dohyung Kee

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1024; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021024 - 6 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3177

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze trends for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) from 1996 to 2020 in Korea and to investigate characteristics of WMSDs, including WMSD approval rates, distribution by WMSD names, and the effects of industry type and size, and workers’ age and gender on WMSD occurrence. The data included those obtained from the official yearbooks for industrial accidents published by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and those obtained personally from the Korea Workers’ Compensation & Welfare Service. The results showed that although the incidence of WMSDs differed by year, approximately 9500 cases of WMSDs occurred in 2019 and 2020, the incidence rate of WMSDs was approximately 5.0 per 10,000 workers, and the proportions of WMSDs among industrial accidents were almost 9%. Low back pain was the leading cause of WMSDs; WMSDs occupied 9.5–71.5% of total occupational diseases by year and occurred most frequently in the manufacturing industry, followed by construction, transportation/warehouse and communication, and mining industries, and nearly 60% of WMSDs occurred in small business with <50 workers. Among chronic WMSDs, rotator cuff syndrome in the shoulder ranked first, intervertebral disc disorders second, and rotator cuff and tendon injuries third. By body parts, the shoulder was most susceptible to chronic WMSDs, followed by the low back, leg, and elbow/lower arm. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis showed that industry type and size and workers’ gender and age were significantly associated with WMSD approval. It can be concluded that the WMSD preventive efforts should focus on low back pain and rotator cuff syndrome by WMSD name, manufacturing by industry, small business by industry size, men by gender, and aged workers by age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Musculoskeletal Disorders: Prevention, Treatment and Healthcare)

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10 pages, 1295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparisons and Associations between Hip-Joint Position Sense and Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Elderly Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus—A Cross-Sectional Study

by Faisal Asiri, Ravi Shankar Reddy, Bayapa Reddy Narapureddy and Abdullah Raizah

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15514; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315514 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1803

Abstract

Hip-joint position sense (JPS) accuracy may be impaired in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). An impaired hip JPS can alter postural control and bodily balance. The objectives of this study are to (1) compare the hip JPS between T2DM and asymptomatic and (2) assess the relationship between hip JPS and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc). This comparative cross-sectional study included 117 elderly individuals with T2DM (mean age: 59.82 ± 6.80 y) and 142 who were asymptomatic (mean age: 57.52 ± 6.90 y). The hip JPS was measured using a digital inclinometer. The individuals were repositioned to a target position with their eyes closed, and the magnitudes of matching errors were estimated as reposition errors. The hip JPS was evaluated in the flexion and abduction directions. The magnitude of reposition errors was significantly larger in the T2DM group in the right flexion (p < 0.001), the right abduction (p < 0.001), the left flexion (p < 0.001), and the left abduction (p < 0.001) directions compared to the asymptomatic group. HbA1c values showed a significant positive correlation with JPS in the right-hip flexion (r = 0.43, p < 0.001), the right-hip abduction (r = 0.36, p < 0.001), the left-hip flexion (r = 0.44, p < 0.001), and the left-hip abduction (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) directions. Hip JPS testing may be considered when assessing and formulating treatment strategies for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Future research should focus on how hip JPS can impact balance and falls in individuals with T2DM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Musculoskeletal Disorders: Prevention, Treatment and Healthcare)

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12 pages, 2431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ergonomic Improvements to Agricultural Harvest Baskets to Reduce the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Farmers

by Mintae Seo, Hyocher Kim and Wongeon Jung

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10669; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710669 - 26 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1953

Abstract

Typical harvesting baskets (TB) are used in various agricultural workplaces; however, no study to date has reported their effect on the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of a novel basket with attached rotational handles (RHB) to help alleviate the work-related physical burden of farmers. We analyzed the surface electromyograms (EMGs) of seven muscles, evaluated the subjective discomfort levels and locally perceived discomfort (LPD) scores to investigate the discomfort in the whole body and seven hand muscles, respectively. The EMGs showed that muscle activity decreased in five muscles (flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi radialis, lateral triceps, middle deltoid, and upper trapezius) and increased in two (biceps brachii and erector spinae) when the RHB was used (p < 0.05). The subjective discomfort score for the RHB decreased compared to that for TB (p < 0.001). The LPD scores also decreased, and the RHB and TB scores ranged from 1.25–1.40 and 3.1–3.25, respectively. The use of the RHB may prevent wrist bending, and reduce the activity of certain muscles while increasing the activity of other muscles. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct training and to evaluate the working posture while considering the affected muscles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Musculoskeletal Disorders: Prevention, Treatment and Healthcare)

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14 pages, 2378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Standing Working Posture on Operation Force and Upper Limb Muscle Activation When Using Different Pointing Devices

by Jeewon Choi, Yu Lin and Ping Yeap Loh

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10217; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610217 - 17 Aug 2022

Viewed by 2191

Abstract

This study investigated how sitting and standing working postures affected operation force, upper limb muscle activation, and task performance using different pointing devices. Fifteen male participants completed cursor aiming and dragging tasks using a conventional mouse, a vertical mouse, and a trackball at sitting and standing workstations. A custom-made force plate was used to measure operation forces applied to the pointing devices. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to capture the activation of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, deltoid, and trapezius. Task performance was measured by task success rates, and subjective ratings were obtained for the force required for operation, smoothness of operation, accuracy, and local fatigue in the upper limb. We quantified the following significant outcomes: (1) greater operation forces were found when standing; (2) standing reduced EMG amplitudes of the triceps and trapezius muscles for all tasks; (3) during the aiming task, the vertical mouse had greater operation forces; (4) during the dragging task, both the vertical mouse and trackball had greater operation forces; and (5) task success rates differed for pointing devices only when sitting. This study revealed the distinct biomechanical properties of standing working posture and suggested limited beneficial effects of alternative pointing devices in terms of task performance and subjective ratings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Musculoskeletal Disorders: Prevention, Treatment and Healthcare)

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