Musculoskeletal disorders in relation to work-related factors, physical activity, functional characteristics, and COVID-19 lockdown among office workers
Date
2023-06-30
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Abstract
Luu- ja lihaskonna vaevused on levinumad tööga seotud terviseprobleemid ja töövõimetuse põhjustajad Euroopas. Tänu tehnoloogia kiirele arengule muutub töö laad pidevalt ning järjest enam suureneb vaimse töö osakaal. Kuigi kontoritöö ei ole füüsiliselt raske töö, on luu- ja lihaskonna vaevuste esinemissagedus samasugune kui füüsilise töö puhul. Kontoritöötajate peamised luu- ja lihaskonna vaevused on kaela-, õla- ning alaseljavalu. Viimasel ajal on kontoritöös tekkinud uued trendid, mis tagavad töötamise paindlikkuse ja mobiilsuse. Põhilised neist on kaugtöö, tegevuspõhine kontor ning mobiilsete töövahendite kasutamine. Enne COVID-19 pandeemiat oli kaugtöö suhteliselt harva kasutatav töövorm, kuid pandeemiajärgsel ajal muutunud äärmiselt levinuks. Tegevuspõhist kontorit kasutavad peamiselt uuendusmeelsemad organisatsioonid. Kuna tegemist on suhteliselt uute töövormidega, on teaduskirjandust nende mõjust tervisele vähe. Samuti on vähe informatsiooni mobiilsete töövahendite mõju kohta luu- ja lihaskonna tervisele. Siinses doktoritöös uurisime kontoritöötajate luu- ja lihaskonna vaevuste esinemissagedust seoses tööalaste tegurite, kehalise aktiivsuse, kaela- ja õlapiirkonna funktsionaalse võimekuse ning COVID-19 karantiiniga. Selgus, et luu- ja lihaskonna vaevuste esinemissagedus on sarnane nii tegevuspõhises kontoris töötajatel kui ka personaalse töökohaga töötajatel. Küll aga võib tegevuspõhises kontoris töötades olla tööpäevane kehaline aktivsus vähesel määral suurem, seda põhiliselt asendite vahetamise ning eriti suurema päevase seismisaja arvelt. Samuti leidsime, et sülearvuti kasutamine on seotud kõrgema õlavalu riskiga. Hoolimata õlavalu riskist ei esinenud erinevusi kaela- ja õlapiirkonna funktsionaalses võimekuses võrreldes välise kuvari kasutajatega. Seega võib arvata, et sülearvuti kasutamine põhjustab pigem subjektiivset ebamugavustunnet kuid mitte pikaajalisi muutuseid kaela- ja õlapiirkonna objektiivselt mõõdetud funktsioneerimises. COVID-19 eriolukorra tõttu koju tööle asunud kontoritöötajate luu- ja lihaskonna vaevuste esinemissagedus ei muutunud, kuid kehalise aktiivsuse tase langes olulisel määral ning seda põhiliselt spordiharrastuste arvelt.
Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common work-related health problems and the leading cause of disability in Europe. Due to rapid advances in technology, the proportion of mental labour is increasing, however, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is similar to physical labour. The most common musculoskeletal disorders among office workers are neck pain, shoulder pain, and low back pain. Recently, certain novel trends have risen in office work, including remote work, activity-based office, and mobile work equipment. Activity-based workplaces are a rather new phenomenon and before the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work was also not that common. Due to the novelty of these forms of working, the literature on their potential effects on health is scarce. There is also a shortage of evidence about the effect of mobile work equipment on musculoskeletal health. In this doctoral thesis, we aimed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in office workers in relation to work-related factors, physical activity, functional characteristics of the neck and shoulder area, and the COVID-19 lockdown. As a result, we concluded, that the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is similar in office workers working in activity-based offices when compared with workers with designated workplaces. However, work-related physical activity was slightly higher in the activity-based office. This was mainly due to more postural variety and daily standing time. We also found, that using a laptop computer for work was associated with a higher prevalence of pain in the shoulder area. Despite this finding, there were no differences when the functional characteristics of the neck and shoulder area when laptop users were compared with desktop computer users. Using a laptop computer can increase the subjective discomfort in the shoulder area, but might not cause a long-term adaptation in the functional characteristics. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among office workers who shifted to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic did not change. However, the physical activity level declined, mostly due to lower sport-related physical activity.
Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common work-related health problems and the leading cause of disability in Europe. Due to rapid advances in technology, the proportion of mental labour is increasing, however, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is similar to physical labour. The most common musculoskeletal disorders among office workers are neck pain, shoulder pain, and low back pain. Recently, certain novel trends have risen in office work, including remote work, activity-based office, and mobile work equipment. Activity-based workplaces are a rather new phenomenon and before the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work was also not that common. Due to the novelty of these forms of working, the literature on their potential effects on health is scarce. There is also a shortage of evidence about the effect of mobile work equipment on musculoskeletal health. In this doctoral thesis, we aimed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in office workers in relation to work-related factors, physical activity, functional characteristics of the neck and shoulder area, and the COVID-19 lockdown. As a result, we concluded, that the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is similar in office workers working in activity-based offices when compared with workers with designated workplaces. However, work-related physical activity was slightly higher in the activity-based office. This was mainly due to more postural variety and daily standing time. We also found, that using a laptop computer for work was associated with a higher prevalence of pain in the shoulder area. Despite this finding, there were no differences when the functional characteristics of the neck and shoulder area when laptop users were compared with desktop computer users. Using a laptop computer can increase the subjective discomfort in the shoulder area, but might not cause a long-term adaptation in the functional characteristics. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among office workers who shifted to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic did not change. However, the physical activity level declined, mostly due to lower sport-related physical activity.
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Keywords
musculoskeletal diseases, office workers, work environment, ergonomics, risk factors, physical activity