Tailored physiotherapeutic intervention study for musculoskeletal disorders among video display terminal users Tailored intervention for MSD
Main Article Content
Keywords
video display terminals, prevention, physiotherapy, musculoskeletal disorders
Abstract
Background: Musculoskeletal disorders represent one of the most common complains among video display terminal (VDT) users and are responsible for an important burden of disease in white collars. Methods: From May 2017 to March 2018, 69 VDT users working at Trieste hospitals were recruited for a training session aimed to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in white collars workers. Thirty-three were assigned to the intervention group, whereas 36 comprised the control group. The intervention group received three personalized 1-hour-one-to-one sessions with a physiotherapist and a thorough evaluation of their workstation. Data were collected at baseline (T0), at 2 months (T1) and at 6 months (T2) using a standardized questionnaire and analyzed with the software STATA. Results: Overall pain significantly decreased in cases at T1 and T2 (p < 0.05). Headache significantly decreased in cases at T1 (p < 0.05). Body awareness significantly increased in cases both at T1 and T2 (p < 0.05). Headache was positively correlated with an increased perception of pain (Coef 6.85, CI95% 3.2-10.5; p < 0.001), while the intervention determined a significant reduction of overall pain during the follow up (OR 0.97, IC 0.95-0.99, p = 0.013). Cases showed a significant increase of the cranial-vertebral angle at the 6 months follow up (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A tailored physiotherapeutic intervention has showed a statistically significant decrease in osteoarticular pain and an increased body awareness in VDT users undergoing a personalized training session.v
References
2) Ranasinghe P, Perera YS, Lamabadusuriya DA, et al. Work-related complaints of neck, shoulder and arm among computer office workers: a cross-sectional evaluation of prevalence and risk factors in a developing country. Environ Health. 2011; 10:70.
3) Klussmann A, Gebhardt H, Liebers F, Rieger MA. Musculoskeletal symptoms of the upper extremities and the neck: a cross-sectional study on prevalence and symptom-predicting factors at visual display terminal (VDT) workstations. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008; 9:96.
4) KorhonenT, Ketola R, Toivonen R, et al.Work related and individual predictors for incident neck pain among office employees working with video display units. Occup Environ Med. 2003; 60(7): 475-482.
5) Bergqvist U, Wolgast E, Nilsson B, Voss M Musculoskeletal disorders among visual display terminal workers: individual, ergonomic, and work organizational factors. Ergonomics.1995; 38(4): 763-776.
6) Bernard B, Sauter S, Fine L, et al., Job task and psychosocial risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders among newspaper employees. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1994; 20(6): 417-426.
7) Laursen B, Jensen BR, Garde AH, Jørgensen AHEffect of mental and physical demands on muscular activity during the use of a computer mouse and a keyboard. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2002; 28(4): 215-21.
8) Karlqvist LK, Hagberg M, Köster M, et al. Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Computer-assisted Design (CAD) Operators and Evaluation of a Self-assessment Questionnaire. Int J Occup Environ Health. 1996; 2(3): 185-194
9) Eltayeb S, Staal JB, Kennes J, et al. Prevalence of complaints of arm, neck and shoulder among computer office workers and psychometric evaluation of a risk factor questionnaire. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2007; 8: 68.
10) Shin S-J, Yoo W-G. Changes in cervical range of motion, flexion-relaxation ratio and pain with visual display terminal work. Work. 2014;47(2):261–265.
11) Abaraogu UO, Okorie PN, Duru DO, Ezenwankwo EF. Individual and work-related risk factors for musculoskeletal pain among computer workers in Nigeria. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2018;73(3):162–168.
12) Choi S, Jang SH, Lee KH, et al. Risk Factor, Job Stress and Quality of Life in Workers with Lower Extremity Pain Who Use Video Display Terminals. Ann Rehabil Med. 2018;42(1):101–112.
13) Janwantanakul P, Sitthipornvorakul E, Paksaichol A. Risk factors for the onset of nonspecific low back pain in office workers: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2012; 35(7): 568-577.
14) Lee DH, Kang B, Choi S, et al. Change in Musculoskeletal Pain in Patients with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder After Tailored Rehabilitation Education: A One-Year Follow-Up Survey. Ann Rehabil Med. 2015;39(5):726–734.
15) Yoo W-G, Kim M-H. Effect of different seat support characteristics on the neck and trunk muscles and forward head posture of visual display terminal workers. Work. 2010;36(1):3–8.
16) Swinton PA, Cooper K, Hancock E. Workplace interventions to improve sitting posture: A systematic review. Prev Med. 2017; 101:204–212.
17) Pillastrini P, Mugnai R, Farneti C, et al. Evaluation of two preventive interventions for reducing musculoskeletal complaints in operators of video display terminals. Phys Ther. 2007;87(5):536-44. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20060092
18) Gerr F, Marcus M, Monteilh C, et al. A randomised controlled trial of postural interventions for prevention of musculoskeletal symptoms among computer users. Occup Environ Med. 2005; 62(7):478-487. doi: 10.1136/oem.2004.015792.
19) Andersen LL, Christensen KB, Holtermann A, et al. Effect of physical exercise interventions on musculoskeletal pain in all body regions among office workers: a one-year randomized controlled trial. Man Ther. 2010;15(1):100-104. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2009.08.004.
20) “D.lgs. 9 aprile 2008, n. 81 Testo coordinato con il D. Lgs. 3 agosto 2009, n. 106”, Jan 2020 Update, found on: https://www.ispettorato.gov.it/it-it/strumenti-e-servizi/Pagine/Testo-unico-salute-e-sicurezza.aspx; last accessed on 19 Mar, 2020
21) Ware J Jr, Kosinski M, Keller SD. A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey: construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Med Care. 1996; 34(3): 220-233.
22) Gandek B, Ware JE, Aaronson NK, et al. Cross-validation of item selection and scoring for the SF-12 Health Survey in nine countries: results from the IQOLA Project. International Quality of Life Assessment. J Clin Epidemiol. 1998; 51(11): 1171-1178.
23) Mehling WE, Price C, Daubenmier JJ, et al. The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). PLoS One. 2012; 7(11): e48230.
24) Lipton RB, Stewart WF, Sawyer J, Edmeads J. GClinical utility of an instrument assessing migraine disability: The Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire. Headache. 2001; 41(9): 854-861.
25) Stewart SK, Rothmore PR, Doda DV, et al. Musculoskeletal pain and discomfort and associated worker and organization factors: a cross sectional study. Work. 2014; 42, 261-271.
26) Singla D, Veqar , Hussain ME. Photogrammetric Assessment of Upper Body Posture Using Postural Angles: A Literature Review. J Chiropr Med. 2017; 16(2): 131-138.
27) Schmitter D. Test di ergonomia. Valutazione del carico posturale nel lavoro sedentario, 1st edition, Suva code 88212.i, found on: https://docplayer.it/402977-Test-di-ergonomia-valutazione-del-carico-posturale-nel-lavoro-sedentario.html; last accessed on 8 July 2021
28) McAtamney L, Corlett N. RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. Appl Ergon. 1993; 24(2), 91–99.
29) Bonetti F, Curti S, Mattioli S, et al. Effectiveness of a 'Global Postural Reeducation' program for persistent low back pain: a non-randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010 ;11:285. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-285. PMID: 21162726.
30) Vanti C, Conti C, Faresin F, et al. The Relationship Between Clinical Instability and Endurance Tests, Pain, and Disability in Nonspecific Low Back Pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2016;39(5):359-368. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.04.003. Epub 2016 May 7. PMID: 27167368
31. Pillastrini P, de Lima E ,Sá Resende F, et al. Effectiveness of Global Postural Re-education in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial. Phys Ther. 2016;96(9):1408-16. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20150501. Epub 2016 Mar 24. PMID: 27013576 Clinical Trial.
32) Heebner ML, Roddey TS. The effects of neural mobilization in addition to standard care in persons with carpal tunnel syndrome from a community hospital. J Hand Ther. 2008;21(3):229-240; quiz 241. doi: 10.1197/j.jht.2007.12.001. PMID: 18652967
33) Cheng X, Song M, Kong J et al. Influence of Prolonged Visual Display Terminal Use and Exercise on Physical and Mental Conditions of Internet Staff in Hangzhou, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 23;16(10).
34) Gerassis S, Abad A, Taboada J, et al. A comparative analysis of health surveillance strategies for administrative video display terminal employees. Biomed Eng Online. 2019;18(1):118.
35) Garzaro G, Sottimano I, Di Maso M, et al. Work Ability among Italian Bank Video Display Terminal Operators: Socio-Demographic, Lifestyle, and Occupational Correlates. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 12;16(9).
36) Rasoulzadeh Y, Gholamnia R. Effectiveness of an Ergonomics Training Program on Decreasing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Risk among Video Display Terminals Users. Health Promot Perspect. 2012; 2(1): 89–95.
37) Rasotto C, Bergamin M, Sieverdes JC, et al. A tailored workplace exercise program for women at risk for neck and upper limb musculoskeletal disorders: a randomized controlled trial. J Occup Environ Med. 2015;57(2):178-183.
38) Nejati P, Lotfian SS, Moezy AA, Nejati M. The study of correlation between forward head posture and neck pain in Iranian office workers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2015. 28(2): 295-303.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
How to Cite
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Reproductions with commercial intent will require written permission and payment of royalties.
This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Francesca Larese Filon, Università di Trieste
Unità Clinico Operativa di Medicina del Lavoro - Ambulatorio di Allergologia
How to Cite
