Due to the prevalence and increased demand for manual packaging tasks, the concern for worker health and safety has grown.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aims to assess the effects of gender and work postures on subjective discomfort, muscle fatigue, and kinematics during a manual packaging task.
METHODS:
Twenty participants, including 10 males and 10 females, were recruited to perform a 60-minute manual packaging task in sitting and standing postures.
RESULTS:
Discomfort was evidenced by increased the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) values (sit: from 6 to 14.55; stand: from 6 to 17.15) and muscle fatigue was supported by decreased median power frequency (MPF) values for right brachioradialis (RB) (sit: –23.68%; stand: –16.20%), right upper trapezius (RUT) (sit: –20.14%; stand: 11.79%), and right erector spinae (RES) (sit: 8.64%; stand: 11.21%) muscles. Women were more likely to bend forward in a relaxed upper body position, especially while sitting, which may increase the risk of low back pain and women also reported greater discomfort than men, but not in the hands and back. Compared with sitting, the back showed greater muscle fatigue in standing, while muscle fatigue for the shoulders and hands was the opposite.
CONCLUSION:
These findings suggest that work posture should be considered to prevent fatigue in manual packaging tasks. Given the impact of gender on muscle fatigue, work performed by women and men should both be considered. The results can help to develop action strategies and work posture design to prevent musculoskeletal disorders in the manual packaging industry.
MohamadD, Md DerosB, IsmailAR, et al., RULA analysis of work-related disorder among packaging industry worker using digital human modeling (DHM), Adv Eng Forum2013;10:9–15.
2.
HuB, MaL, ZhangW, et al. Predicting real-world ergonomic measurements by simulation in a virtual environment, Int J Ind Ergon2011;41:64–71.
3.
MeksawiS, TangtrakulwanichB, ChongsuvivatwongV. Musculoskeletal problems and ergonomic risk assessment in rubber tappers: A community-based study in southern Thailand, Int J Ind Ergon2012;42:129–35.
4.
ChiassonM-È, ImbeauD, MajorJ, et al. Influence of musculoskeletal pain on workers’ ergonomic risk-factorassessments, Appl Ergon2015;49:1–7.
5.
EyvazlouM, AsghariA, MokaramiH, et al. Musculoskeletal disorders and selecting an appropriate tool for ergonomic risk assessment in the dental profession, Work2021;68:1239–48.
6.
HoushyarE, KimI. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics Understanding musculoskeletal disorders amongIranian apple harvesting laborers: Ergonomic and stop watch time studies, Int J Ind Ergon.2018;67:32–40.
7.
PradeepkumarH, SakthivelG, ShankarS. Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders among occupational bus drivers of Karnataka, South India, Work2020;66:73–84.
8.
BernardBP, Putz-AndersonV. Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors. A critical review of epidemiologic evidence for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, upper extremity, and low back. Epub Ahead of Print. 1997.
9.
da CostaBR, VieiraER. Risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review of recent longitudinal studies, Am J Ind Med2009;53:285–323.
10.
KapelluschJ.S02-2 The strain index and risk of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders: Results from the wistah hand study. In: Symposium 2 –Longitudinal Analyses of Workplace Distal Upper Limb Disorders: Findings from the NIOSH Consortium Studies. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd:A96.1-A96.
11.
RodriguesEV, GomesARS, GuimarãesATB, et al. Effects of muscular endurance training on musculoskeletal disorders in teachers, Fisioter em Mov2015;28:535–44.
12.
MacDonaldV, KeirPJ. Assessment of musculoskeletal disorder risk with hand and syringe use in chemotherapy nurses and pharmacy assistants, IISE Trans Occup Ergon Hum Factors2018;6:128–42.
13.
LatkoWA, ArmstrongTJ, FranzblauA, et al. Cross-sectional study of the relationship between repetitive work and the prevalence of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders, Am J Ind Med1999;36:248–59.
14.
VeierstedKB, WestgaardRH, AndersenP. Pattern of muscle activity during stereotyped work and its relation to muscle pain, Int Arch Occup Environ Health1990;62:31–41.
15.
CBNData. A group insight report on couriers in 2018. 2018. Available from: https://www.cbndata.com/.
16.
AlexopoulosEC, StathiI-C, CharizaniF. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists, BMC Musculoskelet Disord2004;5:16.
17.
RibeiroT, SerranheiraF, LoureiroH. Work related musculoskeletal disorders in primary health care nurses, Appl Nurs Res2017;33:72–7.
18.
ChenY-L, HsuS-K, OuY-S. Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Handmade Drinks Workers: A Case Report. In: 2017 International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Management Science and Application (ICIMSA) IEEE, pp. 1-3.
19.
LuJ-M, TwuL-J, WangM-JJ. Risk assessments of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among the TFT-LCD manufacturing operators, Int J Ind Ergon2016;52:40–51.
20.
GargA, MooreJS. Epidemiology of low-back pain in industry, Occup Med1992;7:593–608.
21.
HoushyarE, KimI-J. Understanding musculoskeletal disorders among Iranian apple harvesting laborers: Ergonomic and stop watch time studies, Int J Ind Ergon2018;67:32–40.
22.
LessiGC, dos SantosAF, BatistaLF, et al. Effects of fatigue on lower limb, pelvis and trunk kinematics and muscle activation: Gender differences, J Electromyogr Kinesiol2017;32:9–14.
23.
KernozekTW, TorryMR, IwasakiM. Gender differences in lower extremity landing mechanics caused by neuromuscular fatigue, Am J Sports Med2008;36:554–65.
24.
MehtaRK, CavuotoLA. Relationship between BMI and fatigability is task dependent, Hum Factors2017;59:722–33.
25.
CholewickiJ, McGillS. Mechanical stability of the in vivo lumbar spine: Implications for injury and chronic low back pain, Clin Biomech1996;11:1–15.
26.
HermensHJ, FreriksB, Disselhorst-KlugC, et al. The SENIAM project: Surface electromyography for noninvasive assessment of muscle. In: ISEK Congress. 2002:22-5.
27.
HermensHJ, FreriksB, Disselhorst-KlugC, et al. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures, J Electromyogr Kinesiol2000;10:361–74.
28.
De LucaCJ. The use of surface electromyography in biomechanics, J Appl Biomech1997;13:135–63.
29.
LindstromL, KadeforsR, PetersenI. An electromyographic index for localized muscle fatigue, J Appl Physiol1977;43:750–4.
30.
ChristensenH. Muscle activity and fatigue in the shoulder muscles of assembly-plant employees, Scand J Work Environ Health1986;12:582–7.
31.
CorbettDB, PeerKS, RidgelAL. Biomechanical muscle stimulation and active-assisted cycling improves active range of motion in individuals with Parkinson’s disease, NeuroRehabilitation2013;33:313–22.
32.
YooI, YooW. Effects of different lifting and lowering heights on upper arm, shoulder and back muscle activity during a manual material handling task, Work2015;53:175–9.
33.
de FernandesRCP, CarvalhoFM, AssuncãoAÁ, et al. Interactions between physical and psychosocialdemands of work associated to low back pain, Rev Saude Publica2009;43:326–34.
34.
SinghS, SinwalN, RathoreH. Gender involvement in manual material handling (mmh) tasks in agriculture and technology intervention to mitigate the resulting musculoskeletal disorders. In: Work. 2012:4333-41.
35.
HalimI, OmarAR, SamanAM, et al. Assessment of muscle fatigue associated with prolonged standing in the workplace, Saf Health Work2012;3:31–42.
36.
JiaB, NussbaumMA. Influences of continuous sitting and psychosocial stress on low back kinematics, kinetics, discomfort, and localized muscle fatigue during unsupported sitting activities, Ergonomics2018;61:1671–84.
37.
ZeinRM, HalimI, AzisNA, etal. A survey on working postures among malaysian industrial workers, Procedia Manuf2015;2:450–9.
38.
KeyserlingWM, PunnettL, FineLJ, Trunk posture and back pain: Identification and control of occupational risk factors. Appl Ind Hyg1988;3:87–92.
39.
AntleDM, VézinaN, MessingK, et al. Development of discomfort and vascular and muscular changes during aprolonged standing task, Occup Ergon2013;11:21–33.
40.
CudlipAC, CallaghanJP, DickersonCR. Effects of sitting and standing on upper extremity physical exposures in materials handling tasks, Ergonomics2015;58:1637–46.
41.
G;T, MC, DC, et al. Attention, repetitive works, fatigue and stress, Ann Ig2006;18:417–29.
42.
NagA, VyasH, NagP. Gender differences, work stressors and musculoskeletal disorders in weaving industries, Ind Health2010;48:339–48.
43.
PlamondonA, LarivièreC, DenisD, et al. Difference between male and female workers lifting the samerelative load when palletizing boxes, Appl Ergon.2017;60:93–102.
44.
HarariY, RiemerR, BecharA. Differences in spinal moments, kinematics and pace during single-task and combined manual material handling jobs, Appl Ergon2019;81:102871.
45.
DemuraS, NakadaM, NagasawaY. Gender difference in subjective muscle-fatigue sensation during sustained muscleforce exertion, Tohoku J Exp Med.2008;215:287–94.
46.
BensingJM, HulsmanRL, SchreursKMG. Gender differences in fatigue, Med Care1999;37:1078–83.
47.
FaroM, Sàez-FrancásN, Castro-MarreroJ, et al. Gender differences in chronic fatigue syndrome, ReumatolClínica (English Ed2016;12:72–7.
48.
Busto SerranoN, Suárez SánchezA, Sánchez LasherasF, et al. Identification of gender differences inthe factors influencing shoulders, neck and upper limb MSD by means of multivariate adaptive regression splines(MARS), Appl Ergon2020;82:102981.
49.
LarssonB, SøgaardK, RosendalL, Work related neck–shoulder pain: A review on magnitude, risk factors, biochemical characteristics, clinical picture and preventive interventions. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol2007;21:447–63.
50.
WahlstedtK, NorbäckD, WieslanderG,et al. Psychosocial and ergonomic factors, and their relation to musculoskeletal complaints in the swedish workforce, Int J Occup Saf Ergon2010;16:311–21.
