D. P. Valentim1, F. P. Martins2, E. M. F. da Silva2, G. C. de Mello2, I. F. Lima2, L.S. M. R. Cirino2, G. L. Rozato2, R. S. Padula1,2
1Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, São Paulo, Brazil, 2Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, Department of Physical Therapy, São Paulo, Brazil
Background: Office workers have high prevalence of neck pain due to personal and occupational factors. Although it is possible to identify many studies using observational methods to assess occupational exposure, and that identify the prevalence of neck pain. There are very few studies that associate neck pain intensity with occupational exposure.
Purpose: The objective of this study were to perform a screening to identify the symptoms and functionality of the cervical region in office workers and to evaluate the association with occupational exposure.
Methods: A total of 91 office workers, computer users, were interviewed and responded to the Profile Fitness Mapping-neck (ProFitMap-neck) questionnaire to be identified symptoms and functionality from cervical region. The ProFitMap-neck index scores classification range from better cervical function/symptom to less function/symptoms with normal data distribution allowed stratifying a sample (n=30) to applied Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA). The ROSA observational method assesses occupational exposure related to the computer user's workstation, considering posture and equipment in the workplace. To evaluate the association between ProFitMap-neck total score and ROSA was performed cross-table analysis and Friedman test in IBM SPSS Statistics V22.
Results: Of the 91 workers evaluated, 23.1% and 15.4% had moderate and severe cervical impairment, respectively. There was no association between the severity of cervical region disability and the risk of occupational exposure (r=0.137; p=0.469).
Conclusion(s): There is a proportion of 38.5% of office workers with moderate to severe physical-functional disability in the cervical region. However, the results showed no association between symptoms and cervical functionality with occupational exposure of these workers. It is recommended to identify other personal, social, and occupational factors that may contribute to worsening cervical pain and functionality in order to propose preventive measures.
Implications: Assess symptoms and functional limitations in the cervical region and identify whether those associated with biomechanical exposure factors are necessary to plan ergonomic improvements and health promotion programs. Physiotherapists working in field of occupational health and ergonomics will benefit from these findings.
Funding, acknowledgements: Financed in part by the Coordenação Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001
Keywords: cervical pain, ergonomics, posture and disability
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Universidade Cidade de São Paulo
Committee: Research ethics committee of Universidade Cidade de São Paulo
Ethics number: #1.736.249
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
