The primary objective is to correlate static postures and musculoskeletal symptoms in security guards working in a museum in Mexico City. The secondary objectives are to describe the sociodemographic and work characteristics, ergonomic risk factors (static posture), and prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in private security guards.
The study is cross-sectional, evaluated, and approved by the ethics committee, and the participants sign informed consent before the examination. The inclusive criteria were both gender and ≥ 40 working hours per week. The exclusion criteria were security guards with rotation in other work centers. The entire population was studied, which is comprised of 30 security guards. The Kuorinka Nordic Questionnaire was applied to assess musculoskeletal symptoms. The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method was used to determine static posture by a video recorder, and analyses were done using Kinovea software. The medical record questionnaire collects gender, age, standing hours, shift system, physical exercise, and seniority at work.
The sample consisted of 25 participants; 64% (n=16) were women, and 36% (n=9) were men, with an average age of 43.16 ± 13.24 years. Their median job seniority was 1.50 years (IQR: 1.50-2.40). 80% of the workers reported not engaging in physical exercise and standing for a median of 9 hours (IQR: 8-10) during their day or night shifts. The most prevalent areas of musculoskeletal symptoms were the lower back 52% (n=13), knees 44% (n=11), and feet 36% (n=9), with an average reported pain intensity of 8 ± 2.25 (VAS) in the lower back. Some participants were able to identify more than one affected area.
Postural assessment found that 63.64% had a medium postural risk, while 36.36% had a low postural risk. A Pearson correlation analysis between the number of musculoskeletal complaints and the total REBA score showed no significant correlation, with a p=0.19, z = 0.42, and CI 95% of 0.81 to -0.23.
Based on the results, the participants were women with an average age of 43.16 and little active exercise. They have a medium postural risk. The body areas most affected are the lower back, knees, and feet. In the Pearson test, no correlation was found between musculoskeletal symptoms and postural risk.
The results and methods can promote increased research in this population to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms and make recommendations. Security companies may carry out practices and policies that reduce the physical demand for security guards. Also, physiotherapists in occupational health and ergonomics could make recommendations to improve security guards' health.
musculoskeletal symptoms
security guards
