Body Map Research Articles

Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances as risk and progression factors for multiple chronic overlapping pain conditions: a protocol for a longitudinal study.

Chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as chronic low back pain (cLBP) and fibromyalgia, frequently cooccur and incur substantial healthcare costs. However, to date, much focus has been placed on individual anatomically based chronic pain conditions, whereas little is known about the mechanisms underlying progression to multiple (more than 1) COPCs. This study aims to address the gap by investigating the role of common and modifiable risk factors, specifically sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances, in the development of multiple COPCs. The study will enroll 300 participants with cLBP, including 200 with cLBP only and 100 with cLBP plus other COPCs (ie, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic headaches) and follow them up for 12 months. Sleep and circadian rhythms will be assessed using wireless sleep electroencephalography, 24-hour evaluation of the rhythm of urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, actigraphy, and sleep diaries. Pain amplification using quantitative sensory testing, psychological distress using validated self-report measures, and the number of pain sites using a pain body map will also be assessed. This research aims to (1) comprehensively characterize sleep/circadian disturbances in individuals with single and multiple COPCs using multimodal in-home assessments; (2) examine the associations between sleep/circadian disturbances, changes in pain amplification, and psychological distress; and (3) investigate the relationship among these factors and the progression in the number of pain sites, a proxy for multiple COPCs. The findings will provide insights into the mechanisms leading to multiple COPCs, potentially informing treatment and prevention strategies for these complex conditions.

Redesign of stroller work tools at PT. Ika Bina Agro Wisesa

PT. Ika Bina Agro Wisesa (PT. IBAS) is one of the agro-industries that manages or produces palm oil with a production capacity of 30 tons / hour and a total of 420 tons / day. The raw material of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) of this factory comes from the plantation land of the community around the factory. The activity of harvesting FFB in this oil palm plantation has many manual material handling activities, especially for workers who lift and push wheelbarrows (angkong). The angkong work tool used is relatively old and looks unergonomic which can be seen when pushing the angkong in a very bent position so it is assumed that there is a large amount of force expended by workers. This research begins with a survey of the company and the field, then distributing Nordic Body Map (NBM) questionnaires to workers, using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method used to determine the level of risk of work posture in workers before and after the design of the tool, for the redesign of the stroller, anthropometric measurements are taken then using the Biomechanics method to determine the amount of force generated when pushing. This stroller redesign was carried out using operator anthropometry with the 95th percentile. After using the proposed tool, the work posture assessment is categorized as moderate which means that action is needed. The final results of the redesign are the length of the cart 90 cm, the width of the cart 66 cm, the diameter of the tire 32 cm, the height of the cart from the ground 125 cm, the height of the handle 96 cm, the width of the handle 40 cm, and the diameter of the handle 3 cm and the final results of the biomechanical assessment after the design concluded that the operator was no longer dangerous when pushing.

Investigating the relationship between body structure status, work activity type, and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among detergent industry workers.

The physical condition of workers' body structure and assigned duties, can contribute to the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body structure status, type of work activity, and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among workers in the detergent industry. This cross-sectional study involved 148 industrial workers selected based on inclusion criteria and their medical checkup records. Data collection for the study included a demographic information questionnaire, a body map questionnaire, and an assessment of the workers' musculoskeletal system conducted by three physiotherapists simultaneously. 54.1% of the participants had a total body structure score classified as poor or fair. The neck region showed the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (51.4%), followed by the lower back region (35.1%). Significant associations were found between abnormalities in the upper and middle limbs of the body and the prevalence of pain in the right shoulder region (Fisher/F = 9.29, P≤0.05) as well as the intermediate back region (F = 10.28, P≤0.01). Office workers experienced a higher prevalence of neck pain than workers in the product line and technical roles, with a statistically significant Odds Ratio (OR) ranging between 2.7 and 6.6 times. Conversely, industrial workers who operate powered machinery showed a higher prevalence of pain in the left shoulder (OR = 3.93) and left foot (OR = 4.07). Meanwhile, workers involved in loading and unloading tasks had a higher prevalence of pain in the middle back (OR = 3.61) and right foot (OR = 4.5) compared to office workers. The prevalence of pain in the right shoulder and middle back may be due to abnormalities in the upper and intermediate body structure. Production line workers reported a higher prevalence of pain in the left shoulder, middle back, and foot compared to office workers.

Analisis Postur Kerja Terhadap Keluhan Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Menggunakan Metode Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) Pada Pekerja Pencantingan Di Tatsaka Batik Banyuwangi

Banyuwangi, as one of the cities in Indonesia, has a large and growing number of batik craftsmen, currently with 60 batik businesses. One of the crucial stages that requires high skills but also physical endurance is the pecantingan stage. In the pecantingan stage of the production process, workers sit on small chairs with their backs and necks bent. There are indications that the effectiveness of work in this stage is seen in less than optimal activities where workers often complain of fatigue. UD Tatsaka Batik is a home-based trading business in Tampo Village, Cluring District, Banyuwangi Regency, which is engaged in textiles with a daily production capacity of around 35 to 400 pieces of batik. UD Tatsaka produces four types of batik, namely, written batik, semi-written batik, semi-coloured batik, and printed batik. Therefore it is necessary to evaluate the posture of workers in this manual work as well as the large production volume. Evaluation methods include the use of the Nordic Body Map (NBM) Questionnaire Sheet to identify body complaints and the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method to assess work posture risks. Using the RULA method due to the use of body areas that dominate the upper body area. The results show that workers experience complaints mainly in the lower neck area, right arm, and right wrist. Workers' scores on Likert Scale 3 using the NBM questionnaire show a significant level of complaints, with scores between 71 and 77. All workers on Action Level 3 of the RULA method calculation, showing a moderate level of risk. Muscle stretching is proposed as a practical and economical solution to reduce muscle tension, easily implemented into workers' routines without disrupting the work process. This solution is expected to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal complaints and increase productivity at UD Tatsaka Batik Banyuwangi.

Management Ergonomics Sector Analysis Oil Palm Plantation

Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, significantly impacts global crude palm oil (CPO) production. Despite its economic value, manual labor in oil palm plantations often involves non-ergonomic practices, particularly in tasks like loading and unloading, leading to worker fatigue and increased risks of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). This research aims to evaluate ergonomic risks and MSD prevalence among oil palm workers by analyzing body posture during daily tasks. Data were collected using the RULA method, Nordic Body Map, and environmental measurements, supported by interviews and observations. Findings reveal that improper lifting and posture during harvesting contribute to fatigue and MSDs among workers. Recommendations for improvement include regular ergonomic training, adjustments to work posture, and the addition of safety equipment like fire extinguishers. By implementing these changes, the study seeks to improve worker safety, minimize MSD occurrences, and boost productivity in oil palm plantations. These insights are vital for ensuring sustainable practices in the industry and promoting the well-being of plantation workers.

Analisis Postur Kerja Pada Bagian Packing Menggunakan Metode ManTRA Dan REBA

PT. Indonesia Plafon Semesta is a company engaged in manufacturing, this company produces various kinds of PVC ceilings. Problems faced by PT. Indonesia Plafon Semesta is the activity of making PVC ceilings in the packing section, where the activity conditions or workers' posture is not good. When packing by squatting and bending, the position is less ergonomic, resulting in excessive force exertion and the risk of injury. This research aims to determine the level of complaints felt by workers in body parts by identifying them using the Nordic Body Map (NBM), Manual Task Risk Assessment (ManTRA) to determine the level of risk experienced by workers and knowing how many angles are formed. Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) is used to calculate worker posture and provide a score of the worker's proposed posture using Anthropometry. Data processing was carried out using NBM calculations for workers who had the highest score of 51 and the lowest 44. Knowing the level of risk experienced by workers with Mantra protection with the back, forearms, neck and wrists > 15 and the angle formed in the REBA calculation using score 10. Improvement of the proposed posture with Anthropomerti with a TPO calculation of 32.5 cm and JTD cm of 69 by paying attention to the object being worked on with REBA calculation results having a score of 7.

Introducing a new index for flood mapping using Sentinel-2 imagery (SFMI)

Accurate surface water detection and mapping using Remote Sensing (RS) imagery is crucial for effective water and flood management and for supporting natural ecosystems and human development. In recent years, RS technology and satellite image processing have significantly advanced in flood and permanent water extraction, particularly in water index, clustering, classification, and sub-pixel analysis. Water-index-based techniques, distinguished by their quickness and convenience, offer notable advantages. The dynamic and extensive nature of surface water and flooded areas make the water index particularly effective for monitoring large areas. However, challenges arise due to the complexity of ground surfaces in aquatic environments, including shadows in built-up, vegetated, and mountainous regions, narrow water bodies, and muddy water. This research presents a new Flood Mapping Index using Sentinel-2 imagery (SFMI) designed to address these challenges and identify water and flooded areas more accurately. The SFMI utilizes visible and near-infrared bands derived from Sentinel-2 data, employing 10-m bands to compensate for errors arising from spectral and spatial changes more effectively. The SFMI index is designed based on the spectral signatures of various land cover classes, utilizing the potential of 10-m resolution bands to identify water bodies and flood areas. Unlike the most conventional methods, the SFMI identifies and extracts water and flood regions without complex thresholding, and thus mitigates the impact of irrelevant features, such as dense vegetation and rugged topography on the flood and water body maps. The proposed index was tested in two large areas with high spectral diversity, yielding promising results. The SFMI index demonstrates an average overall accuracy of 97.1% for pre-flood water extraction, 97.95% for post-flood water extraction, and 98% for flooded area extraction. Moreover, the results showed an average kappa coefficient of 0.958 for pre-flood water extraction, 0.965 for post-flood water extraction, and 0.978 for flooded area extraction. The performance of the SFMI index for extracting flooded areas (ΔSFMI) is superior to its performance for water extraction both before and after the flood. However, it is essential to note that the accuracy of the flooded area map is contingent on the accuracy of the water area map both before and after the flood. Thus, the SFMI index based on 10-m Sentinel-2 imagery accurately detects floods and water bodies over time, without relying on thresholding, making it suitable for flood management and monitoring various water bodies like dams, lakes, wetlands, and rivers. The findings underscore the applicability of the proposed SFMI index in diverse and spectrally rich areas, demonstrating its effectiveness in monitoring various surface water bodies, detecting floods, and managing flood crises.

Emotional awareness and expression difficulties in relation to pain experiences in people with brain injury and chronic pain: preliminary investigation

ABSTRACT Objectives Preliminary examination of emotional awareness/expression relationships with pain in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic pain (CP) and exploration of psychological factors as mediators or moderators of these relationships. Methods Cross-sectional study in adults (N = 59) with chronic TBI and CP using Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 Difficulty Identifying and Describing Feelings subscales; Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire; Emotional Approach Coping Scale; PROMIS Pain Intensity and Pain Interference scales, Michigan Body Map (pain widespreadness); headache frequency; Pain Catastrophizing Scale; Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (psychological distress), and Post-traumatic Stress Checklist-Civilian. Results Difficulty Identifying Feelings was positively associated with pain intensity, pain interference, and headache frequency. Difficulty Describing Feelings was positively correlated with pain interference and headache frequency. Emotional Approach Coping was inversely correlated with headache frequency. Emotional awareness/expression relationships with pain outcomes were mediated by Pain Catastrophizing; Difficulty Describing Feelings relationships with Pain Interference and headache frequency were mediated by psychological distress; and Difficulty Describing Feelings associations with Pain Interference were mediated by post-traumatic stress. No moderators were identified. Conclusion These preliminary findings suggest that emotional awareness/expression is linked to pain in adults with TBI and CP, which may be connected via pain catastrophizing and psychological distress. If longitudinal studies with larger samples produce similar findings, researchers should explore training emotional awareness/expression for possible pain management after TBI.

EHR Documentation and Referrals for Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault.

Hospital settings provide a unique opportunity to screen for interpersonal violence (IPV) and sexual assault (SA) yet often lack health IT solutions for generating reliable and valid medico-legal documentation via forensic reports. The objective of the project was to evaluate a pilot, technology "tool" for documenting cases of IPV and SA that could support forensic nurse examiners and related stakeholders in generating high quality documentation and coordinating victim support services. The tool was a digital health intervention implemented for use among forensic nurse examiners, law enforcement, victim support organizations, and more within four counties of California. We conducted a mixed-methods pilot study that captured data around the adoption, use, and impact of having access to the newly implemented tool. The tool successfully went live in all four pilot counties at different time points with different proportions of use by county and form type: exams, referrals, addenda, risk assessments, and other. Participants were motivated to use the tool out of a perceived need for data handling functionalities that went beyond traditional manual (paper) means. Key functionalities included body mapping, data quality controls within validated forms, attaching addenda to already existing case reports, and the means to distribute data to external recipients. Further study and development are needed on functions to incorporate into body maps and forms, and understanding the information needs of law enforcement and victim support organizations. Our evaluation demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a health IT tool to support forensic nurse documentation of IPV and SA, and direct information to multiple legal and support-related stakeholders. Areas of future development include integrating IPV and SA-related data standards for digitized forms, enhancements to the body mapping feature, and understanding the needs of those who receive digital data from forensic nurse examiners within the tool.

Work Posture Analysis in The Chips Frying Section Using Workplace Ergonomic Risk Assessment Method

U.D. Keripik Mustika is a small and medium enterprise (SME) that processes yam raw materials into special snacks in great demand for consumption and souvenirs. According to observations, the worker experienced pain complaints during frying in the shoulder area, arms, back, waist, hands, and feet. The complaint experienced by this worker was due to the worker's posture that had to stand and bend slightly with the position of the hands continuously mixing for 7 hours a day and done manually repeatedly over long periods. This is if left, then the worker will suffer musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The research was conducted using the WERA method (Workplace Ergonomic Risk Assessment), which explains the development of ergonomic risk assessment at the workplace to detect physical risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The spread of the Nordic Body Map questionnaire on frying workers showed pain complaints from an unergonomic working posture. The study results were obtained from Employee 1, with a physical indicator score of 39 (Medium), and Employee 2, with a physical indicator score of 37 (Medium). Therefore, there is a need for improvement of the work facilities or the worker's posture. Based on the assessment results, the researchers suggested additional facilities for workers to design standing aids that reduce pain in the leg muscles and complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).

Redesigning the Work Table of Stamped Batik Makers to Reduce the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (Case Study at Pt. XYZ)

Batik is one of the works owned by the Indonesian Nation, which has noble values and is recognized by other nations. The rapid development of batik makes batik makers need to pay attention to the production process carried out, In carrying out the activities of making stamped batik, it has not been supported by a special work table. Still using an ordinary stamp table that is less comfortable to use for stamped batik. So that in doing their work craftsmen have low productivity and efficiency. This research was conducted at PT XYZ to evaluate and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in stamped batik makers through ergonomic work table redesign. The research method used is case study-based quantitative, with a population of PT XYZ employees who work as stamped batik makers. Primary data was collected through observation, questionnaires and interviews. Posture measurements were carried out using the NBM (Nordic Body Map) questionnaire, to determine musculoskeletal complaints including 28 muscle parts in the musculoskeletal system on both sides of the body right and left. Then posture measurements were taken using the REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assesment) method. The results of the NBM questionnaire showed that before the improvement of the stamp batik had a high chart of complaints of pain in the musculoskeletal muscles and also the results of the REBA score showed a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the neck, shoulders, bronze, arms and legs. After the implementation of a more comfortable stamp work table design and stamp stove table (Adjustable) there was a significant decrease in the REBA score decreasing from 8 to 1. This shows a significant reduction in the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, so that ergonomic work table design can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders at PT XYZ and increase worker comfort.

Physical activity, musculoskeletal disorders and academic motivation of high school students: is there a correlation?

Purpose. This study aims to explore the correlations of physical activity, musculoskeletal disorders and academic motivation among senior high school students due to the COVID-19 pandemic which had impacted all aspects of life, including education system, especially in Indonesia. Material and Methods. The method used is correlational research. The participant consisted of 139 students from senior high school 8 Jakarta in Indonesia by sharing an online questionnaire. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to evaluate physical activity. Nordic Body Map was used to evaluate the musculoskeletal disorders, and academic motivation scale (AMS) was used to evaluate their academic motivation. The data in the study were analyzed using the Spearman rank test to determine the significance of the relationship, the direction of the relationship and the strength of the relationship between variables. Results. The result showed that there was no correlation between physical activity, academic motivation, and musculoskeletal disorders in students. Conclusions. Thus, this study confirmed that there was no correlation between the variables of physical activity, academic motivation, and musculoskeletal disorders. Keywords: physical activity, musculoskeletal disorders, academic motivation

Super-resolution water body mapping with a feature collaborative CNN model by fusing Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images

Mapping water bodies from remotely sensed imagery is crucial for understanding hydrological and biogeochemical processes. The identification of water extent is mainly dependent on optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. However, the use of remote sensing for water body mapping is often undermined by the mixed pixel dilemma inherent to traditional hard classification approaches. At the same time, the presence of clouds in optical imagery and speckle noise in SAR imagery, coupled with the difficulty in differentiating between water-like surfaces and actual water bodies, significantly compromise the accuracy of water body identification. This paper proposes a DEEP feature collaborative convolutional neural network (CNN) for Water Super-Resolution Mapping based on Optical and SAR images (DeepOSWSRM), which collaboratively leverages Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery to address the challenges of missing data and mixed pixels. The Sentinel-1 image provides complementary water distribution information for the cloudy areas of the Sentinel-2 image, while the Sentinel-2 image enhances the perception capabilities for small water bodies in the Sentinel-1 image. Using PlanetScope imagery as the true reference data, the effectiveness of the proposed method was assessed through two experimental scenarios: one utilizing synthetic coarse-resolution imagery degraded from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data and another using actual Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data, encompassing both simulated and real cloud conditions. A comparative analysis was conducted against three state-of-the-art CNN-based water mapping methods and two CNN SRM methods. The findings demonstrate that the proposed DeepOSWSRM method successfully produces accurate, fine-resolution water body maps, with its performance mainly benefiting from the fusion of SAR and optical images.

The Effect of Working Posture on Musculoskeletal Disorders Complaints Moderated By Smoking Copra Workers in Tanjung Balai, Asahan Regency

<div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><p><em>Musculoskeletal complaints refer to discomfort or pain in the musculoskeletal system, ranging from mild to severe. One type of job that is particularly prone to musculoskeletal disorders is copra work, primarily due to poor working posture. This study aims to analyze the effect of working posture on musculoskeletal disorder complaints among copra workers in Tanjung Balai, Asahan Regency. The study is an analytical survey with a cross-sectional design, conducted in Bandar Jawa Village, Tanjung Balai Subdistrict, Asahan Regency, from December 2023 to February 2024. The study population consisted of all 139 copra workers in Bandar Jawa Village, and a sample of 104 workers was selected using the Slovin formula. The sampling technique employed was simple random sampling. Data were collected through surveys and questionnaires administered to respondents. The research instruments used were the Nordic Body Map and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) evaluation sheet. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, with three stages: univariate analysis using frequency, bivariate analysis using simple linear regression, and multivariate analysis using Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA) with a significance level of 95% (α=0.05). The results showed that working posture significantly affected musculoskeletal disorder complaints, moderated by smoking habits, with a p-value of 0.001. It can be concluded that smoking exacerbates the negative effects of poor working posture on musculoskeletal health, increasing the risk of injury and slowing recovery. It is recommended that copra workers take preventive measures against musculoskeletal disorder complaints by improving their work environment, paying attention to rest periods, engaging in light relaxation exercises, and that employers provide education on worker safety and health to copra workers.</em></p><p><em> </em></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><strong><em>Keywords: </em></strong> <strong><em>Musculoskeletal disorders, Smoking, Work posture</em></strong></p>

Low Back Pain Complaints of Online Ojek Drivers in Indramayu Regency in 2021

Jobs as online motorcycle taxis attract a lot of public interest, but there are potential health problems for online motorcycle taxi drivers, one of the health problems is low back pain (lower back pain). This study was conducted to find complaints of low back pain in online motorcycle taxi drivers at the Indramayu Regency in 2021. This study used a cross-sectional design. The population in this study was 460 respondents. Samples were taken using purposive sampling of as many as 82 respondents. Measurement of Low back pain (lower back pain) using the Nordic body map. Data analysis was done by univariate, bivariate with chi-square test. The results of this study indicate that there are 56 respondents (68.3%) experiencing low back pain of moderate level. The results of the chi-square test showed that there was a significant relationship between years of service (p-value 0.00) and complaints of low back pain in online motorcycle taxi drivers in Indramayu Regency in 2021. In addition, the variables BMI (p-value 0.416), age (p-value 0.288), and smoking status (p-value 0.015) had no relationship with complaints of low back pain.

Design of Ergonomic Flour Dough Mixer with Participatory Approach to Increase Work Productivity MSME Employees

Culinary businesses that are members of MSMEs usually process foodstuffs, including stirring flour dough manually using their hands. It is ineffective, makes you tired quickly, and takes a long time. Usually there are complaints such as complaints of arm muscles, complaints of fatigue in the hands, pain in the palms, and it takes a long time, resulting in subpar worker productivity. Consequently, a participation flour dough mixer that is ergonomic is required. In order to conduct this research, an experimental design of a flour dough mixer was created and applied to sixteen samples of MSME employees in the Tabanan Regency. The Nordic Body Map questionnaire was used to measure musculoskeletal diseases, and the workload was divided by the survey results to determine job productivity. The employee's work pulse was measured using a pulse meter. The findings demonstrated that the ergonomic flour dough mixer was designed based on the worker's anthropometric measurements. The tool's height was matched to the worker's standing elbow height, and the container's dimensions matched the worker's hand's reach. The design of an ergonomic flour dough mixer can reduce the workload of MSME employees by 15.1%; reduce musculoskeletal disorders of MSME employees by 47.9%; reduce MSME employee fatigue by 52.3%; and increase the work productivity of MSME employees by 501.1%.

Effects of E-learning for Postural Education in Music Students (El-Poems): A Randomized Controlled Trial Among Iranian Adolescents.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain represents a major health problem facing music students worldwide. There is some evidence that posture education could be effective in reducing pain and disability among music students. The aim of this study was to assess the effective¬ness of E-learning for posture education in music students (El-Poems) on the presence of MSK pain, MSK pain intensity, as well as postural behavior. This was a matched-pair, two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. Participants were music students (aged 12-18 yrs), randomized to intervention (n=134) and control (n=133) groups. The education program included four online sessions of the risks of incorrect posture and the necessary skill for correct postural behavior. A numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Nordic body map were used to evaluate the primary outcomes (MSK pain intensity, presence of MSK pain, and location). A secondary outcome (postural behavior) was assessed using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment checklist. Data were collected at two points, baseline and 6-month follow-up. ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests were performed to assess the time x group interaction effect. A total of 267 music students participated this study. Of these, 150 (56.2%) reported at least one symptomatic region over the previous week. A significant reduction was found from baseline to 6-month follow-up in mean scores in the intervention group for MSK pain prevalence (from 55.2% to 43.3%, Z=-2.71, P=0.004, etap2=0.07), MSK pain intensity (from 2.21±2.51 to 1.94±2.47, F263=32.27, P<0.001, etap2 = 0.11), and postural behavior (from 6.99±2.97 to 6.65±2.72, F263=27.35, P<0.001, etap2=0.09). The results demonstrated that the E-learning postural education program was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of MSK pain, a reduction in pain intensity, and improved postural behavior. Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: reg. no. IRCT20180528039885N2, Nov-09-2021.

Impact of work and working conditions on chronic low back pain among fisher women: a cross sectional study in Trivandrum

Background: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic low back pain, its severity and associated factors among fisherwomen. Methods: Cross-sectional survey conducted among 336 fisherwomen aged 18-49 years from 7 fishing villages in Trivandrum. The prevalence of chronic low back pain estimated using Nordic body map. Pain severity was assessed using the pain numeric rating scale. Results: Prevalence of chronic low back pain was 45%. High BMI, UTI history, stress-induced headaches, falls, physical abuse, water-collection frequency, work-experience, and standing duration were associated with chronic low back pain. The pain severity prevalence was 23.8% mild, 51.65% moderate and 24.5% severe. Income, continuous-standing, improper-seating, and stipulated rest-time were associated with seventy of chronic low back pain. Standing continuously and improper seating were predictors of pain severity. Conclusions: Low back pain is common among fisherwomen contributed by work-related behavior. Posture correction measures such as educating the fisherwomen on appropriate posture and need for relaxation will improve their health conditions. Improved working environments which include proper resting place, designated space for vending with proper seating arrangement with chairs and with back support will improve the LBP status of fisherwomen.

Somatic small body map protocol: renegotiating trauma with LGBTQIA+ service users

ABSTRACT Background: LGBTQIA+ service users suffer microaggressions on a daily basis within a heterosexual, cisgendered society. They may become so accustomed to feeling unsafe that this becomes unconsciously considered the norm. Context: A Somatic Small Body Map Protocol has been devised that introduces a lived experience of a safe environment. The protocol has been used with twenty service users in an individual setting. This paper explores specific responses from three different service users. Approach: The protocol integrates psychodynamic art therapy with Somatic Experiencing in order to create a guided process that pendulates between somatic verbal feedback and the lived experience of the creative process, moving back and forth between inner sensations and their visual expression on paper, changing constantly in response. Outcomes: The service users report positive feedback following the protocol that includes reduced anxiety, greater awareness of the effects of social homophobia on their psychological and physiological states and improved ability to contact difficult emotions without being overwhelmed. Conclusions: The protocol may be useful within art therapy as a somatic tool to renegotiate trauma connected to microaggressions, increase awareness of bodily sensations and support the capacity to tolerate potentially overwhelming emotions. Implications for research: The necessity of integrating somatic techniques when working with trauma is widely acknowledged. The protocol offers a structured tool to facilitate this, and specific training is being organised for its use. It may be adapted for use with other minority identities or in general to renegotiate any situation where a person has felt unsafe.

Application of The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) Method to Improve Work Safety in The Automotive Spare Parts Industry

This industry consists of companies engaged in metal processing and workmanship. Companies often receive complaints from employees concerning pain or discomfort in their bodies, causing diseases such as low back pain and myalgia. The risk of accidents occurring at work is inseparable from the work done. Work-related accidents can occur due to several factors, including unsafe action. One cause of unsafe actions can be found in various unsafe work postures that workers assume. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the posture of these workers so that it can improve their safety and health. This research was conducted by identifying occupational risks workers face and examining work performed in stamping products. The production section consists of six stations: material handling, stamping, welding, hemming, painting, and packing. The work risks run by workers have been identified using the Nordic Body Map (NBM) questionnaire and interview methods. As for the identification of the type of work carried out by evaluating work postures, the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method has been employed. The risk level of accidents is also used for the selection of activities to be improved to minimize the level of injury risk caused by work postures that have been assumed, and in order to improve the safety and health of the workers. Improvements made are in engineering, such as manufacturing of assistive devices, and management engineering, such as providing directions that can improve the specific work posture used. Calculations are based on simulations performed with tools conducted with suggested postures by evaluation using the REBA method. Based on the results of REBA calculations, the resulting risk is lower than the one caused by the previously assumed posture, namely medium and low.