Inadequate Rest Research Articles

Factors Associated with Burnout Syndrome in Serbian Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic imposed immense stress on healthcare systems worldwide, significantly affecting the mental well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study examined the sociodemographic, occupational, and COVID-19-related predictors of burnout syndrome among Serbian HCWs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 400 doctors and nurses utilized the Maslach Burnout Inventory to assess emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Sociodemographic, work-related, and COVID-19-related data were collected via a questionnaire. Results: Key predictors of emotional exhaustion included female gender, inadequate rest, sleep disturbances, and frontline COVID-19 work. Depersonalization was associated with fewer children, temporary employment, and COVID-19 frontline duties. Conversely, older age, religiosity, larger households, and a higher socioeconomic status positively correlated with personal accomplishment. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions, including improved working conditions and mental health support, to reduce burnout and enhance HCWs' well-being during medical crises.

The Relationship Between Sports Club Participation, Physical Activity, and Health Behaviors Among Older Korean Adults.

Participation in physical activity can improve the physical, mental, and social health of older adults, with greater benefits observed when they join sports clubs or groups rather than exercising alone. Despite the numerous advantages of older adults' participation in sports clubs, research on this topic remains scarce. This study investigated the association between participation in sports clubs and weekly physical activity, perceived health status, and health behaviors (adequate rest and sleep and regular meals and nutritional supplementation) among Korean older adults. Data on 5146 individuals aged 60 years or older, collected from the 2022-2023 Korea National Lifestyle and Sports Survey, were analyzed using frequency, chi-square, and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Significant differences were found in sex, age, weekly physical activity, perceived health status, adequate rest and sleep, regular meals and nutritional supplementation, use of exercise prescription and consultation services, participation in lifestyle physical education classes, and cessation of drinking and smoking based on participation in sports clubs. Sports club participation increased the frequency of weekly physical activity and improved perceptions of health status in older adults. The average odds ratios (ORs) for weekly physical activity were 6.667 (95% confidence interval CI = 4.316-10.297; p < 0.001), 5.237 (95% CI = 3.372-8.133; p < 0.001), and 3.042 (95% CI = 1.864-4.966; p < 0.001) for 1-2, 3-4, and 5 or more days of participation, respectively. The average ORs were 0.559 (95% CI = 0.264-1.183; p = 0.128) for inadequate rest and sleep, and 1.272 (95% CI = 0.555-1.694; p = 0.100) for adequate rest and sleep. Average ORs were 0.976 (95% CI = 0.497-1.915; p = 0.943) for irregular meals and nutritional supplementation, and 1.028 (95% CI 0.770-1.373; p = 0.851) for regular meals and nutritional supplementation. However, sports club participation was not significantly associated with sufficient rest and sleep or regular meals and nutritional supplementation. Older adults need support to join sports clubs, which can promote their physical activity and health.

Developing an optimization model for minimizing musculoskeletal stress in repetitive motion tasks

Repetitive motion tasks are widely prevalent in various industries, including manufacturing and office environments, often leading to significant musculoskeletal stress and associated injuries. The continuous nature of these tasks, coupled with improper posture, excessive force exertion, and inadequate rest periods, exacerbates the risk of long-term damage to muscles, joints, and tendons. This paper presents a novel approach to minimizing musculoskeletal stress by developing a Reinforcement Learning (RL)—based optimization model. The model dynamically adjusts real-time task parameters, such as posture, speed, and force exertion, to reduce joint load, muscle activation, and cumulative fatigue while maintaining task performance and productivity. Data was collected from 45 participants performing repetitive tasks in a controlled laboratory environment. Key biomechanical factors, including joint load, muscle activation, and cumulative fatigue, were measured using motion capture, electromyography (EMG), and force plate systems. The RL was trained and validated using this data, with significant improvements observed across all key metrics. The results demonstrated that the model achieved an average reduction of 25%–28% in joint load, 23%–29% in muscle activation, and 26%–28% in cumulative fatigue. In addition, task completion times and accuracy were maintained or improved, demonstrating the model’s effectiveness in balancing ergonomic benefits with productivity. This study provides an integrated approach to reducing musculoskeletal stress while ensuring task efficiency, offering a dynamic, data-driven solution that can be applied across various industries. The findings suggest that RL optimization can significantly improve worker health and task sustainability without compromising organizational performance.

How Pilot Fatigue Affects Operational Flight Risk in Scheduled Commercial Aviation

Abstract: Pilot fatigue remains a hazard in scheduled commercial aviation, contributing to 31 aircraft accidents between 2005 and 2022, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) (2023) . Therefore, this study further investigated fatigue and its impact on operational flight risk in commercial aviation. More than 16,000 safety reports were analyzed using mixed methods. The results showed that fatigue-related occurrences were more likely to be reported confidentially. Factors contributing to an increased risk of fatigue included pilots’ personal factors, inadequate rest periods, or poor hotel environments. Fatigue was observed in 6% of all safety-related occurrences analyzed, but these events consumed 9% of the airlines’ risk budget. Further empirical research is required focusing on the influence of pilots’ personal factors on fatigue risk.

Prevalence and Impact of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Dental Students in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: For medical students, maintaining physical health is crucial for effective practice, but these students are often exposed to both physical and mental health challenges, including work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Dental students are particularly vulnerable due to the physically demanding nature of their training, which involves repetitive movements, heavy workloads, and inadequate rest breaks. These disorders can lead to chronic pain, impairing quality of life and professional productivity. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the prevalence of WMSDs among dental students in Iran. Searches were conducted in several domestic and international databases, and articles published between 2000 and 2024 were included if they reported data on the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in dental students. A total of 289 articles were initially identified, with 4 meeting the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software to evaluate WMSD prevalence rates. Results: The meta-analysis revealed that 22.6% of dental students experienced back pain, 38.8% had neck pain, 25.2% reported shoulder pain, and 15.2% experienced hand/elbow pain. Overall, 72.0% of dental students reported pain in at least one part of the body. These findings align with similar global studies, with variations in prevalence possibly due to differences in sample sizes, study designs, and geographical factors. Conclusion: The study highlights a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in the neck, back, and shoulders, among dental students in Iran. The findings underscore the need for preventive interventions focused on improving ergonomics and occupational health to reduce the risk of WMSDs and enhance the well-being of dental students.

Wails Inside Arab Homes: Examining the lived experiences and exploitation of returnee Ugandan migrant domestic workers from Saudi Arabia

The study aimed to investigate the experiences and exploitation of Ugandan migrant domestic workers who returned from Saudi Arabia. The study followed a constructivist paradigm, an interpretive framework that focuses on individuals' understanding of the world and their creation of unique meanings. A qualitative approach was utilised, specifically employing a phenomenological case study design. Data was gathered through unstructured interviews with twenty-eight (28) migrant domestic workers. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. The findings regarding the lived experiences and exploitation of returnee Ugandan migrant domestic workers were visualised through concept maps created using NVivo version 10.0. The study discovered that the returnee workers' experiences were primarily related to their interactions with various individuals in their employers' households, including dealing with abusive employers, inconsiderate children and relatives, and challenging working conditions. Other experiences involved working in an unfriendly environment, carrying out difficult tasks, facing heavy workloads, experiencing occupational health difficulties, enduring physical abuse, inadequate rest, food deprivation, sexual advances, and false allegations. Consequently, providing legal protection for domestic workers in Saudi Arabia is crucial. Although progress has been made in addressing legal gaps, particularly regarding weekly rest days, more work remains. This includes implementing or expanding minimum wages and aligning working hour restrictions with those applicable to other workers. It is therefore recommended that Uganda and Saudi Arabia revise labour export laws to ensure that the rights of migrant domestic workers are respected.

Work-related musculoskeletal complaints: risk factors and impact on work productivity among university administrative employees

BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a significant workplace problem leading to loss of productivity and disability. Administrative workers perform computer-based tasks for long periods. Consequently, they are at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study was to explore the frequency and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal complaints and their impact on work productivity among administrative employees of Suez Canal University, Egypt.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 administrative employees through simple random sampling. Data were collected by an interview questionnaire including sociodemographic, work-related data, ergonomic and psychological risk factors, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ).ResultsThe frequency of work-related musculoskeletal complaints in at least one anatomical region over the past year was 74.7%. Neck (47.1%), lower back (40.7%), and shoulder (36.3%) were the most reported sites of complaints. Risk factors significantly associated with work-related musculoskeletal complaints were gender, age, physical activity, work experience, workplace stress, sustained body position, awkward posture, and inadequate rest breaks. Logistic regression revealed that older age (OR = 1.039, p = 0.023), being female (OR = 2.175, p = 0.011), and not having adequate rest breaks (OR = 1.979, p = 0.019) were significant predictors for the occurrence of WMSDs. The risk factors of absenteeism include gender, age, marital status, educational level, physical activity, BMI, work experience, and musculoskeletal complaints.ConclusionMusculoskeletal problems were highly prevalent among administrative employees. Being female and not having adequate rest breaks were significant predictors for the occurrence of WMSDs. Ergonomic interventions and improvement of working conditions are recommended to reduce WMSDs.

Ambient conditions of the operating theatre and its correlation with fatigue and sleep quality of operating room workers: a cross-sectional survey.

Anesthesia providers face numerous occupational hazards, including exposure to anesthesia gases, which can lead to fatigue. These professionals face challenges such as night shifts, OR stress, limited mobility and sunlight access, high workload, inadequate rest breaks. Health-related sociodemographic variables, such as smoking, sleep patterns, and obesity. Our research aims to explore various risk factors associated with fatigue among operating theatre workers including sleep quality. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 227 of operating room healthcare professionals from five tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia, for a period of 6 months, between January 1, 2023 to June 1, 2023. The study used a five-point Likert scale sheet and the FSS "fatigue severity scale" to analyze and measure fatigue and sleep quality. The questionnaire included all socio-demographic variables, work conditions, and fatigue severity scale items. The major findings revealed a significant correlation between fatigue severity scores and exposure to anesthesia gases. Socio-demographic variables such as smoking have showed major relevance to fatigue in the sample size, as (76.6%) of the participants that answered as regular smokers have showed result of positive correlation to fatigue and with a significant of (0.034). Out of the total sample, 76.1% were exposed to anesthesia gases once daily, showing a positive association with fatigue severity scores. Work-related factors like job experience and position also had a lower association with fatigue severity. p (0.031) Univariate logistic regression p (0.035). The study found that the work-related conditions like workload on Anesthesia technicians and technologists over 44 h per week and gas exposure is directly linked to fatigue severity and sleep quality so is the socio-demographic considerations. With poor sleep quality in younger staff which is documented in the study result a large-scale prospective analysis to understand the factors affecting OR staff's sleep quality and fatigue severity and what can be done to regulate working hours and break time and incorporate naps in to enhance patient safety and well-being for anesthesia providers in Saudi Arabia.

Challenges and Opportunities in Ensuring the Welfare of Livestock during Transportation in Nigeria

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine challenges and opportunities in ensuring the welfare of livestock during transportation in Nigeria Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study identified challenges, ranging from overcrowding and rough handling to inadequate rest and water provisions, underscore the need for comprehensive interventions to address welfare concerns effectively. Additionally, contextual factors such as regulatory variability, transporter perspectives, and geographical disparities further complicate the landscape of livestock transportation welfare. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Theory of Planned Behavior &amp; Social Exchange Theory may be used to anchor future studies on challenges and opportunities in ensuring the welfare of livestock during transportation in Nigeria. Promote the adoption of innovative technologies, such as GPS tracking, real-time monitoring systems, and automated watering and feeding systems, to improve the welfare of livestock during transportation. Advocate for the harmonization of welfare standards and regulatory frameworks across different jurisdictions to promote consistency and accountability in livestock transportation practices.

Assessment of happiness among ASHAs, the grass root level health workers in post-COVID era in Eastern India: a cross-sectional study

Background: The happiness of healthcare professionals is said to be positively affecting the quality of health care and the services provided by them. Presently, our country and its health care has been recovering from the brunt of COVID pandemic. Amid these changing circumstances, this study intends to assess the happiness among the key grassroot level workers, ASHAs in the post-COVID era and the factors affecting their happiness, as happiness is often put forward as one of the driving forces to peoples’ choices and actions. Methods: A modified short version of Oxford happiness questionnaire was used to assess the happiness among the ASHAs selected through multistage sampling and interviewed to assess the facilitators and barriers to their happiness. Results: Of the 112 ASHAs interviewed, 61.6% were happy, while 38.4% were unhappy. The variables like having commitment to work, mental alertness and ability to find beauty in many natural things had universal agreement, while not feeling healthy, or whether they find time for everything wanted have disagreement. Almost 87.5% felt they were not especially control of their lives and 41% were not being well satisfied with everything in life. The factors facilitating happiness were professional pride, altruism, quality of life, and major barriers identified were inadequate rest, imbalance in work-life, family issues, etc. Conclusions: Positive reinforcement in terms of better workplace environment, time management skill enhancement, to strike a better work-life balance to ensure a happier version of themselves.

Effects of working conditions on the perception of night work safety and health effects on nurses.

To examine night working conditions by shift work type and identify the effects of night working conditions on nurses' perceptions of shift work safety and health effects. Night work is the main factor affecting nurses' health. However, the safety of night working conditions has not been sufficiently examined in previous studies. This study used a cross-sectional research design and an online survey using a tool released by the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, and the responses of 348 shift work nurses in Korea were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effects of shift work conditions on the perceived safety of night work and health effects. The STROBE reporting guidelines were utilized, and data were collected from December 1 to December 31, 2021. The adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that perceived threat to safety and the health effects of shift work were not significant according to shift type. However, night-shift-work nurses who worked alone (P=0.003), lacked an emergency recovery system (P=0.026), and had difficulty commuting perceived a threat to their health (P=0.007). Additionally, nurses who experienced loss of concentration (P=0.006) and inadequate rest time (P<0.001) perceived the health effects of shift work. Urgent monitoring of night work conditions is necessary for the 2-shift work type. Nurses must work night shifts together and an emergency system should be established for their safety. Night work conditions should be improved to prevent the hazards of night work and its negative health effects on nurses. This study suggests the necessity of a policy to enhance night work safety, including emergency coping systems and sufficient inter-shift rest time.

DIGITAL MEASUREMENT OF EMPLOYEE STRESS AND FATIGUE IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY USING AICOACH

Effective fatigue management in the workplace is associated with employee well-being, safety, and productivity. Fatigue, often resulting from inadequate rest and high workloads, can lead to decreased cognitive function, diminished job performance, and increased risk of accidents, thus affecting both individual health and organizational efficiency. For this, we introduced an innovative approach to understanding and addressing workplace fatigue. By analyzing the interrelationships between employees self-reported fatigue levels, their perceptions of managing fatigue, and their engagement with an AI-based coaching tool (AiCoach), we sought to uncover patterns that could inform more effective fatigue management strategies. Using advanced sentiment analysis adapted for the context of fatigue and Granger-causality tests, we examined these dynamics over time. Our findings highlight the importance of immediate perceptions of fatigue in predicting engagement with management interventions, underscoring the need for real-time monitoring and adaptive strategies in managing workplace fatigue. KEYWORDS: Workplace Fatigue, Stress Management, AiCoach, Sentiment Analysis.

Nutrition and Mental Well-Being: Exploring Connections and Holistic Approaches.

Quality of life, well-being, and psycho-emotional balance are closely related to the quality of the diet, the level of physical activity, the quality of rest, but also the absence of the consumption of narcotic substances and tobacco, or alcohol abuse. Based on the distribution of a questionnaire that included 30 questions, we aimed to statistically evaluate several factors that influence mental health and vices. It recorded a total of 1719 valid responses, which came from 78.3% female respondents and 21.7% male respondents. After processing the anthropometric data, it was observed that the majority of respondents are of normal weight (63.87%) and come from women in particular (36.13%). Based on the answers recorded, although over 60% of the respondents participating in the study are up to 40 years old, there is an increased tendency towards sedentarism (over 58% of the respondents declaring that they do sports very rarely or not at all), a low tendency regarding optimal consumption of vegetables and fruits, many respondents do not hydrate properly, which is why approximately 60% of respondents feel frequently tired, and over 32% are frequently nervous. The increased level of stress among the respondents and emotional eating are also generated by inadequate rest, reduced physical activity, and a diet that does not help the efficient detoxification of the body.

Job stressors and burnout among nurses and primary-care physicians working at a dedicated outpatient respiratory center for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

High burnout is reported among health professionals providing in-patient care to patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Data are lacking on job stressors and burnout among health providers working in dedicated outpatient facilities for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. This cross-sectional study, using a parallel mixed-methods design, was carried out in 2021-2022 among 22 nurses and 22 primary-care physicians working at a COVID Outpatient Respiratory Center (CORC) (100% participation). Work conditions were assessed via the nurse-and physician-specific Occupational Stressor Index (OSI) and occupational records. Measures of the outcome included the Copenhagen Burnout Index and current tobacco use. Time working in CORC displayed significant multivariate associations with personal, work-and patient-related burnout among physicians and current tobacco use among nurses. Total OSI scores showed adjusted odds ratios for work-related (1.35 (1.01 ± 1.79))(1.31 (0.99 ± 1.75)) and patient-related burnout (1.35 (1.01 ± 1.81))(1.34 (1.01 ± 1.78)) among physicians and nurses, respectively. Numerous work stressors showed significant multivariate associations with burnout and smoking. Among the stressors were: being contacted outside work hours about patients, inadequate rest breaks, many patients/shifts, difficulty taking time off, insufficient pay, frequently listening to emotionally disturbing accounts, interruptions, increased workload, time pressure, and responsibility. Heavy patient burden/time pressure was most often cited as the hardest part of work in CORC. Increased employment of staff was the most frequently suggested workplace modification. Integrative assessment reveals that increased staff could ameliorate many work stressors associated with burnout and smoking in this cohort. Working in CORC is an extra burden. In crisis situations such as the COVID pandemic, more staff is needed. Lowering the total job stressor load is vital.

Perspectives on fatigue in short-haul flight operations from US pilots: A focus group study

There are few studies investigating the impact of fatigue in short-haul flight operations conducted under United States (US) 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 117 flight and duty limitations and rest requirements. In order to understand the fatigue factors unique to short-haul operations, we conducted a series of focus groups across four major commercial passenger airlines in the US. Ninety short-haul pilots were recruited through emails distributed by airline safety teams and labor representatives. Fourteen focus groups were conducted via an online conferencing platform in which participants were asked to identify short-haul schedules and operations that they felt: a) elevated fatigue, b) were not fatiguing, and c) were important to study. Data were collected anonymously and coded using conventional qualitative content analysis, with axial coding and summative analysis used to identify main themes and over-arching categories. The six fatigue factor categories identified were: circadian disruption, high workload, inadequate rest opportunity, schedule changes, regulation implementation and policy issues, and long sits. It appears that additional mitigation strategies may be needed to manage fatigue in short-haul operations beyond the current regulations. Future field studies of short-haul operations in the US should investigate the prevalence and impact of these factors.

Professional male rugby union players’ perceived psychological recovery and physical regeneration during the off-season

We explored male professional rugby union players’ experiences and perceptions of their mental and physical health and well-being across the northern hemisphere off-season. 34 professional male rugby union players participated...

A New Approach to Noninvasive-Prolonged Fatigue Identification Based on Surface EMG Time-Frequency and Wavelet Features.

In sports, fatigue management is vital as adequate rest builds strength and enhances performance, whereas inadequate rest exposes the body to prolonged fatigue (PF) or also known as overtraining. This paper presents PF identification and classification based on surface electromyography (EMG) signals. An experiment was performed on twenty participants to investigate the behaviour of surface EMG during the inception of PF. PF symptoms were induced in accord with a five-day Bruce Protocol treadmill test on four lower extremity muscles: the biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and vastus lateralis (VL). The results demonstrate that the experiment successfully induces soreness, unexplained lethargy, and performance decrement and also indicate that the progression of PF can be observed based on changes in frequency features (ΔF med and ΔF mean) and time features (ΔRMS and ΔMAV) of surface EMG. This study also demonstrates the ability of wavelet index features in PF identification. Using a naïve Bayes (NB) classifier exhibits the highest accuracy based on time and frequency features with 98% in distinguishing PF on RF, 94% on BF, 9% on VL, and 97% on VM. Thus, this study has positively indicated that surface EMG can be used in identifying the inception of PF. The implication of the findings is significant in sports to prevent a greater risk of PF.

Evaluation of Fatigue Risk, Subjective Fatigue, and Work Motivation Level of Intercity Bus Driver

In Indonesia, the bus is one of the affordable transportation for intercity/province routes. However, there are accident risks faced by bus drivers related to fatigue caused by inadequate rest and sleep. The objective of this study is to assess the bus driver fatigue risks level, accompanied by work motivation and subjective fatigue. Using the convenience sampling method, 300 intercity bus drivers from 12 bus companies (male, age between 25-68 years old (44.06 ± 9.83)) agree to involve in the study. Fatigue risk level was estimated by fatigue likelihood score (FLS) which indicated by driving tasks hours and the rest time opportunity. Work motivation and subjective fatigue were measured using 20 questions. The FLS result has a range between 13-39 (scale 0-40) or the risks are categorized into medium to very high. The major finding in this study, while a fatigue risks were relatively high, the subjective fatigue level were low to medium, and work motivations were medium to somewhat high. Statistical test showed that work motivation has a significant correlation with fatigue risks (p &lt; 0.05; r = -0.139), but not with a subjective fatigue level.

Effect of a Condensed NBA Season on Injury Risk: An Analysis of the 2020 Season and Player Safety.

Background:Health and safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led the National Basketball Association (NBA) to condense and accelerate the 2020 season. Although prior literature has suggested that inadequate rest may lead to an increased injury risk, the unique circumstances surrounding this season offer a unique opportunity to evaluate player safety in the setting of reduced interval rest.Hypothesis:We hypothesized that the condensed 2020 NBA season resulted in an increased overall injury risk as compared with the 2015 to 2018 seasons.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods:A publicly available database, Pro Sports Transactions, was queried for injuries that forced players to miss ≥1 game between the 2015 and 2020 seasons. Data from the 2019 season were omitted given the abrupt suspension of the league year. All injury incidences were calculated per 1000 game-exposures (GEs). The primary outcome was the overall injury proportion ratio (IPR) between the 2020 season and previous seasons. Secondary measures included injury incidences stratified by type, severity, age, position, and minutes per game.Results:A total of 4346 injuries occurred over a 5-season span among 2572 unique player-seasons. The overall incidence of injury during the 2020 season was 48.20 per 1000 GEs but decreased to 39.97 per 1000 GEs when excluding COVID-19. Despite this exclusion, the overall injury rate in 2020 remained significantly greater (IPR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.32-1.52]) than that of the 2015 to 2018 seasons (28.20 per 1000 GEs). On closer evaluation, the most notable increases seen in the 2020 season occurred within minor injuries requiring only a 1-game absence (IPR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.37-1.70]) and in players who were aged 25 to 29 years (IPR, 1.57 [95% CI, 1.40-2.63]), averaging ≥30.0 minutes per game (IPR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.47-1.90]), and playing the point guard position (IPR, 1.67 [95% 1.44-1.95]).Conclusion:Players in the condensed 2020 NBA season had a significantly higher incidence of injuries when compared with the prior 4 seasons, even when excluding COVID-19–related absences. This rise is consistent with the other congested NBA seasons of 1998 and 2011. These findings suggest that condensing the NBA schedule is associated with an increased risk to player health and safety.

Prevalence of gross lesions and handling practices in pigs and their association with pork quality, Kiambu, Kenya.

Pre-slaughter handling of pigs has been documented to affect the quality of meat though no studies have investigated this relationship in the Kenyan context. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of gross lesions and practices related to sub-optimal welfare in pigs presented for slaughter while analyzing the relationship between occurrence of these lesions and meat quality. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a medium scale, non-integrated pig abattoir supplying to the Nairobi market, with a capacity to slaughter approximately 40 pigs a day. Data on welfare-associated lesions and handling practices were obtained from 529 pig carcasses and traders respectively. 387 pork samples were collected, and their quality evaluated by measuring their pH, meat color and drip loss. These three parameters were used to classify pork into four recognized categories namely: Red, Firm, Non-exudative (RFN), Pale Soft Exudative (PSE), Dark Firm Dry (DFD) and Red Soft Exudative (RSE). Almost all pigs were inefficiently stunned as evidenced by the presence of consciousness post-stunning. The majority of pigs (82.97%) having one or more welfare-associated gross lesions. Other animal welfare malpractices observed were high loading density and inadequate rest periods between transport and slaughter. A quarter of the pork samples were of sub-optimal quality including: RSE (11.36%), PSE (2.58%) and DFD (2.58%). Multinomial logistic regression revealed that pork originating from pigs transported at a high loading density had increased odds of being classified as DFD (OR 13.41, 95% CI 2.59–69.46). The findings indicate the need to educate stakeholders in the pork value chains on improved pig handling before and during slaughter to enhance pig welfare pre-slaughter and pork quality post-slaughter. Animal welfare legislation enforcement and implementation was observed to be insufficient. There is a need to educate key stakeholders on its importance of being put into practice both from economic and welfare perspectives.