Occupational Physical Demands Research Articles

Occupational physical demands and menstrual cycle irregularities in flight attendants and teachers

ObjectivesFlight attendants perform physically demanding work such as lifting baggage, pushing service carts and spending the workday on their feet. We examined if more frequent exposure to occupational physical demands...

RISK FACTOR OF ROTATOR CUFF TENDINOPATHY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background: Rotator cuff tendinopathy is an umbrella term that includes different shoulder conditions affecting subacromial structures, such as rotator cuff tendinitis/tendinosis, subacromial bursitis and shoulder impingement syndrome. Rotator cuff tendinopathy is refractory to treatments, results in impaired activities of daily living and has a significant socio-economic burden due to loss of work and treatment costs. The aim: This study aims to show risk factor for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Methods: By comparing itself to the standards set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020, this study was able to show that it met all of the requirements. So, the experts were able to make sure that the study was as up-to-date as it was possible to be. For this search approach, publications that came out between 2013 and 2023 were taken into account. Several different online reference sources, like Pubmed and SagePub, were used to do this. It was decided not to take into account review pieces, works that had already been published, or works that were only half done. Result: In the PubMed database, the results of our search brought up 75 articles, whereas the results of our search on SagePub brought up 151 articles. The results of the search conducted for the last year of 2013 yielded a total 58 articles for PubMed and 53 articles for SagePub. The result from title screening, a total 7 articles for PubMed and 18 articles for SagePub. In the end, we compiled a total of 10 papers. We included five research that met the criteria. Conclusion: The most well-established RCD risk factor is advanced age, with higher prevalence associated with age in multiple studies. Other important and potentially modifiable risk factors exist, such as occupational physical demands, but few epidemiologic studies have evaluated associations specific to RCD.

Nurses’ occupational physical activity and workload in a perioperative intensive care unit in Slovenia

The field of nursing includes heavy occupational physical demands, including walking and standing for longer periods of time, in addition to moving and lifting. As such, in the context of a typical work shift, many nurses generally achieve the World Health Organization's recommended 10,000 steps per day. This study aimed at estimating the daily physical activity and workload of nurses in a perioperative intensive care unit. The data sources for this study included data from the hospital information system on various procedures and interventions, and the Silva Ex3 Plus pedometers for measuring steps, kilometers, calories, and activity time across various shifts in a perioperative intensive care unit. Twenty nurses from Slovenia volunteered to participate in this observational study. Over 13 weeks, a nurse working an 8-hour shift walked an average of 5,938 steps (4.4 km). However, nurses who worked a 12-hour weekend day shift came very close to the World Health Organization’s recommendation with an average of 9,003 steps (6.5 km). A total of 227 patients were admitted and an average of 80 nursing interventions were performed per day and there was a positive relationship between physical activity, workload, and patient admissions in the perioperative intensive care unit (p = 0.001). Results of this study could help managers better understand nurses' physical activity and workload during various shifts in the perioperative intensive care unit.

Can home care work be organized to promote health among the workers while maintaining productivity? An investigation into stakeholders’ perspectives on organizational work redesign concepts based on the Goldilocks Work principles

BackgroundDue to the aging population, the need for home care services is increasing in most Western countries, including Norway. However, the highly physical nature of this job could contribute to make recruiting and retaining qualified home care workers (HCWs) challenging. This issue may be overcome by adopting the Goldilocks Work principles, aiming at promoting workers’ physical health by determining a “just right” balance between work demands and recovery periods while maintaining productivity. The aim of this study was to 1) gather suggestions from home care employees on suitable organizational (re)design concepts for promoting HCWs’ physical health and 2) have researchers and managers define actionable behavioral aims for the HCWs for each proposed (re)design concept and evaluate them in the context of the Goldilocks Work principles.MethodsHCWs, safety representatives, and operation coordinators (n = 14) from three Norwegian home care units participated in digital workshops led by a researcher. They suggested, ranked, and discussed redesign concepts aimed at promoting HCWs’ health. The redesign concepts were subsequently operationalized and evaluated by three researchers and three home care managers.ResultsWorkshop participants suggested five redesign concepts, namely "operation coordinators should distribute work lists with different occupational physical activity demands more evenly between HCWs", "operation coordinators should distribute transportation modes more evenly between HCWs", "Managers should facilitate correct use of ergonomic aids and techniques", "HCWs should use the stairs instead of the elevator", and "HCWs should participate in home-based exercise training with clients". Only the first two redesign concepts were considered to be aligned with the Goldilocks Work principles. A corresponding behavioral aim for a “just right” workload was defined: reduce inter-individual differences in occupational physical activity throughout a work week.ConclusionsOperation coordinators could have a key role in health-promoting organizational work redesign based on the Goldilocks Work principles in home care. By reducing the inter-individual differences in occupational physical activity throughout a work week, HCWs’ health may be improved, thus reducing absenteeism and increasing the sustainability of home care services. The two suggested redesign concepts should be considered areas for evaluation and adoption in practice by researchers and home care services in similar settings.

Working Conditions and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Self-rated Health.

The aims of the study are to examine racial and ethnic differences in occupational physical demands, substantive complexity, time pressure, work hours, and establishment size and to assess whether working conditions contribute to racial and ethnic differences in self-rated health. We used 2017 and 2019 Panel Study of Income Dynamics data for 8439 adults. Using path models, we examined working conditions among Black, Latino, and White workers and explored whether those conditions mediated racial and ethnic differences in incident poor self-rated health. Some working conditions disproportionately affected Black workers (high physical demands, low substantive complexity), Latino workers (low substantive complexity, small establishments), and White workers (time pressure). Time pressure predicted worse self-rated health; there was no evidence that the working conditions studied mediated racial/ethnic differences. Working conditions vary by racial and ethnic group; some predict worse health.

Increased physical workload in home care service is associated with reduced recovery from work

ObjectiveThis study investigated the physical workload of home care service workers and determined whether the different intensities of physical work strain experienced by home care nurses have different impacts on their recovery from work.MethodsPhysical workload and recovery were measured among 95 home care nurses based on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) recordings during one work shift and the following night. Differences in the physical work strain were compared between younger (≤ 44-year-old) and older (≥ 45-year-old) employees and between morning and evening shifts. To determine the effects of occupational physical activity on recovery, HRV at all time points (during the workday, when awake and asleep, and whole measurement) in relation to the amount of occupational physical activity was examined.ResultsThe average physiological strain during the work shift, measured as metabolic equivalent (MET), was 1.8 ± 0.5. Moreover, the occupational physical demands in relation to maximal capacity were higher for the older employees. The results of the study showed that a higher occupational physical workload reduced the HRV of home care workers during the workday, leisure time, and sleep.ConclusionsThese data indicate that increased occupational physical workload is associated with reduced recovery among home care workers. Therefore, decreasing occupational strain and ensuring sufficient recovery is recommended.

Workplace Bullying and Long-Term Sickness Absence—A Five-Year Follow-Up Study of 2476 Employees Aged 31 to 60 Years in Germany

Objectives: The aim was to investigate workplace bullying as a risk factor for five-year occurrence of long-term sickness absence (LTSA) in a representative cohort of employees in Germany. Methods: In the German Study on Mental Health at Work (S-MGA) (n = 2476), episodes of long-term sickness absence (LTSA) between baseline and follow-up were assessed in the follow-up interview. Workplace bullying was measured in the baseline interview using a hybrid approach, which combines the behavioural experience and self-labelling methods. Through binomial regressions, the association of baseline level of workplace bullying with first-episode LTSA during follow-up was estimated, adjusting for baseline age, gender, occupational level, smoking status and physical demands at work. Results: Severe bullying heightened the risk for LTSA by approximately 50% (Rate ratio—RR: 1.48, 95% Confidence interval—CI: 1.05; 2.19), while occasional bullying heightened the risk by 15% (RR: 1.15, CI: 0.85; 1.55). When excluding LTSA events occurring in the first 2 years, the associations between bullying and LTSA increased by approximately one third. Conclusions: Workplace bullying seems to be a risk factor for LTSA even when controlling for occupational level, smoking and physical demands at work and when taking possible reverse causality into account. We suggest to investigate effects of LTSA in more settings, to distinguish between occasional and severe bullying and employ longer follow-up intervals.

Low back and neck pain: objective and subjective measures of workplace psychosocial and physical hazards.

This study explored the role of occupational physical activity (OPA), physical demands and psychosocial work-related factors on low back pain (LBP) and neck-shoulder pain (NSP) amongst workers with physically demanding professions. Data from 331 participants within the service and manufacturing sector in the Flemish Employees' Physical Activity (FEPA) study were used, with objective measures of OPA and subjective measures of physical and psychosocial work environment. A modified Nordic questionnaire collected data on LBP and NSP. LBP (> 30days over a year) was reported by 25% of participants, NSP (> 30days over a year) by 30% and the composite measure of LBP/NSP simultaneously by 17%. Objective measures of OPA were not significantly associated with any pain groups. In the final model, self-reported physical demands were associated with NSP (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.30-3.18) and LBP/NSP (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.16-3.45) but not LBP. Job control was negatively associated with LBP (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.35-0.99) and LBP/NSP (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.3-0.98). Objective measures were not associated with LBP or NSP. Self-reported measures provided insights into potential workplace hazards such as physical demands and job control which can be used to inform future strategies to prevent the development of LBP and NSP.

Immediate Weightbearing After Operative Treatment of Bimalleolar and Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures: Faster Return to Work for Patients with Nonsedentary Occupations

The goal of this study was to compare immediate weightbearing (IWB) and traditional weightbearing (TWB) postoperative protocols in unstable ankle fractures, as this has not been compared in prior works. We hypothesize that an immediate weightbearing protocol after ankle fracture fixation will lead to an earlier return to work. An ankle fracture registry was reviewed for operatively treated unstable bimalleolar and trimalleolar ankle fractures at an ambulatory surgery center and followed up at associated outpatient clinics. All fracture cases reviewed occurred from 2009 to 2015. Immediate weightbearing patients were placed into a controlled ankle motion (CAM) boot and allowed to fully bear weight the day of surgery. Traditional weightbearing patients were placed into a CAM boot with 6 weeks of non-weightbearing. Demographics, fixation technique, and injury characteristics were surveyed. Physical job demand was stratified for 69 patients meeting the inclusion criteria (34 IWB and 35 TWB). The main outcome of this study was measured as the time to return to work. Subgroup analysis of patients with nonsedentary jobs demonstrated a significantly earlier return to work for the IWB group (5.7 versus 10.0 weeks, p = .04). Multivariate regression analysis identified a statistically significant 2.25-week (p = .05) earlier return to work for the IWB group after adjustment for occupational physical demand, demographics, fracture characteristics, and participation in a light work period before full work return. In patients with nonsedentary jobs, an IWB protocol after operative management of bimalleolar and trimalleolar ankle fractures resulted in an earlier return to work compared with traditional protocols.

Risk factors for surgery due to rotator cuff disease in a population-based cohort.

Few risk factors for rotator cuff disease (RCD) and corresponding treatment have been firmly established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between numerous risk factors and the incidence of surgery for RCD in a large cohort. A population-based cohort of people aged between 40 and 69 years in the UK (the UK Biobank) was studied. People who underwent surgery for RCD were identified through a link with NHS inpatient records covering a mean of eight years after enrolment. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) as estimates of associations with surgery for RCD accounting for confounders. The risk factors which were considered included age, sex, race, education, Townsend deprivation index, body mass index (BMI), occupational demands, and exposure to smoking. Of the 421,894 people who were included, 47% were male. The mean age at the time of enrolment was 56 years (40 to 69). A total of 2,156 people were identified who underwent surgery for RCD. Each decade increase in age was associated with a 55% increase in the incidence of RCD surgery (95% confidence interval (CI) 46% to 64%). Male sex, non-white race, lower deprivation score, and higher BMI were significantly associated with a higher risk of surgery for RCD (all p < 0.050). Greater occupational physical demands were significantly associated with higher rates of RCD surgery (HR = 2.1, 1.8, and 1.4 for 'always', 'usually', and 'sometimes' doing heavy manual labour vs 'never', all p < 0.001). Former smokers had significantly higher rates of RCD surgery than those who had never smoked (HR 1.23 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.35), p < 0.001), while current smokers had similar rates to those who had never smoked (HR 0.94 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.11)). Among those who had never smoked, the risk of surgery was higher among those with more than one household member who smoked (HR 1.78 (95% CI 1.08 to 2.92)). The risk of RCD surgery was not significantly related to other measurements of secondhand smoking. Many factors were independently associated with surgery for RCD, including older age, male sex, higher BMI, lower deprivation score, and higher occupational physical demands. Several of the risk factors which were identified are modifiable, suggesting that the healthcare burden of RCD might be reduced through the pursuit of public health goals, such as reducing obesity and modifying occupational demands. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(3):352-359.

Low Back Pain (LBP), work and absenteeism.

Occupational physical demands are commonly assumed the cause of work-related Low Back Pain (LBP) and absenteeism. To analyse relationships between LBP at work, physical demands and absenteeism. Workers filled out a questionnaire on socio-demographic and work-related factors, general health, LBP (number of episodes in a 12-month period, pain severity and intensity), and occupational hazards related with physical demands. 735 workers completed the questionnaire (male n = 359). A high proportion of workers n = 507 (69%), from different occupational backgrounds, reported at least one LBP episode in the previous 12-month period. The highest ratio of subjects with more than 6 episodes of LBP per year was found among public services employees (31.8%) and the lowest ratio among administrative workers (10.3%). The highest ratio of workers (39%) were classified as sedentary workers, 34% of workers having a low or moderate level of physical demands in their work, and 27% reported high levels of physical demands in their work. There was a 4 % absenteeism rate in a 12-month period, which was significantly higher in the group with physically demanding work. Those subjects with higher physical requirements at work have increased odds of having more than 3 episodes of LBP during the previous year (p < 0.05) in comparison with subjects with more sedentary jobs and those with low or moderate physical demands. High intensity work, compared to sedentary work, is associated with an increased probability of being absent of work because of LBP in a previous 12-month period (OR = 3.12; CI 1.23-7.89; p = 0.016). Our findings suggest there is an association between highly physically demanding jobs, LBP and absenteeism. These results may contribute to the improvement of LBP assessment and prevention programs in Occupational Health Services.

Lumbar vertebral endplate defects on magnetic resonance images: prevalence, distribution patterns, and associations with back pain

BACKGROUND CONTEXTAlthough the roles of Modic Changes (MCs) and disc degeneration in back pain remain controversial, clues from cadaveric studies suggest that lumbar vertebral endplate lesions may be important in back pain. Endplate lesions can be detected on magnetic resonance (MR) images as various endplate defects, including focal, corner, and erosive defects. Yet, the clinical significance of such endplate defects remains unknown. PURPOSETo determine the prevalence and distribution patterns of lumbar vertebral endplate defects and their associations with back pain in a population-based sample. STUDY DESIGNCross-sectional study. PATIENT SAMPLESubjects were randomly selected from a typical community in Hangzhou Eastern China, regardless of back pain status. OUTCOME MEASURESEach subject underwent a structured interview and lumbar MR imaging. Back pain history, including today, over the past 4 weeks, 12 months, and lifetime, were acquired. Endplate defects, MCs, and disc degeneration were evaluated on MRIs. Age, gender and body mass index (kg/m2), as well as lifetime exposures, including smoking history, riding in motorized vehicles and associated vibration, and occupational physical demands were assessed. METHODSDescriptive statistics were used to depict prevalence and distribution patterns of endplate defects in the lumbar spine. Logistic regressions were used to examine associations of endplate defects with back pain. The research grant was obtained from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (115,000 USD), Key Platform Project of the Health Department of Zhejiang Province (14,000 USD), Technology Program of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Zhejiang Province (21,000 USD), and 2015 Qianjiang Talent Program of Zhejiang Province (7,000 USD) toward this work. There is no conflict to disclose. RESULTSThere were 478 subjects (53.3±14.4 years, range 20–88 years) studied. Endplate defects presented in 301 (63.0%) subjects and 842 (16.0%) endplates. The presence of endplate defects, but not MCs and disc degeneration, was associated with lifetime back pain (odds ratio=1.64, p=.026) in multivariate analyses. Focal and erosive endplate defects were associated with lifetime back pain history (odds ratio=1.74–2.23, p<.05 for both), whereas all three types of defects were associated with intensity of worst back pain over the past 12 months (Coef=5.84–7.19, p<.05 for all). CONCLUSIONSEndplate defects are common findings on lumbar MRIs in adults. Specific types of endplate defects were associated with back pain history. Endplate defects may be an independent risk factor for back pain.

Physical Employment Standards for UK Royal Navy Personnel: A Survey of Tasks That Require Muscle Strength and Endurance.

Physical Employment Standards (PES) safeguard the requirement to create a suitable job-person fit in military occupations, and in doing so mitigate some operational and musculoskeletal injury risk. The primary purpose of this research was to identify critical - physically demanding tasks performed by UK Royal Navy (RN) seafarers to inform the development of a muscle strength and endurance-based PES. A secondary purpose was to explore possible sex and age-based differences in subjective ratings of occupational task physical demand. In accordance with the Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee, 515 Naval personnel (443 males, 72 females; aged 30.2 ± 7.3 years) completed an anonymous survey that rated the physical demand (from no to very high), criticality (from not to critically important), and frequency (from seldom to several times per day) of 25 common sea-going tasks on a one to five scale. An a priori criteria was applied to down-select a shortlist of the most critical and physically demanding tasks (i.e., median task criticality and task physical demand scores of ≥4, and ≥3, respectively). A Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test explored sex and age-based differences in subjective physical demand ratings. Ten (out of 25) tasks met the critical - physical demand criteria, which included the four task categories of fire fighting, damage control, casualty handling, and basic movement/transit tasks. Casualty handling emerged as the single most physically demanding task category performed by seafarers, which was rated to have "high" physical demand (4 on the 1 to 5 scale). Sex and age-based differences in subjective ratings of task physical demand were equivocal, with females rating 3 (out of the 25 tasks), and 40-51 year olds rating 4 (out of 25 tasks) to have a higher physical demand than males and 19-29 year olds, respectively. Ten criterion tasks were identified and should undergo a further job analysis to inform the development of strength-based PES for the RN.

Relationships of leisure-time physical activity and work ability between different occupational physical demands in adult working men

PurposeLeisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is known to be associated with positive health benefits, but the role of occupational physical demands remains inconsistent. The purpose of the current study was to assess the relationship between LTPA and work ability in different occupational physical activity (OPA) levels between young adult men.MethodsWe performed physical activity measurements in work and leisure time with the long version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and work ability with the Work Ability Index (WAI) in 921 Finnish employed male volunteer participants. The participants were divided into LTPA tertiles I (< 8 MET-h/week), II (8–28 MET-h/week), and III (> 28 MET-h/week) and OPA tertiles I (0 MET-h/week), II (< 64 MET-h/week), and III (≥ 64 MET-h/week).ResultsThere was a significant relationship between LTPA and WAI in OPA tertiles (adjusted for age, alcohol consumption, working class status, BMI, and employment years). Moreover, each LTPA tertile showed significant linear associations with WAI (P < 0.001).ConclusionLTPA is positively associated with work ability among young adult men. More specifically, the relationships between LTPA and WAI were significantly greater in physically demanding jobs than in more passive jobs. Our results indicate the importance of LTPA, particularly with individuals under higher work-related physical strain.

Physical capacity, occupational physical demands, and relative physical strain of older employees in construction and healthcare

PurposeTo assess age-related differences in physical capacity, occupational physical demands, and relative physical strain at a group level, and the balance between capacity and demands at an individual level, for construction and healthcare workers.MethodsShoulder strength, back strength, and aerobic capacity were assessed among construction (n = 62) and healthcare workers (n = 64). During a full working day, accelerometers estimated upper-arm elevation, trunk flexion, and occupational physical activity as indicators of occupational physical demands. Simultaneously, normalised surface electromyography (%sEMGmax) of the upper trapezius and erector spinae muscles, and normalised electrocardiography (percentage heart rate reserve (%HRR)) estimated relative physical strain. Differences between younger (≤ 44 years) and older (≥ 45 years) workers, as well as the moderating effect of age on the associations between capacity and demands, were analysed per sector.ResultsCompared to younger workers, older workers had similar strength and lower aerobic capacity; older construction workers had similar demands while older healthcare workers had higher demands. Compared to younger workers, older employees had unfavourable muscle activity patterns; %HRR had a tendency to be lower for older construction workers and higher for older healthcare workers. Among construction workers, age moderated the associations between shoulder strength and arm elevation (p = 0.021), and between aerobic capacity and occupational physical activity (p = 0.040). Age did not moderate these associations among healthcare workers.ConclusionsIn both sectors, the level of occupational physical demands and the higher relative physical strain in older employees require addressing to promote sustainable work participation among an aging population.

MIDLIFE STRESSFUL OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES AND HIPPOCAMPAL SIZE IN HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS

AbstractRaising retirement age warrants better understanding of the role of occupation in brain aging. Although occupational stress has been linked to decreased brain volumes in younger workers (Savic, 2015), the role of occupational stress in brain aging remains unknown. In order to address this relationship, we conducted two studies relating past occupational characteristics to MRI data from older adults. First, we assess occupational stress using the Work Design Questionnaire (Morgeson & Humphrey, 2006) combined with interpersonal conflict and workload questionnaires in 101 healthy adults (Mage=70, a subsample of NCT01472744 trial). We measured hippocampal volume with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Greater physical demands of participants’ most recent job were related to smaller left (F(4,93)=10.5, p=.006, sr=-.260) and right hippocampi (F(4,93)=7.18, p=.024, sr=-.231, both corrected for age, education, total brain volume). Greater physical demand was also associated with lower episodic memory scores (F(3,97)=2.8, p=.006, sr=-.272, corrected for age and education). Next, we tested this finding in 83 cognitively healthy older adults (Mage=69), a subsample of an Acting Out trial (5R01AG036682-03). Here, we used these participants’ primary midlife job titles and descriptions (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017) to categorize the participants into those with high (n=31) and low (n=52) occupational physical demands. Older adults whose midlife jobs were characterized by greater physical demands had smaller left (p=.019) and right (p=.035) hippocampi. Together, we identified occupational physical demands as stressful factor that may negatively impact brain aging. Future analyses should contrast the opposing effects of leisure physical activity and work physical demands on brain aging.

Myoelectric manifestation of muscle fatigue in repetitive work detected by means of miniaturized sEMG sensors

Upper limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders have a 12-month prevalence ranging from 12 to 41% worldwide and can be partly caused by handling low loads at high frequency. The association between the myoelectric manifestation of elbow flexor muscle fatigue and occupational physical demand has never been investigated. It was hypothesized that an elbow flexor muscle fatigue index could be a valid risk indicator in handling low loads at high frequency. This study aims to measure the myoelectric manifestation of muscle fatigue of the three elbow flexor muscles during the execution of the work tasks in different risk conditions. Fifteen right-handed healthy adults were screened using a movement analysis laboratory consisting of optoelectronic, dynamometer and surface electromyographic systems. The main result indicates that the fatigue index calculated from the brachioradialis is sensitive to the interaction among risk classes, session and gender, and above all it is sensitive to the risk classes.

Selected Salivary Biomarkers in Relation to Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among a Group of Dentists in Baghdad City

Background: work-related musculoskeletal disorders represent an important occupational health issues among dentists especially neck and low back complaints. Biomarkers of tissue damage as results of occupational physical demands could be used for detection of work related musculoskeletal disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess work- related musculoskeletal disorders, physical work load index, selected salivary biomarkers (Creatine kinase and C - reactive protein) and to find the relation among them. Subjects and Methods: Study participants are consisted of 112 dentists. They were selected from college of dentistry /Baghdad University, health care center in Bagdad city. They were of both gender and aged between 40-45 years .they should fit the study criteria. Self-administered standardized Nordic questionnaires were used to evaluate musculoskeletal complaints. Physical work load was evaluated by used physical work load index. Stimulated saliva were collected from subsample (87) dentists drawn randomly from the total sample, for whom biochemical analysis (measurement of creatine kinase and C - reactive protein) were done. Results: Results showed that low back and neck complaints is the most complaint experienced by the dentists with percentages of ( 69.6% and 66.1% ), followed by the shoulder complaint (49.1% ) while the hip complaint showed the lowest percentage (13.4%).According to severity scores ,both low back and neck musculoskeletal complaints were of score 3 severity (score 3 constituted the highest percentages in both area (27.7% ,23.2%respectively) as compared to other severity scors.For shoulder complaint it was of score 2 severity (score 2 constituted the highest percentage 23.2% as compared to other severity scores, The musculoskeletal complaints(proximal ,neck, shoulder and low back) had higher mean rank values in the highest quartile of Physical work load index with non – significant differences (P

The Role of Gender and Physical Performance on Injuries: An Army Study.

In basic combat training, women experience twice as many injuries as men; however, evidence at the operational Army level is limited. This study aims to investigate the association between gender and injury likelihood while controlling for certain confounding factors in the operational Army. Data were analyzed in 2015 from a cross-sectional study utilizing data from a 2010-2011 survey of light infantry Army Soldiers. Gender, age, body fat, tobacco use, Army Physical Fitness Test (2-mile run, push-ups, and sit-ups), occupational physical demand, and injury data were obtained via paper survey. ORs and 95% CIs from a multivariable analysis were calculated. Surveys were completed by 4,384 male and 363 female Soldiers. Injury incidence was 42% for men and 53% for women. After adjusting for the aforementioned variables, injury likelihood was higher in Soldiers aged ≥27 years (OR [age 27-29/22-26 years]=1.26, 95% CI=1.07, 1.48; OR [age ≥30/22-26 years]=1.28, 95% CI=1.08, 1.51), Soldiers with body fat ≥23.38% (OR [body fat ≥23.38%/≤19.28%]=1.30, 95% CI=1.08, 1.57), and Soldiers with the slowest 2-mile run times (OR [≥15.68/≤14.13 minutes]=1.53, 95% CI=1.26, 1.85). Women were no more likely than men to sustain an injury. When accounting for age, body fat, physical performance, and occupational physical demand, there was no gender difference in the likelihood of injury among Soldiers. Although women, on average, have lower aerobic and muscular performance than men, results suggest men and women of similar physical performance experience similar injury likelihood.

Lifetime Exposure to Occupational Physical Demand and Hip Fractures in Post-menopausal Women.

Lifetime Exposure to Occupational Physical Demand and Hip Fractures in Post-menopausal Women.