Repetitive Movements Research Articles

A Comparative Analysis of Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle Morphology between Two Movement System Impairment Subgroups of Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain

Based on the kinesiopathologic model, the Movement System Impairment (MSI) classification of LBP has shown that repetitive movements could contribute to pathoanatomic tissue changes. However, these changes have not been evaluated in different MSI classification subgroups of patients with LBP. This study compared the grades of fatty infiltration as one of the muscle's pathologic changes in the lower lumbar paraspinal and psoas muscles between the two subgroups of patients diagnosed with MSI syndromes having opposite movement direction impairments. Observational cross-sectional study. Forty-five participants with chronic LBP were enrolled in the study, with 23 patients in the lumbar flexion-rotation (FlexRot) subgroup and 22 in the lumbar extension-rotation (ExtRot) subgroup of MSI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the Goutallier Classification System (GCS) were used for fatty grading of lumbar paraspinal and psoas muscles. After the reliability of this grading scale was evaluated, the results were compared between the two subgroups. The Mann-Whitney U Test showed significantly higher fat infiltration of lower lumbar multifidus and erector spinae muscles in the lumbar ExtRot subgroup, with no significant difference between the two subgroups in terms of psoas muscles (P≤0.05). Inter-rater reliability of GCS was acceptable to excellent, and intra-rater reliability was good to excellent. The fatty infiltration grade of lumbar paraspinal muscles in L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels are significantly different between the two LBP subgroups of MSI that have two opposite movement direction impairments. The lumbar paraspinal muscles, which contribute to extension, have a higher grade of fat in the ExtRot subgroup, whose symptoms are aggravated by lumbar extension.

Development and Validation of an Assessment-Driven Behavioral Intervention for Primary Complex Motor Stereotypies in Young Children.

Complex motor stereotypies are rhythmic, repetitive, fixed, and non-goal directed movements (e.g., bilateral flapping/waving movements of the hands/arms). Movements typically begin in early childhood and can occur in otherwise normally developing ("primary") or autistic ("secondary") children. Stereotypies persist, occur multiple times a day, have prolonged durations, can be socially stigmatizing, and may lead to bullying and isolation. Prior behavioral treatment studies have focused on older children (ages 6-12) and report modest reductions in stereotypy (i.e., between 14% and 33%). The current study involves the functional assessment and treatment of five children with Primary Complex Motor Stereotypy using a modified awareness training procedure, differential reinforcement of other behavior, and schedule thinning in a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design. Results suggest a 99% reduction of motor stereotypy from baseline across all participants.

EKSTRAK JAHE DAN KOMBINASI EKSTRAK JAHE DENGAN NERVE GLIDING EXERCISE UNTUK MENURUNKAN NYERI PERGELANGAN TANGAN

Abstract Wrist pain is a condition where an individual experiences discomfort in the wrist, which both traumatic and non-traumatic factors can cause. Non-traumatic wrist pain often results from inflammation in the tissues around the carpal tunnel, leading to its narrowing. This condition is commonly seen in activities that involve prolonged and repetitive hand movements, such as in batik artisans. This study aimed to determine the effect of ginger extract and the combination of ginger extract with nerve gliding exercise on wrist pain in batik artisans in Papringan Village, Banyumas. This study employed a pre-experimental design with a two-group pretest-posttest approach. The population consisted of batik artisans in Papringan Village, with a sample size of 20 individuals selected using a total sampling technique. Data analysis included both univariate and bivariate analyses. The study found a significant effect of ginger extract and the combination of ginger extract with nerve gliding exercise on reducing wrist pain. Wrist pain experienced a reduction and had a substantial effect, as evidenced by a high correlation coefficient.

Role and Impact of Prophylactic Interventions in the Conservative Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) refers to the compression or tension over the median nerve at the level of the wrist and represents the most commonly encountered compression mononeuropathy. It is diagnosed significantly more often in individuals, whose work involves similar, repetitive movements. The condition affects approximately 4–6% of the active population. Its social aspect stems from the significant deterioration of patients' professional and private life, which, in a high percentage of cases, leads to a change in profession. Multiple surgical and conservative treatment approaches have been described. The literature proposes a general recommendation for compliance with prophylactic interventions and a specific mobilization regimen but a consensus on the subject has not yet been achieved. In our study, we followed 45 patients diagnosed with CTS who reported pain and altered sensation, over a period of 6 months. The patients were divided into three groups which were randomly assigned to different treatment modalities. All patients received the same prophylactic interventions with regard to the physical load and exercises, which were to be followed individually over the course of the study. At the end of the study, the obtained data were analyzed statistically and we reported a correlation between patient improvement and the frequency of the exercises.

Factors Related to Dental Ergonomics Practice Among Indonesian Dentists.

Dentists are at greater risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) which can be caused by repetitive movements, improper posture and long working hours. If ergonomic principles are applied in the field of dentistry, they help to prevent occupational ergonomic health hazards and provides more comfort to the dentist and patient. To obtain information regarding dental ergonomics practice of dentists in Indonesia and its related factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a purposive sampling method via Google Form to 231 dentists in DKI Jakarta, Indonesia from November to December 2022. The questionnaire consisted of 34 items divided into five sections; socio-demographic, job characteristics, knowledge of dental ergonomics, attitude towards dental ergonomics and the practice of dentists regarding dental ergonomics. Bivariate analysis was conducted using Pearson Chi-square Test. 76.2% dentists have poor dental ergonomics practice. There is a significant relationship (p-value < 0.05) between the practice of dental ergonomics and age group, years of practical experience and level of knowledge. Most Indonesian dentists (76.2%) still lack of dental ergonomics practice. Age, duration of work experience and ergonomic dental practice knowledge are significantly correlated.

Approaches to Managing Herniated Disc Surgical vs. Conservative Treatment

Introduction Disc herniation is a displacement of an intervertebral disc, most often caused by degeneration of its outer layer, the annulus fibrosus. This condition can cause various symptoms such as numbness, pain, muscle weakness or lose of sensation. While many patients can be successfully treated with non-surgical methods, some of them some require surgical intervention. Aim of study The objective of this study is to evaluate both surgical and non-surgical treatment methods for herniated disc and seeks to introduce doctors and patients to the advantages and disadvantages associated with them. State of Knowledge Disk herniation occurs when disk material prolapses beyond intervertebral disk’s space. The symptoms may arise when displaced material start to compress major structures located nearby, such as spinal nerves. The most common causes include age-related degeneration, repetitive movements, obesity, trauma or genetic predisposition. Summary (Conclusion) Disk herniation can be managed with various non-surgical and surgical methods. Conservative treatment should be considered as first line treatment showing high success rate for mild to moderate cases in long term relief and preventing recurrence of symptoms. Surgical options offer better short-term relief for sever and more advanced cases but carry greater risks of side effects and involve longer recovery time. Best approach should be carefully selected based on the severity of symptoms and patient needs.

Therapy options for Trigger Finger: Conservative Treatment vs. Surgery

Introduction Trigger finger, also referred to as trigger finger syndrome, is a condition caused by inflammation of the flexor tendons of the fingers and digital pulleys, resulting in pain and restricted movement. This issue affects numerous individuals, particularly the elderly and those who perform repetitive hand motions. Aim The aim of this study is to explore and compare the available treatment options for trigger finger, including rest, splinting, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, steroid injections, and surgical interventions. Both conservative and surgical approaches have their advantages and limitations, and their effectiveness varies depending on the individual patient’s response. State of Knowledge Medical literature describes a variety of treatment methods, ranging from pharmacological approaches and physical therapy to steroid injections and, in more complex cases, surgical interventions. Conservative treatment, often the initial approach, aims to alleviate symptoms and can be effective in the early stages of the condition. Surgery, on the other hand, is considered when conservative treatment fails or in more advanced cases. Summary The choice of treatment for trigger finger should be tailored to the individual needs of the patient and the severity of the condition. Conservative therapy is effective in the early stages but does not always provide long-lasting relief. Surgery, although more invasive, is typically effective in advanced cases and often leads to a quicker restoration of full finger function.

Responses of several measures to different intensity levels of upper limb exergames in children with neurological diagnoses: a pilot study

BackgroundTherapy intensity is among the most critical factors influencing neurorehabilitative outcomes. Because of its simplicity, time spent in therapy is the most commonly used measure of therapy intensity. However, time spent in therapy is only a vague estimate of how hard a patient works during therapy. Several measures have been proposed to better capture the amount of work a patient puts forth during therapy. Still, it has never been analyzed how these measures respond to changes in therapist-selected exercise intensity in children with neurological conditions.ObjectivesTo investigate the response and the reliability of heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance (SC), activity counts per minute (AC/min), movement repetitions per minute (MOV/min), and perceived exertion to different therapist-tailored intensity levels of upper limb technology-assisted therapy in children with neurological conditions.MethodsIn this pilot cross-sectional study, participants engaged in three personalized, randomized exergame intensity levels (“very easy”, “challenging”, “very difficult”) for eight minutes each. We assessed all measures at each intensity level. The experiment was conducted twice on two consecutive days. We quantified reliability using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC).ResultsWe included 12 children and adolescents aged 11.92 (±3.03) years. HRV, MOV/min, and perceived exertion could differentiate among the three intensity levels. HRV, MOV/min, perceived exertion, and AC/min showed moderate to excellent (0.62 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.98) test-retest reliability.ConclusionHRV, MOV/min, and perceived exertion show potential for becoming valid and reliable intensity measures for an upper limb robotic rehabilitative setting. However, studies with larger sample sizes and more standardized approaches are needed to understand these measures’ responses better.

ATUAÇÃO FISIOTERAPÊUTICA NA PREVENÇÃO DE LESÃO MENISCAL EM JOGADORES DE FUTEBOL: UMA REVISÃO BIBLIOGRÁFICA INTEGRATIVA

Meniscal injuries are common among football players due to the high physical demands and repetitive movements required by the sport. Given the importance of preventing and treating these injuries, this study aims to explore physiotherapeutic treatment in football, as the role of physiotherapists has been gradually expanding in sports, seeking more effective approaches to prevent these injuries. The objective was to analyze the role of physiotherapy in preventing meniscal injuries in professional football players of both sexes. An integrative literature review was conducted using the PICO methodology, covering studies published in the last five years. The results indicate that 193 articles were initially identified, of which 5 randomized clinical trials were selected after applying inclusion criteria. Physical therapy, through muscle strengthening exercises, proprioception, and other techniques, can be as effective as surgery in the recovery of athletes. In addition to helping prevent new injuries, physical therapy can, in some cases, replace the need for surgical interventions. It is concluded that physiotherapy is a viable strategy for preventing and treating meniscal injuries, although more research is needed to understand its long-term effects.

Prevalence of lateral epicondylitis among housewives in Lahore: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundLateral epicondylitis (LE) is characterized by pain, inflammation and local tenderness over the bony prominence of the lateral epicondyle and is exacerbated under stressful and repetitive movements such as prolonged supination and pronation movements, twisting (wringing, turning) and rolling activities (stirring and mixing). Lateral Epicondylitis ranks as the second most commonly diagnosed musculoskeletal condition. Females, especially housewives, are more affected by LE. It can lead to persistent elbow pain, reduced grip strength, limited arm movement, and difficulty performing daily tasks.ResultsAll of our 150 participants were women aged 25–50 + years. We found that 86% of housewives reported some level of pain (mild, moderate and severe) according to the PRTEE questionnaire but 39.33% (59/150) showed positive lateral epicondylitis cases assessed physically by special test (Cozen, Mills, Maudsley’s test). Among the individuals diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis, a significant majority, 71.19% (42 out of 59), reported pain in their right arm while only 16.95% were experiencing pain in their left arm, however, 11.86% (7 out of 59) reported pain in both arms. The odds ratio estimates of age groups suggested that the 25–30 years group had higher odds of getting LE about 0.95 than the reference group. Among the individuals with lateral epicondylitis, 59.32% (35 out of 59) were experiencing chronic pain, while 40.67% (24 out of 59) were dealing with acute pain. 54.24% (32/59) of individuals with lateral epicondylitis experienced functional disability in specific activities, while 28.81% (17/59) reported functional disability in routine activities.ConclusionWe found a high prevalence of 39.33% lateral epicondylitis among housewives. There is a dire need to raise awareness among housewives for changing their lifestyle and activities regimen in order to avoid any such disorders like L.E. Robust studies with larger sample sizes are needed to establish conclusive evidence.

Pain Catastrophizing and Functional Activation During Occlusion in TMD Patients-An Interventional Study.

In temporomandibular disorder (TMD), the effects of standard interventions such as using an occlusal splint and its impact on pain relief and pain catastrophizing are poorly understood. Earlier work pointed to a crucial role of insula activation with changes in pain relief by occlusal splint treatment. We performed a functional imaging study using specially developed splint systems to allow for a placebo-controlled longitudinal design. Using functional MRI we examined 20 TMD patients during repetitive occlusal movements at baseline and over the course of splint therapy and also collected self-reported pain catastrophizing. For balancing performance between baseline and after intervention we used occlusion force measures in an individualized fMRI-splint system. Splint therapy lasted for approximately 7 weeks with one group selected by randomization wearing a palatine placebo splint over the first 3 weeks (delayed start; 11 individuals). As expected, fMRI activation in areas involved in pain processing (insula, primary and secondary somatosensory cortex) decreased with intervention. At baseline a positive correlation between activation of the left anterior insula and pain catastrophizing was present. Both parameters decreased over intervention while associations were primarily observable for patients with rather mild TMD.

Leveraging wearable sensors and machine learning for posture-based detection of carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract Carpal tunnel is associated with long-term use of the wrist and hand for various activities such as typing, welding, or poor working postures. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) may cause severe pain and discomfort in the hand and wrist, and in some circumstances, surgery becomes inevitable. The objective of this study is to prevent typing postures, which can be ascertained as predisposing subjects to CTS development. The data used in this study is an array of wrist wearable sensors to capture flexion, extension, and bending of fingers while using a keyboard or mouse. Machine learning is employed on the data in order to identify risk factors indicative of a high probability of CTS. The analyzed models are linear regression, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, Multilayer Perceptron, Convolution Neural Network, and Long Short Term Memory. The conditions for assessing the performance of the data models include RMS error, coefficients of determination, and mean absolute percentage error. In this research, I conducted an exploratory data analysis (EDA) to gain an initial understanding of the dataset. Following the exploratory phase, I applied feature extraction techniques, specifically Principal Component Analysis (PCA). As put forward for the proposed research, the strategies to prevent risky occupations have broad potential at the present time, especially in the case of CTS when preventing repetitive wrist movements.

Simultaneous EEG recording of cortical tracking of speech and movement kinematics

Rationale: Cortical activity is coupled with streams of sensory stimulation. The coupling with the temporal envelope of heard speech is known as the cortical tracking of speech (CTS), and that with movement kinematics is known as the corticokinematic coupling (CKC). Simultaneous measurement of both couplings is desirable in clinical settings, but it is unknown whether the inherent dual-tasking condition has an impact on CTS or CKC. AimWe aim to determine whether and how CTS and CKC levels are affected when recorded simultaneously. MethodsTwenty-three healthy young adults underwent 64-channel EEG recordings while listening to stories and while performing repetitive finger-tapping movements in 3 conditions: separately (audio- or tapping-only) or simultaneously (audio-tapping). CTS and CKC values were estimated using coherence analysis between each EEG signal and speech temporal envelope (CTS) or finger acceleration (CKC). CTS was also estimated as the reconstruction accuracy of a decoding model. ResultsAcross recordings, CTS assessed with reconstruction accuracy was significant in 85 % of the subjects at phrasal frequency (0.5 Hz) and in 68 % at syllabic frequencies (4–8 Hz), and CKC was significant in over 85 % of the subjects at movement frequency and its first harmonic. Comparing CTS and CKC values evaluated in separate recordings to those in simultaneous recordings revealed no significant difference and moderate-to-high levels of correlation.Conclusion.Despite the subtle behavioral effects, CTS and CKC are not evidently altered by the dual-task setting inherent to recording them simultaneously and can be evaluated simultaneously using EEG in clinical settings.

Design and Optimization of a Custom-Made Six-Bar Exoskeleton for Pulp Pinch Grasp Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients.

Stroke often causes neuromotor disabilities, impacting index finger function in daily activities. Due to the role of repetitive, even passive, finger movements in neuromuscular re-education and spasticity control, this study aims to design a rehabilitation exoskeleton based on the pulp pinch movement. The exoskeleton uses an underactuated RML topology with a single degree of mobility, customized from 3D scans of the patient's hand. It consists of eight links, incorporating two consecutive four-bar mechanisms and the third inversion of a crank-slider. A two-stage genetic optimization was applied, first to the location of the intermediate joint between the two four-bar mechanisms and later to the remaining dimensions. A targeted genetic optimization process monitored two quality metrics: average mechanical advantage from extension to flexion, and its variability. By analyzing the relationship between these metrics and key parameters at different synthesis stages, the population evaluated is reduced by up to 96.2%, compared to previous studies for the same problem. This custom-fit exoskeleton uses a small linear actuator to deliver a stable 12.45 N force to the fingertip with near-constant mechanical advantage during flexion. It enables repetitive pulp pinch movements in a flaccid finger, improving rehabilitation consistency and facilitating home-based therapy.

Effectiveness Of Visual Feedback Balance Training On Equiboard Versus Traditional Balance Training In Post Stroke Patients- A Comparative Study

Background: A Stroke is classically characterized as a neurological deficit attributed to an acute focal injury of the central nervous system by a vascular cause and is a major cause of disability and death worldwide.(1) Balance problems are thought to be common after stroke and they have been implicated in the poor recovery of activities of daily living and mobility and increased risk of falls.(2) Postural sway for patients with hemiplegia can be twice that of their age matched peers. Many balance training are used but No general physiotherapy approach has proven to be superior for promoting balance recovery from stroke.(3)Novel biofeedback devices based on Virtual reality (VR)technology are now being used for neuromotor rehabilitation. Traditional balance training is based on the automatic repetition of specific movements. These methods can become repetitive and thus reduce the motivation of the patient and adherence to treatment. So the need of my study is to compare the effectiveness of visual feedback balance training on equiboard and traditional balance training in post stroke patients. Aims and objectives-To study and compare the effectiveness of visual feedback balance training on equiboard versus traditional balance training in post stroke patients. Methodology- 30 patients with stroke were equally divided into two groups. patients in group A received the conventional physiotherapy while the patients in group B received visual feedback balance training on equiboard. All the subjects were treated for 1 month, 5 days a week. BBS-Berg Balance Scale and step test was used as the outcome measure at the beginning and end of study. Results-Results showed significant improvement within both the groups for both the outcome measure(p,0.05), while there was no significant difference between two groups in BBS(p&gt;0.5), but there was significant difference in the step test of experimental group(p&lt;0.5) Conclusion-It can be concluded that visual feedback balance training is more effective than the traditional balance training alone in stroke patients.

High Prevalence and Impact of Shoulder Pain Among Gym Instructors: A Study on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

INTRODUCTION :- Gym instructors within the fitness industry play a pivotal role in guiding individuals towards achieving a range of health and fitness goals. In addition to muscular and skeletal health, gym instructors are instrumental in boosting the immune system. Even though they help in maintaining the body gym trainers have a limited knowledge of mechanism of injury, neglecting and repetitive movements of the joint leads to worsening of injury and increase in the pain. Musculoskeletal pain can stem from various sources, including uncommon or repetitive activities that strain muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Additionally, it may result from sudden, jerky movements, falls, fractures, or underlying musculoskeletal conditions. The result of repetitive activities that strain the muscles, tendons and sprain the ligaments. Insufficient recovery time, rapid pace work, repetitive motion patterns, heavy weight lifting, forceful manual exertions, mechanical pressure concentrations or whole body vibrations can lead to development of other musculoskeletal disorders. The impact of a musculoskeletal condition on an individual's quality of life is substantial, extending beyond mere physical discomfort. Such conditions not only affect personal well-being but also impose a considerable financial strain, manifested through compensation payments and lost wages. Instances of sick leave, absenteeism, and even job abandonment contribute to diminished job efficiency,further exacerbating the socioeconomic repercussions of these disorders. METHODOLOGY :- A total of 147 participants were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. A consent form was filled by them and the study and questionnaire was explained to them.Self-made Questionnaire was explained to each gym instructors according to language understood by that person as well as google forms were also made available for their convenience.Each gym instructor completed a self administered questionnaire which included information regarding complaints of current shoulder pain. The total data was collected and was statistically analyzed. CONCLUSION :- The Prevalence of shoulder pain in gym instructors is high (78%). The presence of shoulder pain causes a gym instructors to avoid certain activities due to pain which causes a hindrance in their work related activities.

Epidemiology of neuromuscular injuries in guitar players living in Portugal: Associated risk factors.

Playing guitar involves several physical demands, most inclusive of which are long hours of practice, which can make musculoskeletal symptoms common. To determine the epidemiology of neuromuscular injuries in guitar players residing in Portugal and risk factors. The sample consisted of 105 guitar players, being 103 (98.10%) men, aged between 30-75 years (29,83±10,23). The measurement instrument used was a digital survey, shared by email, on social networks and in person. Fifty-six (53.30%) guitar players had injuries throughout their musical practice, totaling 132 injuries, 13 (12.40%) guitar players were injured at the time of assessment and 31 (29.5%) guitar players had injuries in the last 12 months, totaling 63 injuries. The value of injury proportion was 0.29 (CI 95% : 0.14-0.44) and the injury rate was 0.42 injuries per 1,000 hours of music practice. The most common types of injury were: tendinopathy (22; 34.92%) and low back pain (9; 14.29%). The most affected anatomical sites were: wrist (18; 28.57%) and lumbar spine (10; 15.87%). Repetitive movement was the injury mechanism most mentioned by guitar players (24; 35.29%) followed by maintaining postures for a prolonged period of time (15; 22.06%). Guitar players who did not warm up before practicing were 0.33 (CI: 0.13-0.79; p = 0.013) more likely to have an injury. There was a high percentage of injuries in guitar players and failure to warm up was a risk factor for the development of injuries. This type of study can help in creating injury prevention strategies in this type of population.

Musculoskeletal Health Problems Among the Loom Weavers of Sirajganj District, Bangladesh

Loom industry in Bangladesh is the foremost imperative &amp; antiquated house industry with a decentralized setup. The industry is giving vocation for millions of individuals within the nation. The target populace includes weavers over northern Bangladesh. The ponder secured a sizable number of population i.e, 208 subjects in Enayetpur and Madhabpur village, Sirajganj. To ensure representativeness, a non-probability convenience technique was utilized to choose a test estimate of 208 members. To be qualified for the study, members were chosen who had minimum two years of experience. Male were predominant (96.2%) among the respondents. Monthly income showed that major part (48.1%) of the respondents fell in 10-15thousand BDT category. Majority (63.5%) of waste disposal strategy taken after by the wok-places was landfilled. What's really interesting is that many respondents reported having musculoskeletal problems; lower back pain (59.6%) was the most frequently reported one. These health issues were connected to weaving activities because they involve lots of repetitive movements with hands, shoulders, legs, and other parts. Most health concerns in this field came from ergonomic risk factors. Future research should aim to include diverse populations and explore interventions that can mitigate these ergonomic risks, ultimately improving the well-being of this vital workforce in Bangladesh's loom industry. Keywords: Bangladesh, Sirajganj, musculoskeletal, health, loom, weavers

Spiking neural networks-based generation of caterpillar-like soft robot crawling motions

Robots have been widely used in daily life in recent years. Unlike conventional robots made of rigid materials, soft robots utilize stretchable and flexible materials, allowing flexible movements similar to those of living organisms, which are difficult for traditional robots. Previous studies have used periodic signals to control soft robots, which lead to repetitive motions and make it challenging to generate environment-adapted motions. To address this issue, control methods can be learned through deep reinforcement learning to enable soft robots to select appropriate actions based on observations, improving their adaptability to environmental changes. In addition, as mobile robots have limited onboard resources, it is necessary to conserve battery consumption and achieve low-power control. Therefore, the use of spiking neural networks (SNNs) with neuromorphic chips enables low-power control of soft robots. In this study, we investigated the learning methods for SNNs aimed at controlling soft robots. Experiments were conducted using a caterpillar-like soft robot model based on previous studies, and the effectiveness of the learning method was evaluated.

An Empirical and Deep Learning Investigation of Working Conditions and Musculoskeletal Outcomes in Wheat Farmers

Background: In developing countries, various farming activities are performed manually with the help of traditional hand tools. Therefore, agriculture is recognized as one of the risky occupations Objective: This research study aims to identify the critical working conditions of wheat farmers in Rajasthan state, India. Method: Data were collected through the survey conducted on 75 randomly selected wheat farmers of Rajasthan. The survey questionnaire gathered information related to demographic, occupational, and musculoskeletal discomfort faced by the farmers. In addition, a deep learning-based posture detection study of the workers was performed to assess the postural risks through a rapid upper limb assessment score. Result: The collected data were analyzed further for fruitful insights. The survey outcomes showed that awkward posture (41%) and repetitive movement (35%) were the most reported reasons for the severe risks of musculoskeletal disorders among farmers. The posture evaluationbased study outcomes showed that approximately 51% of subjects lie in the action category 4, which shows the higher level of risks in the activities performed by farmers. Conclusion: It is suggested to apply the principles of physical ergonomics in the agriculture sector and spread awareness among the farmers about the agriculture risks associated with farming activities.