The formation of overload changes is a well-known concept. Numerous factors contributing to the development of progressive overload changes have also been described, including stress, performing repetitive movements, non-physiological working position, etc. [2][3][4]. Production line workers constitute an occupational group that is exposed to many of the above-mentioned risk factors. Therefore, the aim of our study is to establish the most common types of musculoskeletal overloads and to investigate the effect of upper extremity overload changes in the lumbosacral spine. A survey was conducted on 111 foundry and assembly workers. Information on the location, type and intensity (VAS scale) of pain was collected. The men also defined their job seniority, type of work, number of repetitive movements performed and knowledge of work ergonomics. Pain of the highest intensity was experienced by the workers in the lumbar and cervical spine and the shoulder joints. Results of the study also show that there is a correlation between lumbar and cervical pain on the one hand, and pain in subsequent joints of the upper extremity on the other. Repeated pain episodes may also reflect the progressive nature of the overload changes.
Purpose
Workers who perform repetitive movements are exposed to many risk factors leading to the occurrence of lumbar back pain. The aim of the research was to answer the question whether the ergonomic instruction conducted by a physiotherapist would change the tested range of motion of the segments of lumbar spine and the symmetry of the work of the torso and upper limbs muscles during work performed by foundry employees.
Methods
The study included 12 foundry production line workers with musculoskeletal pain. The workstation was built in the laboratory that perfectly simulates work on the production line. The workers performed two activities from their daily work, i.e. transferring and moving a casting. They were then given ergonomic instruction by a physiotherapist and performed the assigned tasks again. During the activities, the electromyographic signal from five muscles was recorded in terms of symmetry of their work. The maximum angular ranges of the motor segments of the lumbar spine were measured using gyroscopes.
Results
After the ergonomic instruction, the contralateral imbalance of muscle activity decreased statistically significantly during the first phase (p = 0.0004), second phase (p = 0.0002) and the third phase (p = 0.0069) of transferring the casting. While moving the casting , only erector spinae showed statistically significantly (p = 0.0131) more symmetrical work after the ergonomic instruction. During the transfer of the casting, statistically significantly lower values of the ranges of motion between the segments were obtained after carrying out the ergonomic instruction for the left (p = 0.0231) and right (p = 0.0032) lateral flexion. The ranges of movement between the segments differed statistically significantly for the flexion (p = 0.0117), extension (p = 0.0469) and left (p = 0.0031) and right lateral flexion movements (p = 0.0012).
Conclusion
Conducting ergonomic instruction consisting in teaching the correct performance of a movement task reduced the contralateral imbalance of muscle activity and changes the ranges of movement of L1-S1 segments. The task of optimizing the load on the musculoskeletal system, including the lumbar spine, should be carried out by means of appropriate ergonomic instruction and multi-pronged measures, including analysis of the health of employees, their working environment and physical activity outside the workplace. Electromyography and measurements of the range of movement of the lumbar spine appear to be good tools for the evaluation of workplace ergonomics.
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