The results of this review indicate detrimental health consequences associated with high level occupational physical activity in men, even when adjusting for relevant factors (such as leisure time physical activity). These findings suggest that research and physical activity guidelines may differentiate between occupational and leisure time physical activity.
Worldwide, millions of office workers use a computer. Reports of adverse health effects due to computer use have received considerable media attention. This systematic review summarises the evidence for a relationship between the duration of work time spent using the computer and the incidence of hand-arm and neck-shoulder symptoms and disorders. Several databases were systematically searched up to 6 November 2005. Two reviewers independently selected articles that presented a risk estimate for the duration of computer use, included an outcome measure related to handarm or neck-shoulder symptoms or disorders, and had a longitudinal study design. The strength of the evidence was based on methodological quality and consistency of the results. Nine relevant articles were identified, of which six were rated as high quality. Moderate evidence was concluded for a positive association between the duration of mouse use and hand-arm symptoms. For this association, indications for a dose-response relationship were found. Risk estimates were in general stronger for the hand-arm region than for the neck-shoulder region, and stronger for mouse use than for total computer use and keyboard use. A pathophysiological model focusing on the overuse of muscles during computer use supports these differences. Future studies are needed to improve our understanding of safe levels of computer use by measuring the duration of computer use in a more objective way, differentiating between total computer use, mouse use and keyboard use, attaining sufficient exposure contrast, and collecting data on disability caused by symptoms.
Interventions to reduce sedentary behavior and increase physical activity during productive work: a systematic review by Commissaris DACM, Huysmans MA, Mathiassen SE, Srinivasan D, Koppes LLJ, Hendriksen IJM This systematic review on interventions intended to change workers' sedentary behavior or physical activity is the first to focus on initiatives that can be implemented during productive work and that change behavior while workers perform their usual jobs. Thus, the review offers decision support when selecting effective interventions for improved health and well-being that are compatible with maintained production.Key terms: activity-permissive workstation; alternative workstation; best-evidence synthesis; intervention; personalized behavioral intervention; physical activity; physical inactivity; productive work; review; sedentary behavior; sitting; stair use; systematic review; workplace This article in PubMed: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26683116 Additional materialPlease note that there is additional material available belonging to this article on the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health -website. Scand J Work Environ Health 2016, vol 42, no 3 181Review Scand J Work Environ Health 2016;42(3):181-191. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3544 Interventions to reduce sedentary behavior and increase physical activity during productive work: a systematic review by Dianne ACM Commissaris, PhD,1,2,3 Maaike A Huysmans, PhD,4, 5 Svend Erik Mathiassen, Professor, 2 Divya Srinivasan, PhD, 2 Lando LJ Koppes, PhD,1,6 Ingrid JM Hendriksen, PhD 1,5 Commissaris DACM, Huysmans MA, Mathiassen SE, Srinivasan D, Koppes LLJ, Hendriksen IJM. Interventions to reduce sedentary behavior and increase physical activity during productive work: a systematic review. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2016;42(3): 181-191. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3544 Objectives Many current jobs are characterized by sedentary behavior (SB) and lack of physical activity (PA).This review addresses the effectiveness of workplace interventions that are implemented during productive work and are intended to change workers' SB and/or PA. MethodsWe searched Scopus for articles published from 1992 until 12 March 2015. Relevant studies were evaluated using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies and summarized in a best-evidence synthesis. Primary outcomes were SB and PA, both at work and overall (ie, during the whole day); work performance and health-related parameters were secondary outcomes. ResultsThe review included 40 studies describing 41 interventions organized into three categories: alternative workstations (20), interventions promoting stair use (11), and personalized behavioral interventions (10). Alternative workstations were found to decrease overall SB (strong evidence; even for treadmills separately); interventions promoting stair use were found to increase PA at work while personalized behavioral interventions increased overall PA (both with moderate evidence). There was moderate evidence to show alternative workstations influenced neithe...
ObjectivesIn both science and media, the adverse effects of a long duration of computer use at work on musculoskeletal health have long been debated. Until recently, the duration of computer use was mainly measured by self-reports, and studies using more objective measures, such as software-recorded computer duration, were lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the association between duration of computer use at work, measured with software and self-reports, and the onset of severe arm–wrist–hand and neck–shoulder symptoms.MethodsA 2-year follow-up study was conducted between 2004 and 2006 among 1951 office workers in The Netherlands. Self-reported computer duration and other risk factors were collected at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Computer use at work was recorded continuously with computer software for 1009 participants. Outcome questionnaires were obtained at baseline and every 3 months during follow-up. Cases were identified based on the transition within 3 months of no or minor symptoms to severe symptoms.ResultsSelf-reported duration of computer use was positively associated with the onset of both arm–wrist–hand (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.1 for more than 4 h/day of total computer use at work) and neck–shoulder symptoms (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.0 for more than 4 h/day of mouse use at work). The recorded duration of computer use did not show any statistically significant association with the outcomes.ConclusionsIn the present study, no association was found between the software-recorded duration of computer use at work and the onset of severe arm–wrist–hand and neck–shoulder symptoms using an exposure window of 3 months. In contrast, a positive association was found between the self-reported duration of computer use at work and the onset of severe arm–wrist–hand and neck–shoulder symptoms. The different findings for recorded and self-reported computer duration could not be explained satisfactorily.
We are the first to describe a research framework for prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in which different research disciplines are linked. This framework can help to improve theories and strengthen the development and implementation of prevention strategies for work-related MSD. Original article Scand J Work Environ Health. 2017;43(6):526-539. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3671 A research framework for the development and implementation of interventions preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders Objectives Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are highly prevalent and put a large burden on (working) society. Primary prevention of work-related MSD focuses often on physical risk factors (such as manual lifting and awkward postures) but has not been too successful in reducing the MSD burden. This may partly be caused by insufficient knowledge of etiological mechanisms and/or a lack of adequately feasible interventions (theory failure and program failure, respectively), possibly due to limited integration of research disciplines. A research framework could link research disciplines thereby strengthening the development and implementation of preventive interventions. Our objective was to define and describe such a framework for multi-disciplinary research on work-related MSD prevention. Affiliation MethodsWe described a framework for MSD prevention research, partly based on frameworks from other research fields (ie, sports injury prevention and public health). ResultsThe framework is composed of a repeated sequence of six steps comprising the assessment of (i) incidence and severity of MSD, (ii) risk factors for MSD, and (iii) underlying mechanisms; and the (iv) development, (v) evaluation, and (vi) implementation of preventive intervention(s). ConclusionsIn the present framework for optimal work-related MSD prevention, research disciplines are linked. This framework can thereby help to improve theories and strengthen the development and implementation of prevention strategies for work-related MSD.
ObjectivePhysical activity (PA) has substantial benefits across a range of health outcomes. There is uncertainty about the PA-specific health effects, and in particular, the occupational domain. In this umbrella review, we synthesised available evidence on the associations between occupational PA (OPA) and health-related outcomes (including cancer, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease). This work informed the development of WHO’s guidelines on PA and sedentary behaviour (2020).DesignUmbrella review of systematic reviews.Data sourceWe performed a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL and Sportdiscuss from database inception to 2 December 2019.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesWe included systematic reviews if they contained a quantitative assessment of OPA and its relationship with at least one health-related outcome.ResultsWe summarised the evidence of 17 reviews covering 23 unique health-related outcomes. We graded most evidence as low or very low, or moderate quality. We found health benefits for those engaging in high versus low OPA for multiple cancer outcomes (including colon and prostate), ischaemic stroke, coronary heart disease and mental health (ie, mental well-being and life satisfaction). High OPA was associated with unfavourable health outcomes for all-cause mortality in men, mental ill health (ie, depression and anxiety), osteoarthritis, and sleep quality and duration.ConclusionsWe found favourable associations for most health-related outcomes with high OPA levels, but we also found some evidence for unfavourable associations due to high OPA levels. At this point, there is a need for better quality evidence to provide a unequivocal statement on the health effects of OPA.
In the current study the relationship between objective measurements and subjective experienced comfort and discomfort in using hand saws was examined. 12 carpenters evaluated five different hand saws. Objective measures of contact pressure (average pressure, pressure area and P-t integral) in static and dynamic conditions, muscle activity (EMG) of five muscles of the upper extremity, and productivity were obtained during a sawing task. Subjective comfort and discomfort were assessed using the Comfort Questionnaire for Hand tools and a scale for Local Perceived Discomfort (LPD). We did not find any relationship between muscle activity and comfort or discomfort. The P-t integral during the static measurement (beta=-0.24, p<.01) was the best predictor of comfort and the pressure area during static measurement was the best predictor of local perceived discomfort (beta=0.45, p<.01). Additionally, productivity was highly correlated to comfort (beta=0.31, p<.01) and discomfort (beta=-0.49, p<.01).
Preventive interventions at the population level should be aimed at changing modifiable risk factors with large PAFs. At the individual level, preventive interventions should be aimed at changing multiple modifiable risk factors simultaneously.
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