The etiology of musculoskeletal disorders is complex, with physical and psychosocial working conditions playing an important role. This study aimed to determine the relationship between psychosocial work conditions, such as psychological job demands, decision latitude, social support and job insecurity and musculoskeletal complains (MSCs) and (repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) in a 1-year prospective study. The job content questionnaire, the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and provocation tests were used to study 725 employees aged 20–70 years. Pain in the lower back (58 % of subjects), neck (57 %), wrists/hands (47 %) and upper back (44 %) was most frequent. The carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) (33.6 %), rotator cuff tendinitis (15.4 %), Guyon’s canal syndrome (13.4 %), lateral epicondylitis (7.6 %), medial epicondylitis (5.3 %), tendinitis of forearm–wrist extensors (7.8 %) and tendinitis of forearm–wrist flexors (7.3 %) were the most frequent RSIs. Logistic analysis showed that increased psychological job demands statistically significantly increased the probability of lateral and medial epicondylitis, and increased control (decision latitude) statistically significantly decreased the risk of CTS. There was no relationship between job insecurity, social support and the studied RSIs. Psychosocial factors at work predict prevalence of MSCs and RSIs, irrespectively of demographic factors, e.g., age or gender, and organizational and physical factors.

The most prevalent faults in the organization of workstations were lack of a computer desk with an adjustable keyboard tray/drawer, no adjustment of chair armrests and no possibility to use an additional keyboard. The most frequent complaints among computer operators were headaches, low-back pain and neck pain. The use of an additional keyboard reduced the intensity of shoulder pain.

Sedentary behavior is defined as sitting or lying with low energy expenditure. Humans in industrialized societies spend an increasing amount of time in sedentary behaviors every day. This has been associated with detrimental health outcomes. Despite a growing interest in the health effects of sedentary behavior at work, associations remain unclear, plausibly due to poor and diverse methods for assessing sedentary behavior. Thus, good practice guidance for researchers and practitioners on how to assess occupational sedentary behavior are needed. The aim of this paper is to provide a practical guidance for practitioners and researchers on how to assess occupational sedentary behavior. Ambulatory systems for use in field applications (wearables) are a promising approach for sedentary behavior assessment. Many different small-size consumer wearables, with long battery life and high data storage capacity are commercially available today. However, no stand-alone commercial system is able to assess sedentary behavior in accordance with its definition. The present paper offers decision support for practitioners and researchers in selecting wearables and data collection strategies for their purpose of study on sedentary behavior. Valid and reliable assessment of occupational sedentary behavior is currently not easy. Several aspects need to be considered in the decision process on how to assess sedentary behavior. There is a need for development of a cheap and easily useable wearable for assessment of occupational sedentary behavior by researchers and practitioners.

The goal of the study was assessment of the hour-long training involving handling virtual environment (sVR) and watching a stereoscopic 3D movie on the mechanisms of autonomic heart rate (HR) regulation among the subjects who were not predisposed to motion sickness. In order to exclude predispositions to motion sickness, all the participants (n=19) underwent a Coriolis test. During an exposure to 3D and sVR the ECG signal was continuously recorded using the Holter method. For the twelve consecutive 5-min epochs of ECG signal, the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) in time and frequency domains was conducted. After 30 min from the beginning of the training in handling the virtual workstation a significant increase in LF spectral power was noted. The values of the sympathovagal LF/HF index while sVR indicated a significant increase in sympathetic predominance in four time intervals, namely between the 5th and the 10th minute, between the 15th and the 20th minute, between the 35th and 40th minute and between the 55th and the 60th minute of exposure.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to identify major determinants for neck and lower back pain (LBP) among office workers of different ages. Methods. Computer workers (N = 2000) responded to a questionnaire on demographics, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), lifestyle characteristics, ergonomics of computer work and psychosocial and physical job characteristics. Results. Over 48% of respondents complained of MSDs last year, in particular neck pain and LBP. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that prolonged computer time (odds ratio [OR] 1.92) and increased job demands (OR 1.06) were likely to increase the risk of neck pain, while social support (OR 0.96) and the use of seat-plate height adjustment (OR 0.64) would help to reduce the risk. Risk factors for LBP included smoking more than 14 cigarettes a day (OR 2.21), long hours spent working with a computer (OR 1.94), increased physical exertion at work (OR 1.29), increased work demands (OR 1.03) and older age (OR 1.03). Conclusions. The most effective way to eliminate MSD hazards in the workplace is to develop health programmes aimed at advocating healthy lifestyle behaviours and raising workers' awareness of workstation ergonomics and work organization, especially for women and older workers.

Praca w pozycji siedzącej, mimo że nie wymaga dużego wysiłku fizycznego, wykonywana przez długi czas i w niewłaściwy sposób może powodować dolegliwości układu mięśniowo-szkieletowego. Są one problemem powszechnym w populacji osób pracujących. W artykule przedstawiono analizę wybranego piśmiennictwa dotyczącego występowania dolegliwości mięśniowo-szkieletowych u operatorów komputerowych. Szczególną uwagę zwrócono na ich klasyfikację i przyczyny. Omówiono także najnowsze doniesienia dotyczące ich występowania i kosztów, jakie generują, wpływając na niezdolność pracownika do pracy oraz jego absencję chorobową.

Zjawisko nieefektywnej obecności w pracy (prezenteizm), definiowane jako przyjście do pracy pomimo choroby, jest stosunkowo nowym zagadnieniem. Zjawisko to rozważane jest w wielu aspektach-zdrowotnym, społecznym czy wydajności pracy. W artykule przedstawiono analizę piśmiennictwa w zakresie problemu nieefektywnej obecności w pracy. Omówiono dostępne w literaturze definicje zjawiska, zwrócono uwagę na przyczyny jego powstawania, a także związki z absencją chorobową i występowaniem takich chorób, jak alergia, depresja, migrena / bóle głowy, zapalenie stawów czy problemy żołądkowo-jelitowe. Ponieważ nieefektywna obecność w pracy uznawana jest za jedno z największych obciążeń finansowych i społecznych, w ostatniej części pracy podjęto się próby oszacowania kosztów ekonomicznych, jakie generuje.

StreszczenieAktywność fizyczna jest ważnym czynnikiem mającym znaczenie w poprawie i utrzymaniu dobrego stanu zdrowia. Mimo że jest to zagadnienie istotne nie tylko dla środowiska pracy, to właśnie to środowisko stanowi dobre warunki do prowadzenia i utrwalania zachowań prozdrowotnych, w tym również programów promujących aktywność fizyczną. W artykule przedstawiono analizę piśmiennictwa dotyczącego skuteczności prowadzenia tego typu działań w miejscu pracy. Szczególną uwagę zwrócono na wpływ programów promujących aktywność fizyczną na dolegliwości mięśniowo-szkieletowe, absencję chorobową, zdolność do pracy, wydolność fizyczną oraz masę ciała uczestników. Mając na uwadze to, że w Polsce tego typu programy nadal są prowadzone na niewielką skalę, starano się pokazać korzyści wynikające z realizowania tego typu inicjatyw oraz uczestnictwa w nich. Med. Pr. 2017;68(2):277-301Słowa kluczowe: aktywność fizyczna, program interwencyjny, interwencja w miejscu pracy, dolegliwości mięśniowo-szkieletowe, program corporate wellness, zdolność do pracy AbstractA physical activity is a key factor contributing to the improvement and maintenance of one's general health. Although this issue is by no means limited to the workplace, it is precisely the work environment that can provide the basis for keeping and reinforcing more health-conscious attitudes and lifestyles, including programs promoting a physical activity. The paper presents an analysis of the literature on the effectiveness of physical activity intervention at the workplace. Particular attention is paid to the impact of the physical activity programs on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, work ability, physical capacity and body weight of the participants. Given a marginal extent of programs of this kind in Poland, the authors' intention was to show the benefits resulting from implementation of and participation in such initiatives. Med Pr 2017;68(2):277-301