Objectives:The most frequent manner of attending childbirth imposes on midwives assuming poor body position affecting the musculoskeletal system. Long professional experience does not mitigate the negative effects. The adopted movement habit, as well as the type, number and frequency of actions influence the body posture. The aim of the study was to identify ergonomic threats of basic occupational midwives activities and how particular spinal segments arrangements while attending childbirth using the same technique in senior midwives differ from those of junior ones. It was also checked whether pain influences the working position assumed by midwives. Materials and Methods: Examinations were conducted in 95 midwives aged 21-50 (X = 29.25±9.34): 51 graduates of BSc midwifery who worked 680 h in delivery rooms during obligatory practical classes and apprenticeship and 44 senior midwives with professional experience of 7-27 years (X = 14.84±5.98). The study was threefold. The spinal alignment while performing work activities associated with attending childbirth was assessed using the OWAS system and the SonoSens Monitor, the center of gravity projection on basal plane -using the AccuGait AMTI stabilometric platform. The measurements were taken during a simulation of attending childbirth (on examination model). A survey was conducted aimed at identifying spinal pain. Results: Midwives' working postures require unnatural body alignments. Postural instability in the working position and no maximal usage of basal plane were observed. The work overload may afflict the musculoskeletal system, which was confirmed by different pain discomforts in 67.3% of the examinees. Conclusions: Spinal alignment while attending childbirth is individually differentiated and in every case non-ergonomic. Identifying explicitly spinal overloads is difficult, but the most prevalent ones affect lumbar and cervical regions altogether. Spinal pain is frequently noted, both in junior and senior midwives, and is characteristic for midwives working in maximal movement ranges. occupational duties involve various tasks. Excluding those connected with nursing care it may be generalized that a continual and a recurrent component of their work is attending childbirth. A characteristic feature of midwives' work is the requirement of adopting a specific body position which has adverse effects on their musculoskeletal system. This motivates for seeking the causes of locomotor system overloads and finding possibilities to alleviate them. OBJECTIVESThe aim of the study was to identify ergonomic hazards associated with routine basic occupational activities performed by midwives and how particular spinal segments arrangements while attending childbirth using the same technique differ in senior midwives from those of the young graduates of BSc midwifery. It was also checked whether experiencing pain influences the working position of midwives. MATERIALS AND METHODSExaminations were conducted in 95 midwives aged 21-50 (X = 29.25±9.34). There were 51 g...
An incorrect body posture (especially scoliosis) and performance of work-related tasks in non-ergonomic positions increase the probability of back pain.
The purpose of the research was to evaluate the efficiency of body balance regulation in the elderly and verify whether physical activity in adolescence could influence later physical efficiency. Research was carried out on 62 persons aged between 65 and 96 years of age. Fifty people declared that they undertook physical activity in adolescence, while 12 reported no activity. Stabilographic examinations were performed during trials with open and closed eyes on a horizontally situated platform tilted forward and backward. The centre-of-pressure (COP) path length, sway range area and centre-of-pressure velocity (COP velocity) were assessed. The safety margin when a person leans forward and backward was evaluated as well. On a horizontally situated platform, exclusion of visual control in most of the examined participants resulted in a significant increase in values of examined parameters. Tilting the platform caused in both groups an increase in values of all the parameters. These changes were more visible when a trial with eyes closed was performed and the group of active people obtained better results. These people were also able to use the support area more effectively when changing the position of the body. It was found that body balance disorder affects more often elderly people who were less active in adolescence and that with age visual balance control dominates the proprioceptive one. This means that physical activity directed towards, among other things, forming and improving the body balance regulation system is needed at an early age.
1. Long-term daily care of children with cerebral palsy promotes the development of back pain in their mothers. 2. The incidence and intensity of pain depends primarily on the child's functional status and independence level, body weight, age, the need for repeatedly lifting the disabled child throughout the day and the number of additional tasks performed by the mother.
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