Correlation between standing posture during work and low back and lower limb pain among cleaners and caregivers of older adults

Author(s)

Gabriel Aguiar de Souza ^[1] ; Viviane de Freitas Cardoso ^[2] ; Fernanda Cabegi de Barros ^[3] ; Luiz Henrique Pessôa da Costa Trondoli ^[4] ; Cristiane Shinohara Moriguchi ^[5] ; Tatiana de Oliveira Sato ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Federal de São Carlos - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Federal de São Carlos - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Federal de São Carlos - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Federal de São Carlos - Brasil

^[5] Universidade Federal de São Carlos - Brasil

^[6] Universidade Federal de São Carlos - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Fisioter. Pesqui.; v. 29, n. 2, p. 138-144, 2022-08-29.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Maintaining a standing posture during work has been associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Few studies, however, assess the standing time using objective measures. Thus, this study aimed to verify whether standing time at work is associated with lower back and lower limb pain in the last seven days and last 12 months in caregivers of older adults and cleaners. This is a cross-sectional study. Standing time at work was quantified using inclinometers attached to the workers’ thigh and spine. Musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the point-biserial correlation coefficient (rpb) between standing time at work and the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The analyses were performed using the SPSS software, adopting 5% significance level. Workers spend most of their time standing still (41.3%) or walking (39.3%). The presence of symptoms in the lower back was positively correlated with standing time (rpb=0.52; p<0.05). Walking time was negatively correlated with symptoms at the hip in the last 12 months (rpb=−0.53; p<0.05) and running time with symptoms at the hip, in the last seven days, (rpb=−0.43; p<0.05) and the lower back (rpb=−0.43; p<0.05). Longer standing time was correlated with the presence of symptoms in the lower back. Meanwhile, less time walking and running were correlated with the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the hips and lower back. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/18144-2 - Correlation between the exposure time in standing position at work and the pain occurrence in lower limbs of cleaning workers and caregivers of elderly
• Grantee: Gabriel Aguiar de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation