Application of the rapid upper limb assessment tool to assess the level of ergonomic risk among health care professionals: A systematic review

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Kakaraparthi, Venkata Nagaraj^{a; d; *} | Vishwanathan, Karthik^b | Gadhavi, Bhavana^c | Reddy, Ravi Shankar^d | Tedla, Jaya Shanker^d | Samuel, Paul Silvian^d | Dixit, Snehil^d | Alshahrani, Mastour Saeed^d | Gannamaneni, Vamsi Krishna^e

Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiotherapy, CR4D Unit of Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India | [b] Department of Orthopaedics, Parul Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India | [c] Department of Physiotherapy, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India | [d] Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia | [e] College of Applied Medical Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Hail University, Hail, KSA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Venkata Nagaraj Kakaraparthi, (Ph.D. Scholar), Department of Physiotherapy, CR4D Unit of Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India. E-mail: kvnagaraj13@yahoo.com.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and ergonomic risk factors are widespread problems in the healthcare sector. OBJECTIVE:The primary objective of this review is to evaluate the application of the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) tool in various healthcare professionals and to assess the level of ergonomic risk among them. METHODS:The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, SCIELO, DOAJ, PubMed, and PEDro were searched with terms associated with ergonomics, assessment, health care providers, risk factors, workplace, and RULA. We reviewed the literature from 2000 to 2020, including studies assessing RULA’s effectiveness for evaluating the WMSD’s and ergonomic risk in health care practitioners. We excluded the studies which were not open access and freely available. RESULTS:Overall, 757 records were screened; of these 40 potential studies, 13 different healthcare professionals were identified as eligible for inclusion. In most studies, the RULA tool was established as an effective tool in application and evaluating the level of the ergonomic risk among them. CONCLUSIONS:The RULA tool assessed the high ergonomic risk levels in dental professionals and low ergonomic risk levels in professionals working in the pharmacy department, clearly suggesting potential changes in work postures were necessary to prevent or reduce these risk factors.

Keywords: Ergonomics, assessment, musculoskeletal disease, health care providers, risk factors, workplace, RULA

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210239

Journal: Work, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 551-564, 2022