Study of musculoskeletal disorders risk factors and discomfort in sculptors in the north of Mexico

Issue title: Work-related Pain

Guest editors: Karen Jacobs and Remko Soer

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Sortillón-González, Patricia Eugenia^{a; 1} | Maldonado-Macías, Aidé Aracely^{b; *} | Saénz-Zamarrón, David^{c; 2} | Hernandez-Arellano, Juan Luis^{d; 3} | De la Vega-Bustillos, Enrique Javier^{e; 4}

Affiliations: [a] Electric Engineering and Computing Department, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juarez, México | [b] Industrial Engineering and Manufacturing Department, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juarez, México | [c] Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México, Ciudad Cuauhtemoc, México | [d] Industrial Design Department, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico | [e] Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México, Hermosillo, México

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Aidé Aracely Maldonado-Macías, E-mail: amaldona@uacj.mx. ORCID: 0000-0002-4959-161X.

Note: [1] ORCID: 0000-0002-9716-6693.

Note: [2] ORCID: 0000-0002-5045-4997.

Note: [3] ORCID: 0000-0002-8612-5132.

Note: [4] ORCID: 0000-0002-0761-6858.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The sculpting craft must adopt awkward postures that lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort (MD) and its associations with postural risk factors, demographics, and work characteristics among sculptors. They were determined the differences between MDs during the weeks of the study. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted; MD was investigated using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ). Posture was assessed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment method (RULA). Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) models analyzed associations with different factors. ANOVA was used to test for differences in MD prevalence. RESULTS: The analysis included 585 responses by body region. The prevalence of MD was high in the lower and upper limbs among sculptors (67.6%), with the lower back, upper arm, neck, and knees being the four most affected regions. Gender (female) (OR = 2.15), marital status (married) (OR = 1.80), health risk (obesity), the dual of a secondary job (OR = 1.94), job stress (OR = 2.10), duration of work (OR = 2.01), and difficulty keeping up with work (OR = 2.00) were significant predictors contributing to the occurrence of MD in different body regions. Only shoulder MD prevalence showed significant differences between study weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Sculptors suffer from MD. Demographic and work characteristic factors influence MD prevalence. Postural training, improved adaptation of work organization, and intervention guidance on ergonomic risks may reduce the prevalence of MD and the risk of MSDs in this population.

Keywords: Musculoskeletal pain, posture, art, ergonomics, prevalence, health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220535

Journal: Work, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 55-72, 2024