Time to re-think our strategy with musculoskeletal disorders and workstation ergonomics

Background The dramatic increase in visual display units (VDU) in the workplace over a 20-year period is linked to the increased prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).Objectives The objective of our study was to compare ergonomic risk factors and work-related psychosocial factors in VDU use...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The South African journal of physiotherapy 2021, Vol.77 (1), p.1490-1490
Main Authors: Redivo, Vanessa S, Olivier, Benita
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Displays (Marketing)
Effort-reward imbalance
Ergonomics
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Musculoskeletal disorders
Original Research
Psychosocial factors
ROSA
visual-display-unit users
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Summary:Background The dramatic increase in visual display units (VDU) in the workplace over a 20-year period is linked to the increased prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).Objectives The objective of our study was to compare ergonomic risk factors and work-related psychosocial factors in VDU users with and without MSD.Methods Participants, with and without MSD, working with VDU for more than 4 h a day completed the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the Effort-Reward Imbalance Model and Over-commitment Questionnaire. The workstation of each participant was assessed for ergonomic risk factors using the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA).Results Sixty-eight VDU users with and 68 without MSDs participated. The workstation ergonomic risk factors as measured with the ROSA were similar for the two groups: 4.5 ± 1.0 for the MSD group and 4.3 ± 0.8 for the reference group (p = 0.10). The work-related psychosocial factors, namely over-commitment, were higher in the MSD group (14.9 ± 3.1) than in the reference group (13.8 ± 3.4; p = 0.041).Conclusions As over-commitment is an indication of intrinsic factors and personal characteristics, the significant difference between the MSD group’s over-commitment score and that of the reference group suggests that interventions to empower individuals are needed.Clinical implications Physiotherapists should only adjust ergonomic workstation risk factors when established as contributory to MSD, and should be cognisant of work-related or individual psychosocial factors that may impact the patient with MSD. The use of ergonomic advice to patients with MSD should be performed with caution, taking all the work place risk factors for MSD into account.
ISSN:0379-6175
2410-8219
DOI:10.4102/sajp.v77i1.1490