Construction of an osteomuscular discomfort scale for the upper region of the body of footwear industry workers

• Published in: International journal of industrial ergonomics 2020-11, Vol.80, p.103048, Article 103048
• Main Authors: Silva, Jonhatan Magno Norte da, Gontijo, Leila Amaral, Bornia, Antonio Cezar, Silva, Luiz Bueno da, Leite, Wilza Karla dos Santos, Vieira, Elamara Marama de Araujo, Torres, Manoel Gerônimo Lino
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical materials; Discomfort; Ergonomics; Factor analysis; Footwear; Footwear industry; Item response theory; Musculoskeletal symptoms; Occupational safety; Scale of discomfort; Workers
• ISSN: 0169-8141; 1872-8219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ergon.2020.103048

The objective of this study was to build a scale of musculoskeletal discomfort for the upper body of footwear industry workers. The self-reported symptoms of 1821 workers were analyzed via exploratory factor analysis and item response theory. The anatomical regions located in the upper body showed ability to discriminate workers with different levels of musculoskeletal discomfort. A scale with six levels was built, ranging from minimal discomfort to maximum discomfort, with greater precision of discomfort scores between 0 and 3. The region of least discomfort on the scale only indicates rare symptoms in the left shoulder. In the region of maximum discomfort, workers experience symptoms in all regions analyzed on a daily basis, with emphasis on the elbows, neck, trapezius, and middle and upper back. The scale has satisfactory psychometric properties to assess musculoskeletal symptoms in footwear industry workers and can be useful in ergonomic studies. •The musculoskeletal discomfort scale for the upper body has validity and good accuracy.•Symptoms of musculoskeletal pain located in the upper body are associated and generate a metric of discomfort.•The symptoms of musculoskeletal pain fit well with the theory of the response to the cumulative item.