Occupational risks and musculoskeletal complaints among industrial workers: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders result from the overuse of the musculoskeletal system and insufficient time for the structures to recover. They are generally characterized by chronic pain, paresthesia, feeling of heaviness and fatigue, especially in the upper extremities, concomitantly or not, with an insidious onset. Objectives: To characterize musculoskeletal complaints and occupational risks in workers with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of 60 participants in a Workers' Health Reference Center with clinical and imaging diagnosis of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The instrument used contained 30 questions about individual factors, occupational risks, and musculoskeletal abnormalities. The results were analyzed descriptively, and the chi-square test was used to assess associations with a significance level at p < 0.05. Data analysis was performed using BioEstat 5®. Results: Most participants were men (66.7%) working in the industrial sector. The most common complaint was pain (100%) in the shoulders (43.8%) and lumbar spine (22%), and the most common abnormalities were tendinopathies and intervertebral disc disorders. The following risk factors were identified: 8-hour workday (80%); repetitive gestures (86.7%); twisting (58.3%); bending (61.7%); standing (66.7%); manual work (96.7%); and 10-30 kg of weight handled (35%). Conclusions: A large number of workers exposed to biomechanical and organizational risks report musculoskeletal pain. Employers should check working conditions and adjust them, investing in health promotion and protection actions to effectively reduce the occurrence of these disorders.

Introdução: Os distúrbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho são decorrentes da utilização excessiva do sistema osteomuscular e da falta de tempo para recuperação dessas estruturas. Geralmente, são caracterizados por dor crônica, parestesia, sensação de peso e fadiga, sobretudo em membros superiores, concomitantes ou não, de aparecimento insidioso. Objetivos: Caracterizar as queixas osteomioarticulares e os riscos ocupacionais em trabalhadores portadores de distúrbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho. Métodos: Estudo observacional com análise transversal, realizado com 60 participantes em um Centro de Referência em Saúde do Trabalhador, com diagnóstico clínico e de imagem dos distúrbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho. O instrumento utilizado continha 30 questões sobre fatores individuais, riscos ocupacionais e alterações osteomusculares. Foram realizadas análises descritivas e, para avaliar as associações, foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado, considerando nível de significância p < 0,05. As análises foram realizadas no programa BioEstat 5®. Resultados: A amostra foi majoritariamente masculina (66,7%) e do setor industrial. A queixa mais relatada foi a dor (100%) nos ombros (43,8%) e região lombar da coluna (22%), e as alterações mais encontradas foram tendinopatias e transtornos nos discos vertebrais. Alguns fatores de risco identificados foram: jornada de trabalho de 8 horas (80%); realizar gestos repetitivos (86,7%); torções (58,3%); deslocamentos (61,7%); adotar a posição bípede (ortostática) do corpo (66,7%); trabalho manual (96,7%); transporte de peso entre 10 e 30 kg (35%). Conclusões: Um grande número de trabalhadores expostos a riscos biomecânicos e organizacionais relata dores musculoesqueléticas. Cabe aos empresários verificar as condições de trabalho e ajustá-las, investindo em ações de promoção e proteção à saúde, para efetivamente reduzir a ocorrência desses distúrbios.

Getting Into the Zone: A Pilot Study of Autonomic-Cardiac Modulation and Flow State During Piano Performance.

Background: Music performance anxiety is a common experience among elite and professional musicians and impedes performers from achieving flow state, or a state of focused, sustained engagement that promotes optimal performance. Objective: The aim of this study was to use heart rate variability (HRV) to determine the psychophysiological underpinnings of optimal music performance. Methods: We assessed HRV to study how autonomic-cardiac modulation was associated with flow during piano performance. Twenty-two pianists (15-22 years) with at least a Grade 8 Royal Conservatory of Music certification prepared two standardized pieces and a self-selected piece. Performer heart rate data were measured with a Polar 800 watch in 5-min periods immediately before performances, during performances and post-performance. HRV was employed to assess autonomic modulation of cardiac intervals. HRV indices of sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation of the heart were analyzed in 2.5-min segments to monitor short-term autonomic adjustments using the Kubios HRV Software. Flow state was measured using the 36-item Flow State Scale (FSS). Relationships were analyzed using zero-order correlations and multiple linear regressions. Results: Our sample consisted of 22 RCM Grade 8 certified pianists. Participants achieved the highest level of flow during performance of the Bach piece. Decreased HRV was observed during performance, as indicated by a significant drop in total power. Flow state was positively associated with High Frequency (HF) power during the pre-performance phase, and inversely associated with Low Frequency (LF) power during performance. Conclusion: Inverse association of flow with LF-HRV during performance affirms the importance of vagal-HR modulation for achievement of flow state. Increased HF-HRV and reduced LF-HRV immediately prior to performance suggests that flow state may be shaped as much by physiological preparation during pre-performance as it is by physiologic responses during performance. Further research is required to validate the correlation between autonomic modulation of the heart and flow state. Evidence of this correlation between autonomic modulation of the heart and achievement of flow state may pave the way for further research on enhancing musical performance and targeting MPA through HRV-based interventions.

Association between musculoskeletal pain and telework in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic: an integrative review.

Introduction: Telework has been an alternative for companies to remain active in the market during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic. Objectives: To analyze the mains scientific evidence on the association between musculoskeletal pain and home office work during the COVID 19 pandemic. Methods: This is an integrative review guided by the following question: can workers present musculoskeletal pain due to home office work during the COVID 19 pandemic? The searches were conducted on the bases de dados MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science, Taylor & Francis, Embase, LILACS and SciELO databases. The study included articles published from March 2020 until the time of data collection, which occurred on April 20th, 2021. Results: The main findings showed complaints of increased musculoskeletal pain, especially in the low back region, followed by neck, except for a study in which the participants increased the number of hours of physical activity during the pandemic. Increased sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, and increased physical load due to household chores seemed to promote the onset of musculoskeletal disorders. The point prevalence of neck pain was significantly related to age, sex, health status, job satisfaction, and length of employment. The findings provided evidence that the impact on work and leisure was substantial. Conclusions: The pandemic worsened the musculoskeletal health of workers in different areas whose work activities were kept at home in the remote mode. However, engagement in physical activity during confinement periods was beneficial for reducing the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain.