Work Related Risk Factors for Neck Pain Among Library Professionals in Academic Library
June 23, 2009 by Accounts Receivable Factoring
Filed under About Factoring
Introduction
In the general population, work related neck pain and dysfunction are common, affecting up to 67% of the general population at some time during their life. Neck pain may arise from any of the innervated structures in the neck, such as intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments, zygapophyseal joints, and dura or nerve roots. However in the majority of cases, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neck pain are unclear. Such "non-specific" neck problems are costly in terms of disability and work loss. Estimates indicate that the economic consequences of treating disabling chronic neck pain are significant.
It has been reported that the prevalence of work related neck pain among Library Professionals is much higher than in the general population. The costs to the worker, employer and society associated with work-related neck pain are known to be considerable and are escalating. The factors that place library professionals at greater risk of developing neck pain are not understood. Therefore the present study was conducted to study the incidence and risk factors of work-related neck pain among Library Professionals in Academic Library in and around Chennai.
Significance and need of the study
Many studies have investigated the relationship between neck pain and working conditions. Previous research has identified that people working in offices are a specific population at high risk of developing neck pain, with one year prevalence rates much higher than in the general population. While neck pain is generally believed to be of multifactorial origin, it remains unclear which factors place office workers, in particular, at higher risk. Postulated factors in this occupational group include: individual factors (e.g. sex), work environment factors (e.g. repetitive work, exposure level) psychosocial factors (e.g. stress,
high job demands, and low decision latitude) and perceived muscular
tension.
Physical risk factors (such as prolonged sitting and neck flexion) have been identified as predictive of neck pain in the study of a mixed population of workers from various industry, health and professional settings. These and other physical factors (such as posture and neck muscle endurance) have not been prospectively investigated specifically among Library Professionals. Physical risk factors are useful to investigate as they are potentially reversible with exercise-based intervention. It has been argued that both physical and psychosocial contributors to work-related neck pain need to be assessed, to evaluate their relative contribution to the onset of work-related musculoskeletal pain. Such studies are lacking, especially in a population of Library professionals. The incidence and risk factors for work-related neck pain among library professionals especially in Indian context remain unknown. Hence the present study was undertaken.
Objectives of the study
The aims of this study were to determine risk factors that predict neck pain among Library professionals working in Academic Library in and around Chennai city, and to attain an estimate of the incidence of neck pain among the selected population.
Materials and Methods
Expost facto research design was adopted as the researcher had no control over what has happened. 50 library professionals working in academic environment at Chennai were randomly selected for the study for the measurement of potential risk factors. The categories of risk factors being evaluated were physical (cervical spine posture, range of movement, muscle endurance and exercise frequency), demographic (age, sex), work environment (sitting duration, frequency of breaks) and psychosocial (psychological distress and psychosocial work factors).
Recruitment
A convenience sample of 50 participants was drawn from a population of library professionals from the academic environment. This sample of convenience was chosen because library professionals were shown to have higher prevalence of neck pain than the general community. Sampling was achieved by using a randomization schedule which was computer generated.
Results and findings
The results of the present study are presented under the following headings.
Prevalence of neck pain among library professionals
Table 1 shows prevalence of neck pain among Library Professionals librarians.
TABLE-1
PREVALENCE OF NECK PAIN AMONG LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS
SECTIONS
PERCENTAGE
TOTAL
%
MALE
FEMALE
Reference section
4
8
12
Circulation section
6
30
36
Technical section
4
4
8
TOTAL
14
42
56
The prevalence of neck pain among library professionals as founb to be 56 percent. Those who were working in circulation section expressed the incidence more than the staff working inother sections.Gender wiseanalysis revealed that females sufferedmore neck pain compared to males. This indicates that these staff require behaviour modifications to reduce pain in neck.
Risk factors of neck pain among Library Professionals
Risk factors of neck pain among Library Professionals are given in the table-2.
TABLE-2
RISK FACTORS OF NECK PAIN AMONG LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS
RISK FACTORS
PERCENTAGE
Wrong Neck posture
72
Age above 40 years
45
Female gender
56
Presence of psychological distress
60
Increased duration of daily sitting at work
58
Inadequate breaks during work
68
Lack of exercise
41
Note: Total exceeds 100 due to multiple responses
Wrong neck posture was found to be the main risk factor for neck pain followed by inadequate breaks, presence of psychological distress, increased duration of daily sitting at work and being female.
Conclusion
The prevalence of neck pain among library professionals was found to be 56 percent. Wrong neck posture, inadequate breaks, presence of psychological distress, increased duration of daily sitting at work and female gender were the risk factors among the library professionals. The results of this study would be useful for determination of factors that predict neck pain among Library Professionals that would be critical in the development of preventative workplace interventions and potentially occupational health and safety policy.
References
1. Cote P, Cassidy DJ, Carroll L: The Saskatchewan health and back pain survey. The prevalence of neck pain and related disability in Saskatchewan adults. Spine 1998, 23:1689-1698.
2. Lau EMC, Sham A, Wong KC: The prevalence and risk factors for neck pain in Hong Kong Chinese. J Public Health Med 1996, 18:396-399.
3. Bogduk N: Neck pain: an update. Aust Fam Physician 1998, 17:75-80.
4. Aker PD, Gross AR, Goldsmith H, Peloso P: Conservative management of mechanical neck pain: systematic overview and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal 1996, 313:1291-1296.
5. Borghouts JA, Koes BW, Vondeling H: Cost-of-illness of neck pain in the Netherlands in 1996. Pain 1999, 80:629-636.
6. Chiu TTW, Ku WY, Lee MH, Sum MH, Wan MP, Wong CY, Yuen CK: A study on the prevalence of and risk factors for neck pain among university academic staff in Hong Kong. J Occ Rehab 2002, 12:77-91.
7. Kamwendo K, Linton SJ, Moritz U: Neck and shoulder disorders in medical secretaries. Part 1. Pain prevalence and risk factors.
Scand J Rehabil Med 1991, 23:127-133.
8. Ariëns GAM, Bongers PM, Douwes M, Miedema MC, Hoogendoorn WE, van der Wal G, Bouter L, van Mechelen W: Are neck flexion, neck rotation and sitting at work risk factors for neck pain? Results of a prospective cohort study. Occup Environ Med 2001, 58:200-207.
9. Linton SJ: A review of psychological risk factors in back and neck pain.
Spine 2000, 25:1148-1156.
10. Evans O, Patterson K: Predictors of neck and shoulder pain in non-secretarial computer users. Int J Ind Ergon 2000, 26:357-365.
11. Korhonen T, Ketola R, Toivonen R, Luukonen R, Hakkanen M, Viikari-Juntura E: Work related and individual predictors for incident neck pain among office employees working with video display units.
Occup Environ Med 2003, 60:475-482.
12. Wahlström J, Hagberg M, Toomingas A, Tornqvist EW: Perceived muscular tension, job strain, physical exposure and associations with neck pain among VDU users; a prospective cohort study.
Occup Environ Med 2004, 61:523-528.
13. Ariëns GAM, Bongers PM, Hoogendoorn WE, Houtman ILD, van der Wal G, van Mechelen W: High quantitative job demands and low coworker support as risk factors for neck pain. Spine 2001, 17:1896-1903.
14. Jull G, Trott P, Potter H, Zito G, Niere K, Shirley D, Emberson J, Marschner I, Richardson C: A Randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache. Spine 2002, 27:1835-1843.
15. Volinn E, Punnett L: Point of view. Spine 2001, 26:1902-1903.
16. De Vet H, Heymans M, Dunn K, Pope DP, van der Beek AJ, Macfarlane GJ, Bouter L, Croft PR: Episodes of back pain: A proposal for uniform definitions to be used in research. Spine 2002, 27:2409-2416.
Thanks to sankarvenkat for contributing this article to our Factoring blog:
In the general population, work related neck pain and dysfunction are common, affecting up to 67% of the general population at some time during their life. Neck pain may arise from any of the innervated structures in the neck, such as intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments, zygapophyseal joints, and dura or nerve roots. However in the majority of cases, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neck pain are unclear. Such "non-specific" neck problems are costly in terms of disability and work loss. Estimates indicate that the economic consequences of treating disabling chronic neck pain are significant.
It has been reported that the prevalence of work related neck pain among Library Professionals is much higher than in the general population. The costs to the worker, employer and society associated with work-related neck pain are known to be considerable and are escalating. The factors that place library professionals at greater risk of developing neck pain are not understood. Therefore the present study was conducted to study the incidence and risk factors of work-related neck pain among Library Professionals in Academic Library in and around Chennai.
Significance and need of the study
Many studies have investigated the relationship between neck pain and working conditions. Previous research has identified that people working in offices are a specific population at high risk of developing neck pain, with one year prevalence rates much higher than in the general population. While neck pain is generally believed to be of multifactorial origin, it remains unclear which factors place office workers, in particular, at higher risk. Postulated factors in this occupational group include: individual factors (e.g. sex), work environment factors (e.g. repetitive work, exposure level) psychosocial factors (e.g. stress,
high job demands, and low decision latitude) and perceived muscular
tension.
Physical risk factors (such as prolonged sitting and neck flexion) have been identified as predictive of neck pain in the study of a mixed population of workers from various industry, health and professional settings. These and other physical factors (such as posture and neck muscle endurance) have not been prospectively investigated specifically among Library Professionals. Physical risk factors are useful to investigate as they are potentially reversible with exercise-based intervention. It has been argued that both physical and psychosocial contributors to work-related neck pain need to be assessed, to evaluate their relative contribution to the onset of work-related musculoskeletal pain. Such studies are lacking, especially in a population of Library professionals. The incidence and risk factors for work-related neck pain among library professionals especially in Indian context remain unknown. Hence the present study was undertaken.
Objectives of the study
The aims of this study were to determine risk factors that predict neck pain among Library professionals working in Academic Library in and around Chennai city, and to attain an estimate of the incidence of neck pain among the selected population.
Materials and Methods
Expost facto research design was adopted as the researcher had no control over what has happened. 50 library professionals working in academic environment at Chennai were randomly selected for the study for the measurement of potential risk factors. The categories of risk factors being evaluated were physical (cervical spine posture, range of movement, muscle endurance and exercise frequency), demographic (age, sex), work environment (sitting duration, frequency of breaks) and psychosocial (psychological distress and psychosocial work factors).
Recruitment
A convenience sample of 50 participants was drawn from a population of library professionals from the academic environment. This sample of convenience was chosen because library professionals were shown to have higher prevalence of neck pain than the general community. Sampling was achieved by using a randomization schedule which was computer generated.
Results and findings
The results of the present study are presented under the following headings.
Prevalence of neck pain among library professionals
Table 1 shows prevalence of neck pain among Library Professionals librarians.
TABLE-1
PREVALENCE OF NECK PAIN AMONG LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS
SECTIONS
PERCENTAGE
TOTAL
%
MALE
FEMALE
Reference section
4
8
12
Circulation section
6
30
36
Technical section
4
4
8
TOTAL
14
42
56
The prevalence of neck pain among library professionals as founb to be 56 percent. Those who were working in circulation section expressed the incidence more than the staff working inother sections.Gender wiseanalysis revealed that females sufferedmore neck pain compared to males. This indicates that these staff require behaviour modifications to reduce pain in neck.
Risk factors of neck pain among Library Professionals
Risk factors of neck pain among Library Professionals are given in the table-2.
TABLE-2
RISK FACTORS OF NECK PAIN AMONG LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS
RISK FACTORS
PERCENTAGE
Wrong Neck posture
72
Age above 40 years
45
Female gender
56
Presence of psychological distress
60
Increased duration of daily sitting at work
58
Inadequate breaks during work
68
Lack of exercise
41
Note: Total exceeds 100 due to multiple responses
Wrong neck posture was found to be the main risk factor for neck pain followed by inadequate breaks, presence of psychological distress, increased duration of daily sitting at work and being female.
Conclusion
The prevalence of neck pain among library professionals was found to be 56 percent. Wrong neck posture, inadequate breaks, presence of psychological distress, increased duration of daily sitting at work and female gender were the risk factors among the library professionals. The results of this study would be useful for determination of factors that predict neck pain among Library Professionals that would be critical in the development of preventative workplace interventions and potentially occupational health and safety policy.
References
1. Cote P, Cassidy DJ, Carroll L: The Saskatchewan health and back pain survey. The prevalence of neck pain and related disability in Saskatchewan adults. Spine 1998, 23:1689-1698.
2. Lau EMC, Sham A, Wong KC: The prevalence and risk factors for neck pain in Hong Kong Chinese. J Public Health Med 1996, 18:396-399.
3. Bogduk N: Neck pain: an update. Aust Fam Physician 1998, 17:75-80.
4. Aker PD, Gross AR, Goldsmith H, Peloso P: Conservative management of mechanical neck pain: systematic overview and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal 1996, 313:1291-1296.
5. Borghouts JA, Koes BW, Vondeling H: Cost-of-illness of neck pain in the Netherlands in 1996. Pain 1999, 80:629-636.
6. Chiu TTW, Ku WY, Lee MH, Sum MH, Wan MP, Wong CY, Yuen CK: A study on the prevalence of and risk factors for neck pain among university academic staff in Hong Kong. J Occ Rehab 2002, 12:77-91.
7. Kamwendo K, Linton SJ, Moritz U: Neck and shoulder disorders in medical secretaries. Part 1. Pain prevalence and risk factors.
Scand J Rehabil Med 1991, 23:127-133.
8. Ariëns GAM, Bongers PM, Douwes M, Miedema MC, Hoogendoorn WE, van der Wal G, Bouter L, van Mechelen W: Are neck flexion, neck rotation and sitting at work risk factors for neck pain? Results of a prospective cohort study. Occup Environ Med 2001, 58:200-207.
9. Linton SJ: A review of psychological risk factors in back and neck pain.
Spine 2000, 25:1148-1156.
10. Evans O, Patterson K: Predictors of neck and shoulder pain in non-secretarial computer users. Int J Ind Ergon 2000, 26:357-365.
11. Korhonen T, Ketola R, Toivonen R, Luukonen R, Hakkanen M, Viikari-Juntura E: Work related and individual predictors for incident neck pain among office employees working with video display units.
Occup Environ Med 2003, 60:475-482.
12. Wahlström J, Hagberg M, Toomingas A, Tornqvist EW: Perceived muscular tension, job strain, physical exposure and associations with neck pain among VDU users; a prospective cohort study.
Occup Environ Med 2004, 61:523-528.
13. Ariëns GAM, Bongers PM, Hoogendoorn WE, Houtman ILD, van der Wal G, van Mechelen W: High quantitative job demands and low coworker support as risk factors for neck pain. Spine 2001, 17:1896-1903.
14. Jull G, Trott P, Potter H, Zito G, Niere K, Shirley D, Emberson J, Marschner I, Richardson C: A Randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache. Spine 2002, 27:1835-1843.
15. Volinn E, Punnett L: Point of view. Spine 2001, 26:1902-1903.
16. De Vet H, Heymans M, Dunn K, Pope DP, van der Beek AJ, Macfarlane GJ, Bouter L, Croft PR: Episodes of back pain: A proposal for uniform definitions to be used in research. Spine 2002, 27:2409-2416.
Thanks to sankarvenkat for contributing this article to our Factoring blog:
