Abstract
Objective
To determine if there are differences in functional capacity and work ability between older and younger active workers in public institutions, and to relate functional capacity to work ability.
Methods
This cross-sectional study evaluated 360 subjects from two public institutions, a university and a high-complexity regional hospital. The participants were divided into 3 age ranges 40–49, 50–59 and ≥ 60 years. The following evaluations were applied: a multidimensional assessment questionnaire, work ability and functional capacity using physical tests (strength, flexibility and balance).
Results
There are no significant differences in work ability among the different age groups (P > 0.05). Significant differences were found according to age group in 30-s chair-stand test (30-s CST), 1 repetition maximum (1RM) extending the knee 90° (1RM-leg extension) and 1RM of handgrip strength (1RM-handgrip), upper body flexibility, lower body flexibility, static balance or dynamic balance (P < 0.05). Only the variables 30-s CST (rs = 0.13, P = 0.018), lower body flexibility (rs = 0.13, P = 0.012) and static balance (rs = 0.13, P = 0.012) were related to work ability.
Conclusions
There are differences in functional capacity as the workers’ ages increase. By contrast, work ability does not present any differences when comparing older and younger adults. Some physical tests of the lower extremities presented a small correlation with work ability.
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Data availability
GNM-N initiated and coordinated the study, led data collection and wrote the first draft of the manuscript jointly with FJS-R and CB-S; GNM-N and CB-S carried out the statistical analysis; FJS-R, VC-O, CH, PS, led data collection; GNM-N and CM-P jointly supervised and coordinated data collection. In addition, all authors provided feedback on the initial draft manuscript and agreed to the final changes.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Dr. Leticia Miller and Norma Peralta of the Republic of Argentina for having facilitating the Work Ability Index in its Spanish version. They also thank the Risk Prevention units of the Hospital Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena (Eng. Nataly Martínez and her work group), the Universidad de La Frontera (Eng. Katipza Yaksic and her work group), the Direction of Investigation of the Universidad de La Frontera (DIUFRO) project numbers SSS17-0001 and SSS17-0002 and the Direction of Innovation and Transference Technological of the Universidad de La Frontera (DITT) (management coordinators: Ana Julia Fernández and Nadia Catalán). The authors thank the students in the Physiotherapy programme at the University of La Frontera for their help in data collection: Bastián Sáez, Mauricio Salazar, Sofía Tapia and María José Uribe. Thanks to Dr. Helen M. Lowry for proofreading the article.
Funding
This study was financed by the Chilean Institute for Safety in the Workplace (IST in Spanish, Instituto de Seguridad del Trabajo) (ID#9, “Capacidad de trabajo y pruebas funcionales en adultos mayores chilenos laboralmente activos”, 2017–2020).
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Gabriel Nasri Marzuca-Nassr, Francisco Soto, Claudio Bascour, Victor Cofré, Cristóbal Hermosilla, Pablo Sepúlveda and Claudio Muñoz declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Marzuca-Nassr, G.N., Soto-Rodríguez, F.J., Bascour-Sandoval, C. et al. Influence of age on functional capacity and work ability in Chilean workers: a cross-sectional study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 94, 1307–1315 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01674-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01674-2