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A Risk Assessment Study on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Computer Users Based on A Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire

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Contemporary Methods in Bioinformatics and Biomedicine and Their Applications (BioInfoMed 2020)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 374))

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Abstract

We present a recent study on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) risk assessment in computer users. For this research, we developed a modification of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), where respondents are asked to report only about pain and musculoskeletal discomfort, which they consider linked to the prolonged work with a computer. The modified NMQ also collects information about the respondents’ opinion concerning the ergonomic aspects of their workplace. Based on the modified NMQ, we collected responses from 60 people who usually use PCs in their work routine. Based on the post-test discussions with the participants, we found out that the questionnaire brought an educational benefit because it made the participants aware of specific inappropriate habits and body postures. Specifically, the test provoked the participants to think about the trunk’s proper posture, upper and lower limbs, the distance to the screen, the position with respect to the keyboard, mouse, etc., which was perceived as beneficial and useful. Thought-provoking outcomes of our study are the conclusions that there is an urgent need for proper training of the average computer user on the health compliant work positions and healthy habits. Furthermore, energetic efforts are required to popularize good practices for the safe use of computers and related standards. The results obtained to this end motivate the development and promotion of adequate proactive measures for computer users’ long-term health preservation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by Bulgarian National Science Fund (BNSF), under grant contract FNI № KP-06-N37/1, entitled “Ergonomic research on work-related health problems by innovative computer models with a focus on the prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technical University of Varna, 1 Studentska str., Varna, Bulgaria

    Sonya Vachinska, Valentina Markova & Todor Ganchev

Authors
  1. Sonya Vachinska
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  2. Valentina Markova
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  3. Todor Ganchev
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Valentina Markova .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Technical Sciences, University Prof. D-r Asen Zlatarov, Burgas, Bulgaria

    Sotir S. Sotirov

  2. Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Tania Pencheva

  3. Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

    Janusz Kacprzyk

  4. Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Krassimir T. Atanassov

  5. Intelligent Systems Laboratory, University Prof. D-r Asen Zlatarov, Burgas, Bulgaria

    Evdokia Sotirova

  6. Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Galya Staneva

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Vachinska, S., Markova, V., Ganchev, T. (2022). A Risk Assessment Study on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Computer Users Based on A Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. In: Sotirov, S.S., Pencheva, T., Kacprzyk, J., Atanassov, K.T., Sotirova, E., Staneva, G. (eds) Contemporary Methods in Bioinformatics and Biomedicine and Their Applications. BioInfoMed 2020. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 374. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96638-6_45

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96638-6_45

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-96637-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-96638-6

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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