Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Workstyle Risk Factors for Work Related Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Computer Professionals in India

  • Published:
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are common in computer professionals. Workstyle may be one of the risk factors in the development of musculoskeletal discomfort. The objective of this retrospective study was to examine the prevalence of adverse workstyle in computer professionals from India and to evaluate if workstyle factors were predictors of pain and loss of productivity. Methods Office workers from various information technology (IT) companies in India responded to the short-form workstyle questionnaire and pain questionnaire. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the associations between different variables followed by a multivariate logistic regression to understand the unique predictors of pain and loss of productivity. Results 4,500 participants responded to the workstyle and pain questionnaire. 22% of participants were reported to have a high risk of an adverse workstyle. 63% of participants reported pain symptoms. Social reactivity, lack of breaks, and deadlines/pressure subscales of workstyle questionnaire were significantly correlated with pain and loss of productivity. Regression analyses revealed that workstyle factors and duration of computer use per day were significant predictors of pain. Conclusion Workstyle seems to be a mediating factor for musculoskeletal pain, discomfort, and loss of productivity. Based on the study findings, it is recommended that intervention efforts directed towards prevention of musculoskeletal disorders should focus on psychosocial work factors such adverse workstyle in addition to biomechanical risk factors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bergqvist U, Knave B, Voss M, Wibom R. A longitudinal study of VDT work and health. Int J Hum-Computer Interact. 1992;4:197–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Andersen J, Kaergaard A, Mikkelsen S, Jensen U, Frost P, Bonde J. Risk factors in the onset of neck/shoulder pain in a prospective study of workers in industrial and service companies. Occup Environ Med. 2003;60:649–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Luis O-H, Silvia T-G, Susana M-A, Ignacio M-R. Computer use increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among newspaper office workers. Arch Med Res. 2003;34(4):331–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Talwar R, Kapoor R, Puri K, Bansal K, Singh S. A study of visual and musculoskeletal health disorders among computer professionals in NCR Delhi. Indian J Community Med. 2009;34(4):326–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bhanderi D, Choudhary S, Parmar L, Doshi V. Influence of psychosocial workplace factors on occurrence of musculoskeletal discomfort in computer operators. Indian J Community Med. 2007;32(3):225–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Sharma A, Khera S, Khandekar J. Computer related health problems among information technology professionals in Delhi. Indian J Community Med. 2006;31(1):36–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bakhtiar CS, Vijaya RS. Attitude alters the risk for development of RSI in software professionals. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2003;7(1):7–10.

    Google Scholar 

  8. WHO. Identification and control of work-related diseases: report of a WHO expert committee, Albany, NY. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1985.

  9. Sommerich CM, McGlothlin JD, Marras WS. Occupational risk factors associated with soft tissue disorders of the shoulder: a review of recent investigations in the literature. Ergonomics. 1993;36(6):697–717.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bernard BP. Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors: a critical review of epidemiologic evidence for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, upper extremity, and low back. US Department of Health and Human Services CDC (NIOSH). Publication No. 97–141; 1997.

  11. NRC. Musculoskeletal disorders, the workplace: low back, upper extremities. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Toomingas A, Theorell T, Michelsen H, Nordermar R. Associations between self-rated psychosocial work conditions and musculoskeletal symptoms and signs. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1997;23(2):130–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Warren N. Work stress and musculoskeletal disorder etiology: the relative roles of psychosocial and physical risk factors. WORK. 2001;17(3):221–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Buckle PW. Upper limb disorders and work: the importance of physical and psychosocial factors. J Psychosom Res. 1997;43(1):17–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Huang GD, Feuerstein M, Sauter SL. Occupational stress and work-related upper extremity disorders: concepts and models. Am J Ind Med. 2002;41(5):298–314.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Glasscock NF, Turville KL, Joines SB, Mirka GA. The effect of personality type on muscle coactivation during elbow flexion. Hum Factors. 1999;41(1):51–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Marras WS, Davis KG, Heaney CA, Maronitis AB, Allread WG. The influence of psychosocial stress, gender, and personality on mechanical loading of the lumbar spine. Spine. 2000;25(23):3045–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Payne R, Individual differences in the study of occupational stress. Causes, coping and consequences of stress at work, In: Cooper CL and Payne R, editors. Chichester. England: John Wiley and Sons; 1988, pp 209–232.

  19. Nicholas RA, Feuerstein M, Suchday S. Workstyle and upper-extremity symptoms: a biobehavioral perspective. J Occup Env Med. 2005;47(4):352–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Heuvel S, Beek A, Blatter B, Bongers P. Workstyle and overcommitment in relation to neck and upper limb symptoms. Int J Behav Med. 2007;14(1):12–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Feuerstein M, Workstyle: definition, empirical support, and implications for preventions, evaluation, and rehabilitation of occupational upper-extremity disorders. In: Saunter S editor. Beyond biomechanics: psychosocial aspects of musculoskeletal disorders in office work. London: Taylor and Francis; 1996. pp 177–206.

  22. Lundberg U. Psychophysiology of work: stress, gender, endocrine response, and work-related upper extremities disorders. Am J Ind Med. 2002;41:383–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Feuerstein M, Nicholas RA. Development of a short form of the workstyle measure. Occup Med (Lond). 2006;56(2):94–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Harrington CB, Siddiqui A, Feuerstein M. Workstyle as a predictor of pain and restricted work associated with upper extremity disorders: a prospective study. J Hand Surg. 2009;34(4):724–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Meijer E, Sluiter J, Frings-Dresen M. Is workstyle a mediating factor for pain in the upper extremity over time? J Occup Rehabil. 2008;18(3):262–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Eltayeb S, Staal J, Hassan A, de Bie R. Work related risk factors for neck, shoulder and arms complaints: a cohort study among Dutch computer office workers. J Occup Rehabil. 2009;19(4):315–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Hoogendoorn WE, van Poppel MNM, Bongers PM, Koes BW, Bouter LM. Systematic review of psychosocial factors at work and private life as risk factors for back pain. Spine. 2000;25(16):2114–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Hannan LM, Monteilh CP, Gerr F, Kleinbaum DG, Marcus M. Job strain and risk of musculoskeletal symptoms among a prospective cohort of occupational computer users. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2005;31(5):375–86.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Hagberg M, Morgenstern H, Kelsh M. Impact of occupations and job tasks on the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1992;18(6):33–45.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Waersted M, Westgaard R. Attention-related muscle activity in different body regions during VDU work with minimal physical activity. Ergonomics. 1996;39:661–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Bongers PM, de Winter CR, Kompier MAJ, Hildebrandt VH. Psychosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal disease. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1993;19(5):297–312.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Huang G, Feuerstein M, Kop JM, Schor K, Arroyo F. Individual and combined impacts of biomechanical and work organization factors in work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. Am J Ind Med. 2003;43(5):495–506.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Melin B, Lundberg U. A biopsychosocial approach to work-stress and musculoskeletal disorders. J Psychophysiol. 1997;11:238–47.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Sjogaard G, Jensen B, Muscle pathology with overuse, in Chronic Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Workplace. In: Ranney D, editor.W.B. Saunders Company: Philadelphia, PA; 1997. pp. 17–40.

  35. Westgaard RH, de Luca CJ. Motor unit substitution in long-duration contractions of the human trapezius muscle. J Neurophysiol. 1999;82(1):501–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Carayon P, Smith MJ, Haims MC. Work organization, job stress, and work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Hum Factors. 1999;41:644–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academics Division, RECOUP Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre, 312 Further Extension of Anjanapura Layout, Bangalore, 560062, India

    Prakriti Parijat & Ajeesh Padinjattethil Sasidharan

  2. Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, RECOUP Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre, 312 Further Extension of Anjanapura Layout, Bangalore, 560062, India

    Deepak Sharan

  3. Department of Physiotherapy, RECOUP Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre, 312 Further Extension of Anjanapura Layout, Bangalore, 560062, India

    Rameshkumar Ranganathan, Mathankumar Mohandoss & Jeena Jose

Authors
  1. Deepak Sharan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Prakriti Parijat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ajeesh Padinjattethil Sasidharan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rameshkumar Ranganathan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mathankumar Mohandoss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jeena Jose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Prakriti Parijat.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sharan, D., Parijat, P., Sasidharan, A.P. et al. Workstyle Risk Factors for Work Related Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Computer Professionals in India. J Occup Rehabil 21, 520–525 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-011-9294-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-011-9294-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation