Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 15, 2025
Measurement of the Hand Transmitted Vibration of the Human Hand Arm System During Operation of a Hand Tractor
Published on: June 16, 2021
Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders and exposure to Ergonomic risk factors among handicraft workers
Wajeeha Mahmood1, Muhammad Salman Bashir2, Sarah Ehsan3
1Dr. Wajeeha Mahmood, (MS-NMPT), Senior Lecturer, Department of Physical Therapy, Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Objective:
To determine the association of Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders and Exposure to Ergonomic risk factors among handicraft workers.
Methods:
This cross-sectional survey was conducted in a 12 weeks' duration i.e. from November 2018 till January 2019. Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to determine the frequency of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. Postural analysis was done using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Data was collected from 100 Handicraft workers and the type of work included Art work (n=18), Ada Work (n=7), botanical arrangement (n=11), Textile, fashion designing and stitching (n=38), Fine arts (n=20), embroidery and knitting (n=6).
Results:
The frequency distribution of Rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) score for exposure to risk factors showed that 47 participants were at a high risk and required implementation of change. Most of the participants (n=35) reported pain in neck and shoulder (n=29). The chi square test for association between pain in upper extremity and exposure to risk factors showed that only wrist pain had statistically significant association with overall RULA score (p-value<0.05).
Conclusion:
The study concluded that neck and shoulder are more frequently affected among handicraft workers. The frequency of workers who were at high ergonomic risk and required implementation of change in working conditions was high.
