Occupational Health: Does Compliance with Physical Activity Recommendations Have a Preventive Effect on...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Sedentary behavior in computer workers (CW) is linked to musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS).
• Understanding physical activity (PA) levels and adherence to recommendations is crucial for CW health.
• Existing research highlights the need to investigate the relationship between PA and MSS in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence and patterns of MSS in computer workers over a 12-month period.
• To determine the physical activity levels and compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) PA recommendations among computer workers.
• To assess the association between adherence to WHO PA recommendations and the occurrence of MSS in computer workers.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study involving 119 computer workers.
• Utilized the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) for MSS assessment.
• Employed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to measure PA levels.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of MSS reported in the lumbar region (56.3%), neck (43.7%), and shoulders (39.5%).
• A significant portion (44.7%) of participants exhibited low levels of PA.
• While participants adhering to WHO PA recommendations reported fewer MSS, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• Computer workers frequently experience MSS, especially in the lower back, neck, and shoulders.
• The majority of computer workers have low PA levels and varying compliance with WHO recommendations.
• Health-promoting physical activity programs tailored for computer workers may be beneficial in mitigating MSS.