Ergonomic Risk Assessment and Work-Related Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Thai Traditional...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a significant occupational health issue in professions requiring high force and repetition, like Thai traditional massage.
• Traditional assessment methods for WMSDs lack real-time data, necessitating advanced informatics approaches for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and predictors of WMSDs among Thai traditional massage practitioners.
• To develop a data-driven occupational health informatics framework for integrated ergonomic risk profiling and digital monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involved 396 certified Thai traditional massage practitioners in northeastern Thailand.
• Data collected using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and Body Discomfort Scale.
• Binary logistic regression analyzed predictors of WMSDs.

Main Results:

• The 12-month prevalence of WMSDs was 81.31%.
• Predictors included years of experience, low-level force exertion, neck/trunk hyperextension, repetitive head movements, lifting clients, assistive device use, and adverse environmental conditions.
• A digital occupational health informatics framework integrating ergonomic risk stratification with wearable-based posture analytics was proposed.

Conclusions:

• High WMSD prevalence necessitates innovative, data-driven solutions for Thai traditional massage practitioners.
• The proposed digital framework and assistive devices can enhance injury prevention and occupational health sustainability.
• Continuous ergonomic surveillance and real-time feedback are crucial for managing WMSDs in physically demanding professions.