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Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Apple Farmers in Türkiye: Prevalence and Risk Factors’

Year 2023, Volume: 4 Issue: 3, 162 - 167, 29.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1345016

Abstract

Objective: The strenuous nature of apple growing can be the cause of a number of physical problems. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence of Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) and ergonomic risks among apple farmers in Turkey.
Material-Method: Data on WRMSDs were obtained from the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire Extended Version (NMQ-E), while risk factors were collected using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Prevalences were established by frequency analysis.The relationships between WRMSD of 9 body regions and age, weight, working hours (per day/per week), working experience and RULA score were analysed.
Results: A total of 51 volunteers participated in the study including 42 males and 9 females. The kness (53.8%) were most commonly reported WRMSDs, followed by the neck (46.2%), lower back (44.2%), and shoulders (38.5%) over a lifetime. The participants were working in a medium (40.4%) and high (42.3%) risk posture according to the RULA assessment. Age, weight, working hours (per day/per week), working experience and RULA were associated with WRMSDs in one or more body regions (p<0.05).
Conclusion: WRMSDs were common among the apple farmers in Turkey, and the farmers were working in a high-risk position. The current findings highlight the need to address the high prevalence of WRMSD among apple farners through appropriate screening and intervention.

References

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  • 2. Niu S. Ergonomics and occupational safety and health: An ILO perspective. Applied Ergonomics. 2010;41(6):744-753.
  • 3. McGorry RW, BSPT BSW, Snook SH, Hsiang SM. The relation between pain intensity, disability, and the episodic nature of chronic and recurrent low back pain. Spine. 2000;25(7):834-841.
  • 4. Phajan T, Nilvarangkul K, Settheetham D, Laohasiriwong W. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among sugarcane farmers in north-eastern Thailand. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. 2014;26(3):320-327.
  • 5. Naeini HS, Karuppiah K, Tamrin SB, Dalal K. Ergonomics in agriculture: an approach in prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. 2014;3(2):33-51.
  • 6. Walker‐Bone K, Palmer K. Musculoskeletal disorders in farmers and farm workers. Occupational Medicine. 2002;52(8):441-450.
  • 7. Thelin N, Holmberg S, Nettelbladt P, Thelin A. Mortality and morbidity among farmers, nonfarming rural men, and urban referents: a prospective population-based study. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2009;15(1):21-28.
  • 8. Oguz C, Karacayir HF. Türkiye’de elma üretimi, tüketimi, pazar yapısı ve dış ticareti. Tarım Bilimleri Araştırma Dergisi. 2009;(1):41-49.
  • 9. Ekinci K, Demircan V, Atasay A, Karamursel D, Sarica D. Energy, economic and environmental analysis of organic and conventional apple production in Turkey. Erwerbs-Obstbau. 2020;62(1):1-12.
  • 10. Davis KG, Kotowski SE. Understanding the ergonomic risk for musculoskeletal disorders in the United States agricultural sector. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2007;50(7):501-511.
  • 11. Fulmer S, Punnett L, Tucker Slingerland D, Earle‐Richardson G. Ergonomic exposures in apple harvesting: Preliminary observations. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2002;42(S2):3-9.
  • 12. Earle-Richardson G, Jenkins P, Fulmer S, Mason C, Burdick P, May J. An ergonomic intervention to reduce back strain among apple harvest workers in New York State. Applied Ergonomics. 2005;36(3):327-334.
  • 13. Dawson AP, Steele EJ, Hodges PW, Stewart S. Development and test–retest reliability of an extended version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E): a screening instrument for musculoskeletal pain. The Journal of Pain. 2009;10(5):517-526.
  • 14. Alaca N, Safran EE, Karamanlargil Aİ, Timucin E. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the extended version of the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire into Turkish. Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal Interactions. 2019;19(4):472.
  • 15. McAtamney L, Corlett EN. RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. Applied Ergonomics. 1993;24(2):91-99.
  • 16. Houshyar E, Kim I-J. Understanding musculoskeletal disorders among Iranian apple harvesting laborers: Ergonomic and stop watch time studies. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. 2018;67:32-40.
  • 17. Daghagh Yazd S, Wheeler SA, Zuo A. Key risk factors affecting farmers’ mental health: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019;16(23):4849.
  • 18. Dilay Y, Özkan A. Makine Yardımıyla Elma Toplamada Çalışma Duruşlarının REBA Yöntemi ile Analizi ve Ergonomik Risk Değerlendirmesi. Tarım Makinaları Bilimi Dergisi. 19(1):75-92.
  • 19. Sakakibara H, Miyao M, Kondo T-A, Yamada SY. Overhead work and shoulder-neck pain in orchard farmers harvesting pears and apples. Ergonomics. 1995;38(4):700-706.
  • 20. Zhang Z, Wang Y, Zhang Z, et al. Ergonomic and efficiency analysis of conventional apple harvest process. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. 2019;12(2):210-217.
  • 21. Fulmer S, Jenkins P, Mason C, Bresee C, May J. Ergonomic analysis of New York apple harvest work using a Posture-Activities-Tools-Handling (PATH) work sampling approach. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health. 2004;10(3):163.
  • 22. Munala JM, Olivier B, Karuguti WM, Karanja SM. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders amongst flower farm workers in Kenya. South African Journal of Physiotherapy. 2021;77(1):1515.
  • 23. Kalra S, Arora B, Pawaria S. Cross sectional survey of work related musculoskeletal disorders and associated risk factors among female farmers in rural areas of Haryana, India. Indian J Physiother Occup Ther. 2016;10:149-154.
  • 24. Jain R, Meena ML, Dangayach GS, Bhardwaj AK. Association of risk factors with musculoskeletal disorders in manual-working farmers. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health. 2018;73(1):19-28.
  • 25. Jain R, Meena ML, Dangayach GS, Bhardwaj AK. Risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in manual harvesting farmers of Rajasthan. Industrial Health. 2018;56(3):241-248.
  • 26. Das B, Gangopadhyay S. An ergonomics evaluation of posture related discomfort and occupational health problems among rice farmers. Occupational Ergonomics. 2011;10(1-2):25-38.
Year 2023, Volume: 4 Issue: 3, 162 - 167, 29.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1345016

Abstract

References

  • 1. Amiri F, Attari SG, Karimi Y-A, et al. examination of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and their related factors among farmers of Asadabad city in 2015. Pharmacophore. 2020;11(1):52-7.
  • 2. Niu S. Ergonomics and occupational safety and health: An ILO perspective. Applied Ergonomics. 2010;41(6):744-753.
  • 3. McGorry RW, BSPT BSW, Snook SH, Hsiang SM. The relation between pain intensity, disability, and the episodic nature of chronic and recurrent low back pain. Spine. 2000;25(7):834-841.
  • 4. Phajan T, Nilvarangkul K, Settheetham D, Laohasiriwong W. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among sugarcane farmers in north-eastern Thailand. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. 2014;26(3):320-327.
  • 5. Naeini HS, Karuppiah K, Tamrin SB, Dalal K. Ergonomics in agriculture: an approach in prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. 2014;3(2):33-51.
  • 6. Walker‐Bone K, Palmer K. Musculoskeletal disorders in farmers and farm workers. Occupational Medicine. 2002;52(8):441-450.
  • 7. Thelin N, Holmberg S, Nettelbladt P, Thelin A. Mortality and morbidity among farmers, nonfarming rural men, and urban referents: a prospective population-based study. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2009;15(1):21-28.
  • 8. Oguz C, Karacayir HF. Türkiye’de elma üretimi, tüketimi, pazar yapısı ve dış ticareti. Tarım Bilimleri Araştırma Dergisi. 2009;(1):41-49.
  • 9. Ekinci K, Demircan V, Atasay A, Karamursel D, Sarica D. Energy, economic and environmental analysis of organic and conventional apple production in Turkey. Erwerbs-Obstbau. 2020;62(1):1-12.
  • 10. Davis KG, Kotowski SE. Understanding the ergonomic risk for musculoskeletal disorders in the United States agricultural sector. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2007;50(7):501-511.
  • 11. Fulmer S, Punnett L, Tucker Slingerland D, Earle‐Richardson G. Ergonomic exposures in apple harvesting: Preliminary observations. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2002;42(S2):3-9.
  • 12. Earle-Richardson G, Jenkins P, Fulmer S, Mason C, Burdick P, May J. An ergonomic intervention to reduce back strain among apple harvest workers in New York State. Applied Ergonomics. 2005;36(3):327-334.
  • 13. Dawson AP, Steele EJ, Hodges PW, Stewart S. Development and test–retest reliability of an extended version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E): a screening instrument for musculoskeletal pain. The Journal of Pain. 2009;10(5):517-526.
  • 14. Alaca N, Safran EE, Karamanlargil Aİ, Timucin E. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the extended version of the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire into Turkish. Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal Interactions. 2019;19(4):472.
  • 15. McAtamney L, Corlett EN. RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. Applied Ergonomics. 1993;24(2):91-99.
  • 16. Houshyar E, Kim I-J. Understanding musculoskeletal disorders among Iranian apple harvesting laborers: Ergonomic and stop watch time studies. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. 2018;67:32-40.
  • 17. Daghagh Yazd S, Wheeler SA, Zuo A. Key risk factors affecting farmers’ mental health: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019;16(23):4849.
  • 18. Dilay Y, Özkan A. Makine Yardımıyla Elma Toplamada Çalışma Duruşlarının REBA Yöntemi ile Analizi ve Ergonomik Risk Değerlendirmesi. Tarım Makinaları Bilimi Dergisi. 19(1):75-92.
  • 19. Sakakibara H, Miyao M, Kondo T-A, Yamada SY. Overhead work and shoulder-neck pain in orchard farmers harvesting pears and apples. Ergonomics. 1995;38(4):700-706.
  • 20. Zhang Z, Wang Y, Zhang Z, et al. Ergonomic and efficiency analysis of conventional apple harvest process. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. 2019;12(2):210-217.
  • 21. Fulmer S, Jenkins P, Mason C, Bresee C, May J. Ergonomic analysis of New York apple harvest work using a Posture-Activities-Tools-Handling (PATH) work sampling approach. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health. 2004;10(3):163.
  • 22. Munala JM, Olivier B, Karuguti WM, Karanja SM. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders amongst flower farm workers in Kenya. South African Journal of Physiotherapy. 2021;77(1):1515.
  • 23. Kalra S, Arora B, Pawaria S. Cross sectional survey of work related musculoskeletal disorders and associated risk factors among female farmers in rural areas of Haryana, India. Indian J Physiother Occup Ther. 2016;10:149-154.
  • 24. Jain R, Meena ML, Dangayach GS, Bhardwaj AK. Association of risk factors with musculoskeletal disorders in manual-working farmers. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health. 2018;73(1):19-28.
  • 25. Jain R, Meena ML, Dangayach GS, Bhardwaj AK. Risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in manual harvesting farmers of Rajasthan. Industrial Health. 2018;56(3):241-248.
  • 26. Das B, Gangopadhyay S. An ergonomics evaluation of posture related discomfort and occupational health problems among rice farmers. Occupational Ergonomics. 2011;10(1-2):25-38.
There are 26 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Güllü Aydın Yağcıoğlu 0000-0003-1658-7697

Handan Çulal Kılıç 0000-0003-4020-9442

Publication Date December 29, 2023
Submission Date August 17, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 4 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Aydın Yağcıoğlu, G., & Çulal Kılıç, H. (2023). Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Apple Farmers in Türkiye: Prevalence and Risk Factors’. International Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research, 4(3), 162-167. https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1345016

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