• Bulletin of the Korean Institute for Industrial Safety
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2003

In recent years, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are one of major issues in occupational safety and health in Korea, since the number of injured workers has rapidly increased and the related regulation was amended to improve the work conditions. Main risk factors of WMSDs in Korean industries include manual handling of heavy weight loads, awkward postures, repetitive tasks, prolonged static muscle contraction, and so on. in this article, some ergonomics case studies for identifying the risk factors of WMSDs and far their prevention were introduced. They include a biomechanical analysis for the heavy-weight handling task in a machine-repair shop, physiological evaluation of backpack-carrying tasks in a beverage delivery job, and a set of psychophysical studies to evaluate static-postural load. These studies showed that there are several different ergonomic approaches to identifying and evaluating risk factors of WMSDs and to eliminating them or reducing their levels, and that it is important to select proper methods and apply them in improving the work conditions according to the characteristics of the task. In addition, it needs to develop practical and effective ergonomic tools to prevent WMSDs and to provide these tools to the safety managers in the field so that they can improve the tasks by themselves.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the level of health problems and the factors that affect health problems for concrete mixer truck divers. Methods: The questionnaires were administered to 111 drivers in 6 Remicon workplaces located in D city and 7 Remicon workplaces located in K city from September 10 to 28, 2018. A total of 111 questionnaires were collected and 106 were used, excluding 5 incomplete ones. Data were analyzed with frequency, percentage, $x^2$ test, multiple logistic regression analysis by SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: The factors affecting subjective health were eating habits, sleeping hours and drinking conditions. The factors that affected chronic diseases were age, eating habits, sleep hours, and drinking conditions. The factors influencing musculoskeletal complaints were work experience, eating habits, and sleep hours. Conclusion: The major influencing factors of health problems were eating habits, sleeping hours. This study suggests that it is necessary to run a systematic health care program for the desirable health behaviors in the communities and industrial fields.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.63-70
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• 2023

In this paper, we propose a Mixed Reality based rehabilitation exercise solution with the goal of mitigating one of the most common chronic conditions among the elderly, musculoskeletal disorders. In modern society, as the number of elderly increases, more people engage in office work and engage in more sedentary activities. Due to repetitive work in the office, muscle strength decreases and this causes many difficulties in daily life. In this study, we developed a mixed reality based exercise platform to solve these chronic musculoskeletal diseases. VR is not appropriate for elderly because of dizziness. In addition, we developed a wearable sensor based on IMU and attached it to important parts of the upper body to motion tracking. We developed a algorithm synchronize to raw data from wearable sensor with in a vr avatar. Ederly can check in real time whether rehabilitation exercises are being performed accurately through the avatar.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.443-450
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• 2011

Objective: The aim of this paper is to introduce ergonomic guidelines and intervention procedures for farm workers. Background: It is necessary to ameliorate the conditions of risky and hazardous work for farm workers. Method: Various references and books have been reviewed to assess ergonomic guidelines and intervention procedures for farm workers. Results: Human centered intervention has become an important approach not only to prevent musculoskeletal disorders but also to enhance the efficiency of work for farm workers. Conclusion: Farm work should be improved by active cooperation with researchers in field of ergonomics. Application: These results can be used to provide baseline information for more effective improvements of farm work.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2007

Proprioception means the ability to perceive the sensation of position and movement of body. As it is transmitted to central nervous system and used in feed-back or feed-forward motor control, proprioception allows us to keep our normal movement and normal balance activity. However, the conditions such as injury, disease, aging and fatigue can damage the proprioceptiive sensation of position, movement and lead to a functional impairment and additional damages in musculoskeletal system, because they alter the amount of proprioceptive ability that transfer into the central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to identify the definition and the function of proprioception, to look into variations in injury, disease, aging and fatigue that can be easily met in clinical application and eventually to provide valuable aid for assessment and treatment.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.72-76
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• 2011

Temporomandibular disorders refer to a large group musculoskeletal disorders that originate from the masticatory structures. The AADR recognize that temporomandibular (TMDs) encompass a group of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions that involve the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), the masticatory muscles, and all associated tissues. The signs and symptoms associated with these disorders are diverse, and may include difficulties with chewing, speaking, and other orofacial functions. They also are frequently associated with acute or persistent pain, and the patients often suffer from other painful disorders. The chronic forms of TMD pain may lead to absence from or impairment of work or social interactions, resulting in an overall reduction in the quality of life. However, the consensus of recent scientific literature about currently available technological diagnostic devices for TMDs is that, except for various imaging modalities, none of them shows the sensitivity and specificity required to separate normal subjects from TMD patients or to distinguish among TMD subgroups. This article reviews the various instruments to aid in the diagnosis of TMDs, and the overall validity and practical use of the Electromyography.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.211-219
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• 2015

Objectives: We aimed to examine the association between experience of workplace violence and musculoskeletal pain among wage workers in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed a cross-sectional survey of 29,601 wage workers from the third wave Korean Working Conditions Survey in 2011. Experience of workplace violence was assessed through three questions, "Over the past 12 months, have you ever experienced: (1) physical violence, (2) bullying, or (3) sexual harassment at workplace?" Musculoskeletal pain was measured using the three questions, "Over the past 12 months, have you ever experienced: (1) low back pain, or (2) upper limb pain(i.e. shoulder, neck, and arm), or (3) lower limb pain(i.e. hip, leg, knee, and foot)?" Wage workers could answer 'Yes' or 'No' to each of the three questions. Multivariate negative binomial regression was applied to examine the association between workplace violence and musculoskeletal pain after adjusting for confounders including self-reported physical work factors. All analyses were performed using STATA/SE version 13.0. Results: Physical violence was associated with low back pain(PR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.77, 2.65), upper(PR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.45, 1.88) and lower limb pain(PR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.52, 2.15) among male wage workers whereas it was related to upper(PR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.53, 2.26) and lower limb pain(PR: 2.95, 95% CI: 2.47, 3.53) among female wage workers. Significant association was observed between sexual harassment and upper(PR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.56) and lower limb pain(PR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.97, 2.93) among female wage workers whereas the association was only significant in the analysis with lower limb pain(PR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.97) among male wage workers. Bullying was associated only with lower limb pains among both male(PR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.37) and female(PR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.69, 2.61) wage workers. Conclusions: This study found that experience of workplace violence, particularly physical violence and sexual harassment, was associated with musculoskeletal pain among Korean wage workers.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.47-67
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of thermography in patients with musculoskeletal disease. Thermography is noninvasive, easy to reading, objective and physiologic instrument by measuring and imaging infrared energy emitted from skin surface. Thermography can show the skin temperature changes in various conditions of the body with musculoskeletal disease. This literature review was done for the usefulness of thermography in diagnosing musculoskeletal disease. In conclusion, thermography was adapted in radiculopathy, MPS, peripheral neuropathy, RSD, Raynaud's phenomen, TMJ dysfunction, etc. It was useful as a secondary diagnostic method in those diseases, also possible as a primary diagnostic method in RSD, Raynaud's phenomen. And, it might be reliable tool for estimating disease procedure and consequence after treatment. But, the objectivity of the reading and the development of the operating method are required for further adaptation in musculoskeletal disease.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.15-31
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• 2000

The aim was to evaluate the prevailing ergonomic and psychosocial conditions regarding low back injury in an automobile assembly system. This study consisted of two parts. In the first part of the study, analytic biomechanical model and NIOSH guidelines were applied to evaluate risk levels of low back injury for automobile assembly jobs. Total of 246 workers were analysed. There were 20 jobs having greater back compressive forces than 300kg at L5/S1. Also, there were 44 jobs over Action Limit with respect to 1981 NIOSH guidelines. This might in part be explained by the ergonomic conditions of the company analysed generally being good, with a relatively low duration of 'combined' extreme work posture. The relationship between psychosocial factors and low back injury was examined in the second part of the study. It has recently been recognized that overall reaction to working conditions was influenced by a range of factors, some of which were physical and some psychosocial. The psychosocial environment surrounding the work place may contribute to the perception of risk and eventual ill-health. A battery of questionnaires concerning the psychosocial stress based on PWI(Psychosocial Well-being Index) and musculoskeletal pain symptoms at low back was completed by 246 workers at the same plant. Results showed that 207 out 246 workers experienced the symptoms and 27 workers were diagnosed as patients. Two groups(low stressed, high stressed) based on PWI score had no significant relationships with both symptoms and results of diagnosis. However, sensitivities for symptoms and diagnosis by PWI were 91.3% and 92.6% respectively. Finally, relationships between physical work load and psychosocial stress were analysed. Specifically, some postural factors {vertical deviation angle of forearm, horizontal deviation angle of upperarm, vertical deviation angle of thigh, etc) were highly correlated with psychosocial stress. The results illustrated that PWI scores were associated with some physical workloads. However, psychosocial stress levels couldn't be well related with the pain symptom as well as the actual incidence of low back injury since pain or discomfort regarding low back injury were more complex than that of other musculoskeletal disorders.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Background: The present study aimed to analyze several aspects of the working conditions and health status of platform workers in the Republic of Korea, such as ergonomic and emotional hazards. We also compared the health status of the platform workers with that of the general population. Methods: A total of 1,000 platform workers participated in this survey from August 7 to August 17, 2022. The participants included 400 designated drivers, 400 food-delivery drivers, and 200 housekeeping managers. A face-to-face survey with a structured questionnaire was conducted by researchers who had received specific instructions. The focus of the survey extended to the work environment, encompassing factors such as workplace violence, as well as physical, chemical, and ergonomic hazards. Health-related data for the previous year were also collected, covering a range of issues such as hearing problems, skin problems, musculoskeletal symptoms, headaches, injuries, mental health issues, and digestive problems. Subsequently, we compared the health symptom data of the responders with those of the general population in the Republic of Korea. Results: Platform workers, including designated drivers, food-delivery drivers, and housekeeping managers, existed in the blind spot of social insurance, facing frequent exposure to physical and chemical hazards, ergonomic risk factors, and direct or indirect violence. The prevalence of health problems, including musculoskeletal symptoms, general fatigue, and depressive symptoms, in each occupational group was statistically higher than that in the general population after standardization for age and gender. Conclusion: The results revealed unfavorable working environment and inferior occupational health of platform workers compared with those of the general population.