Ergonomic Risk Factors and Musculoskeletal System Problems in Women Producing Traditional Handicrafts

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the ergonomic risk level, musculoskeletal system problems, and variables affecting ergonomic risk scores in women producing traditional handicrafts. Women who regularly produce traditional handicrafts were included in the study. The participants underwent a musculoskeletal system and RULA ergonomic risk assessment and were asked to answer pain questionnaire. A total of 197 women aged 46.15±0.71 years who have been producing traditional handicrafts for 25.78±0.84 years were included in the study. The posture evaluation of the participants revealed that most of them (61.9%) had an anterior head carriage. Participants most pronouncedly experienced musculoskeletal pain in their dominant forearm (36%), wrist (34%), and shoulder (30.5%). Participants also experienced the most severe pain in their heads (21.8%), dominant hand wrists (18.3%), and forearms (17.8%), respectively. The final RULA score of the participants was found to be 3.29±0.05. Deterioration in posture and worsening of musculoskeletal complaints affected the ergonomic risk scores of the participants (adjusted R2 value=0.436). Postural changes and musculoskeletal pain are common in women who produce traditional handicrafts. The participants had low to moderate ergonomic risks, and their postural changes and musculoskeletal pain were found to affect their final RULA scores.