Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Jun 17:9:785-95.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S81898. eCollection 2015.

Prevalence and risk factor analysis of lower extremity abnormal alignment characteristics among rice farmers

Usa Karukunchit  1 , Rungthip Puntumetakul  2 , Manida Swangnetr  3 , Rose Boucaut  4
Affiliations

Prevalence and risk factor analysis of lower extremity abnormal alignment characteristics among rice farmers

Usa Karukunchit et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

Background: Rice farming activities involve prolonged manual work and human-machine interaction. Prolonged farming risk-exposure may result in lower limb malalignment. This malalignment may increase the risk of lower extremity injury and physical disabilities. However, the prevalence and factors associated with lower extremity malalignment have not yet been reported. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of lower extremity malalignment among rice farmers.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 249 rice farmers. Lower extremity alignment assessment included: pelvic tilt angle, limb length equality, femoral torsion, quadriceps (Q) angle, tibiofemoral angle, genu recurvatum, rearfoot angle, and medial longitudinal arch angle. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze participant characteristics and prevalence of lower extremity malalignment. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors.

Results: The highest prevalence of lower extremity malalignment was foot pronation (36.14%), followed by the abnormal Q angle (34.94%), tibiofemoral angle (31.73%), pelvic tilt angle (30.52%), femoral antetorsion (28.11%), limb length inequality (22.49%), tibial torsion (21.29%), and genu recurvatum (11.24%). In females, the risk factors were abnormal Q angle, tibiofemoral angle, and genu recurvatum. Being overweight was a risk factor for abnormal pelvic tilt angle, Q angle, and tibiofemoral angle. Age was a risk factor for limb length inequality. Years of farming were a major risk factor for abnormal Q angle, tibiofemoral angle, and foot malalignment.

Conclusion: Prevalence of lower extremity malalignment was reported in this study. Female sex, being overweight, and years of farming were major risk factors for lower extremity malalignment. Lower extremity screening should assist in the identification of foot and knee malalignment in rice farmers. This may then lead to early prevention of musculoskeletal disorders arising from such malalignment.

Keywords: lower extremity malalignment; prevalence; rice farmer; risk factors.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Typical rice cultivation processes including: (A) plowing; (B) seeding;(C) nursing and fertilizing; (D) planting; and (E) harvesting.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Lower extremity alignment measurement methods for: (A) limb length inequality; (B) pelvic angle; (C) femoral antetorsion angle; (D) Q angle; (E) tibiofemoral angle; (F) genu recurvatum angle; (G) tibial torsion angle; (H) rearfoot angle and; (I) medial longitudinal angle. Abbreviation: Q angle, quadriceps angle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Thai Rice Exporters Association Rice Export Quantity and Value: 2014. [Accessed January 29, 2014]. Online sources 2014 [cited January 28, 2015]. Available from: http://www.thairiceexporters.or.th/statistic_2014.html.
    1. Mokkamul P. Ethnobotanical study of rice growing process in northeastern Thailand. Ethnobotany Res Appl. 2006;4:213–222.
    1. Puntumetakul R, Yodchaisarn W, Emasithi A, Keawduangdee P, Chatchawan U, Yamauchi J. Prevalence and individual risk factors associated with clinical lumbar instability in rice farmers with low back pain. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2015;9:1–7. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Swangnetr M, Kaber D, Puntumetakul R, Gross MT. Ergonomics-related risk identification and pain analysis for farmers involved in rice field preparation. Work. 2014;49(1):63–71. - PubMed
    1. Puntumetakul R, Siritaratiwat W, Boonprakob Y, Puntumetakul M. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder in farmer: case study in Sila, Muang Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen Province. J Med Tech Phys Ther. 2011;23:298–303.

LinkOut - more resources