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. 2020 Mar;11(1):80-87.
doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2019.12.005. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Prevalence of MSDs and Postural Risk Assessment in Floor Mopping Activity Through Subjective and Objective Measures

Gouri Naik  1 , Mohammed Rajik Khan  2
Affiliations

Prevalence of MSDs and Postural Risk Assessment in Floor Mopping Activity Through Subjective and Objective Measures

Gouri Naik et al. Saf Health Work. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Residential and commercial cleaning is a part of our daily routine to maintain sanitation around the environment. Health care of professionals involved in such cleaning activities has become a major concern all over the world. The present study investigates the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in professional cleaners involved in floor mopping tasks.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 132 mopping professionals using a modified Nordic questionnaire. The Pearson correlation test was implemented to study the association of perceived pain with work experience. The muscle strain and postural risk were evaluated by means of three-channel electromyography and real-time motion capture respectively of 15 professionals during floor mopping.

Results: Regarding musculoskeletal injuries, risk was reported majorly in the right hand, lower back, left wrist, right shoulder, left biceps, and right wrist of the workers. Work experience had a low negative association with MSDs in the left wrist, right wrist, right elbow, lower back, and right lower arm (p < 0.01). Surface EMG showed occurrence of higher muscle activity in upper trapezius and biceps brachii (BB) muscles of the dominant hand and flexor carpi radialis and BB muscles of the nondominant hand positioned at the upper and lower portion of the mop rod, respectively.

Conclusion: Ergonomic mediations should be executed to lessen the observed risk of musculoskeletal injuries in this professional group of workers.

Keywords: electromyography; floor mopping; motion analysis; observational ergonomic assessment tool; upper-extremities musculoskeletal disorder.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that no conflict of interest exists with anyone pertaining to this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Placement of bipolar surface electrodes on participant's muscles. (A) Flexor carpi radiallis (FCR). (B) Biceps brachii (BB). (C) Upper trapezius (UT).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pain perception at different upper body regions of mopping professionals.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Prevalence of MSDs revealed by mopping professionals based on work experience. (A) <1 year. (B) 1–5 years. (C) 5–10 years. (D) >10 years.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Sequential postures adopted in a single cycle of the push mopping task.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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