The Effect of Training Corrective Movements on Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Lumbar Region of the Health Workers When Working with Computers

Musculoskeletal disorders related to work are among the most common occupational injuries. Back pain is the most common musculoskeletal disorder among office workers and computer users. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of Williams corrective exercises on the reduction of back pain in the health workers of two cities of Selseleh (Aleshtar) and Noorabad, Iran.

The present study was an interventional and cross-sectional study conducted on all the health workers of Selseleh and Noorabad cities, using census and cluster sampling methods during the year 2021. Among the 196 health workers in these two cities, 36 people from Selseleh City and 60 people from Noorabad City who had back pain were identified using the Nordic questionnaire. After homogenization in terms of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and height, people were divided into two control and intervention groups, and their working posture was evaluated using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method. After the training class, the health workers in the intervention group were asked to perform Williams partial sit up corrective movements, including stretching the back muscles of the thigh, tilting the pelvis, two knees to the chest, partitioning, circular rings, and quadriceps stretching, for 12 weeks. Finally, the data obtained from the questionnaires were collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS software.

In total, 25 men (37.4%) and 47 women (65.3%) participated in the study, and the most significant number of surveyed people (62.5%) had a diploma. Investigations showed that the RULA score after the intervention was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group. Before performing the corrective movements, the score obtained by the RULA method for both the intervention and control groups showed level 2, but after performing the exercises, 13 people (36.1%) out of 36 people in the intervention group improved and were placed at level 1, and the musculoskeletal complaints of 11 people (30.6%) also improved.

Considering the development of the mechanization of physical jobs, the advancement of technology, and the increase in the use of computers, as well as considering the importance of the health of employees, including health workers, it is necessary to take a step by adopting a suitable and effective strategy in the offices in order to improve and prevent the occurrence of such disorders.