Almost a year in: Virtual offices remained an ergonomic trouble spot.

Background: Many individuals continued to work from home even after nearly 9 months since the COVID-19 pandemic started in spring of 2020.

Objective: To conduct a follow-up survey of the faculty and staff of a large Midwest university to determine whether there had been any changes to their home work environment and health outcomes since a prior survey conducted at the start of the pandemic in spring of 2020.

Methods: An electronic survey was sent out to all employees, staff, and administration (approximately 10,350 individuals) and was completed by 1,135 individuals.

Teachers feeling the burden of COVID-19: Impact on well-being, stress, and burnout.

Background: Teachers have had to deal with many of the negative aspects of COVID-19 over the past year. The demands associated with the sudden requirement to teach remotely, and later having to manage hybrid (both in person and online) learning may be having adverse effects on the mental and physical health of teachers.

Objective: To determine whether COVID-19 continued to impact teacher stress, burnout, and well-being a year into the pandemic.

The virtual office: A perspective from college students.

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic took root in the United States, most universities quickly transitioned to online and remained there through spring 2021.

Objective: The study objective was to identify the impact of the switch to online on student home offices and corresponding health outcomes.

Methods: An online survey was sent out to all student at a large Midwest university to assess the work practices and health outcomes.

An assessment of ergonomic issues in the home offices of university employees sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: As millions of workers have shifted to telework, special accommodations for workers with respect to ergonomics may be required to ensure the workforce remains healthy.

Methods: A survey about home office ergonomics and discomfort was sent to faculty, staff, and administrators by email and was completed by 843 individuals.

Results: Over 40%of the participants reported moderate to severe discomfort (severe low/middle back pain, moderate discomfort in eyes/neck/head, and discomfort in the upper back/shoulders).

Stopping the Slide: How Hospital Bed Design Can Minimize Active and Passive Patient Migration.

Patient migration, or the amount of movement toward the foot of the bed, has been shown to significantly vary because of the mechanical design differences in hospital beds. Previously, the amount of migration was measured immediately following head-of-bed articulation in healthy subjects. This study not only evaluates how much migration occurs immediately after head-of-bed articulation but also measures additional migration during a standard 2-hour repositioning period in subjects with limited mobility.

Impact of Noise on Nurses in Pediatric Intensive Care Units.

Background: Excessive exposure to noise places nurses at risk for safety events, near-misses, decreased job performance, and fatigue. Noise is particularly a concern in pediatric intensive care units, where highly skilled providers and vulnerable patients require a quiet environment to promote healing.

Objective: To measure noise levels and noise duration on specialty pediatric intensive care units to explore sources of noise and its effects on the health of registered nurses.

The effect of patient migration in bed on torso elevation.

Background: Elevating the hospital head of bed (HOB) to at least 30° is recommended practice to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated patients. However, this common practice prescribes the position of the bed and not of the patient, which could be significantly different.

Objective: The aim of this research was to determine the relationship between patient migration in bed and anatomic torso angle.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders for Nurses in Hospitals, Long-Term Care Facilities, and Home Health Care: A Comprehensive Review.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and reported injuries for nurses and nursing aides.

Background: Nurses and nursing aides suffer from work-related pain and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Although there have been a plethora of studies on MSDs, an overall understanding of the prevalence of MSDs and pain can lead to better prioritization of research needs with respect to the health care industry.

Role of Bed Design and Head-of-Bed Articulation on Patient Migration.

The ramifications of patient migration toward the foot of the bed in intensive care units are not well understood. Migration may cause shear and friction between the patient and the mattress, reduce elevation of the patient's torso, and require frequent repositioning of the patient. This study assesses how bed design impacts both the amount of migration that patients undergo during head section articulation to 30° and 45° and the extent of torso compression following the articulation.

Postural variability: an effective way to reduce musculoskeletal discomfort in office work.

Objective: This article investigates whether different interventions aimed at promoting postural change could increase body movement throughout the shift and reduce musculoskeletal discomfort.

Background: Many researchers have reported high levels of discomfort for workers that have relatively low-level demands but whose jobs are sedentary in nature. To date, few interventions have been found to be effective in reducing worker discomfort.

Reduction of spinal loads through adjustable interventions at the origin and destination of palletizing tasks.

Objective: This article evaluates the effectiveness of two interventions: a self-leveling pallet carousel designed to position the loads vertically and horizontally at origin, and an adjustable cart designed to raise loads vertically at destination to reduce spine loads.

Background: Low back disorders among workers in manual material handling industries are very prevalent and have been linked to manual palletizing operations. Evidence into the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions is limited, with no research that investigates interventions with adjustable load location.

Identifying risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders on Korean farms.

Background: Farming is known to pose musculoskeletal disorder risk factors, although how risk factors differ between farmers in various countries is largely unknown.

Objective: To identify ergonomic risk factors through a qualitative assessment of common tasks performed by South Korean farmers.

Methods: A convenience sample of Korean farmers was videotaped performing typical jobs on farms that produced rice, fruits and vegetables, or raised animals.

Quantification of patient migration in bed: catalyst to improve hospital bed design to reduce shear and friction forces and nurses' injuries.

Objective: The study objective was to quantify the movement of hospital bed occupants relative to the bed in typical bed articulations.

Background: Movement of a patient in bed results in two common adverse events: (a) increase in shear and friction forces between the patient and bed, which are extrinsic pressure ulcer risk factors, and (b) musculoskeletal injuries to nurses, resulting from repositioning patients who have migrated down in bed.

Method: The study involved 12 participants who lay supine in three hospital beds, which were articulated to common positions.

The therapeutic effect of outpatient use of a peroneal nerve functional electrical stimulation neuroprosthesis in people with stroke: a case series.

Purpose: Foot drop is a common problem following a stroke. Although peroneal nerve functional electrical stimulation (pFES) for foot drop has been shown to improve function and gait, the majority of studies have used daily stimulation. There are few studies to show benefit and guide practice for less frequent dosing.

Electromyographic activity of scapular muscles during diagonal patterns using elastic resistance and free weights.

Purpose/background: Abnormalities in glenohumeral rhythm and neuromuscular control of the upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA) muscles have been identified in individuals with shoulder pain. Upper extremity diagonal or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) patterns have been suggested as effective means of activating scapular muscles, yet few studies have compared muscular activation during diagonal patterns with varying modes of resistance. The purpose of this study is to determine which type of resistance and PNF pattern combination best elicits electromyographic (EMG) activity of the scapular muscles.

Influence of weight loss on musculoskeletal pain: Potential short-term relevance.

Objective: With the recent trend of increasing obesity in the United States, more immediate health outcomes such as reduced musculoskeletal pain may be more effective in encouraging compliance. The study objective was to investigate the relationship between weight loss and changes in musculoskeletal pain.

Participants: Thirty-five females who recently enrolled into a weight loss program were enrolled into the study.

Dynamic bone quality: a noninvasive measure of bone's biomechanical property in osteoporosis.

We describe a novel approach to characterize bone quality noninvasively, a measurement that quantifies aggregate shock-absorption capacity of load-bearing bones as a measure of mechanical structural integrity during exposure to real-time self-induced in vivo loading associated with heel strike. The outcome measure, damping factor, was estimated at 5 load-bearing anatomical sites: ankle, tibial tuberosity, femoral condyle, lower back (at 3rd lumbar vertebra), and upper back (7th thoracic vertebra) plus the forehead in 67 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis with and without documented vertebral fractures. The damping value was significantly lower in patients with vertebral fractures compared with those without a fracture (range: -36% to -72%; median: -44%).

Investigating reduced bag weight as an effective risk mediator for mason tenders.

Masonry workers face some of the highest physical demands in the construction industry where large bags of masonry material weighing 42.7 kg are commonly handled by mason tenders who mix the mortar, distribute mortar and bricks/blocks, and erect/dismantle scaffolding throughout the day. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using half-weight bags (21.

Costs by industry and diagnosis among musculoskeletal claims in a state workers compensation system: 1999-2004.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a tremendous burden on industry in the United States. However, there is limited understanding of the unique issues relating to specific industry sectors, specifically the frequency and costs of different MSDs.

Methods: Claim data from 1999 to 2004 from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation were analyzed as a function of industry sector (NAICS industry-sector categories) and anatomical region (ICD-9 codes).

Investigation of select ergonomic interventions for farm youth. Part 2: wheelbarrows.

Previous research has provided evidence that farm youth performing farm chores may be at risk of developing a low back musculoskeletal injury. In order to reduce these risks, effective interventions for reducing the stressors that cause the injuries are needed. The objective of the current study was to investigate alternative wheelbarrow styles as an intervention for youth working to transfer material on the farm with respect to trunk motion and perceived exertion.

Investigation of select ergonomic interventions for farm youth. Part 1: shovels.

There is some evidence that performing farm chores may place youth at risk of musculoskeletal injuries. However, actual investigations of interventions for farm youth have been sparse. The objective of the current study was to investigate two different types of interventions (add-on handles) for shovels, potentially reducing the risk of injury in farm youth.

Impact of order and load knowledge on trunk kinematics during repeated lifting tasks.

Objective: To determine if lifting random unknown weights is more detrimental than lifting sequences of unknown weights and to investigate whether load knowledge impacts the effect of lifting random box weights.

Background: Much research has investigated lifting under known load conditions, but few studies have investigated unknown loads, especially when presented in random order. There has been some documentation of alteration in trunk mechanics when there is an overestimation of the unknown load.

Understanding the ergonomic risk for musculoskeletal disorders in the United States agricultural sector.

Introduction: Farming is a very large industry in the United States. Understanding the risks for injuries and more specifically musculoskeletal disorders in this industry poses a challenge for health officials.

Methods: A review was conducted of the existing peer-reviewed publications prior to December 2006 about injuries and musculoskeletal disorders for farmers and farm workers.

Characteristics of job rotation in the Midwest US manufacturing sector.

Job rotation has been advocated as a suitable intervention to control work-related musculoskeletal disorders. However, little is known regarding the prevalence of job rotation, methods used to identify jobs for rotation or the benefits or limitations of job rotation. A web-based questionnaire was developed to survey job rotation practices from Midwest US manufacturing companies.

Preliminary evidence of the short-term effectiveness of alternative treatments for low back pain.

In recent years, there has been increased popularity for use of alternative treatment modalities for low back pain with limited investigation into whether they are effective in returning the worker to normal functionality. The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term impact on the restoration of the functional ability of common treatment modalities including physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, and massage therapy. A within subjects design was used that compared a baseline assessment to three follow-up assessments: immediately following treatment, two days and seven days post treatment.