The comparison of the features of office workers' musculoskeletal discomfort according to gender: Working environment, posture and physical activity level

Between January 20 and May 6, 118 volunteers; 67 women, mean age 34.2 ± 6.92 and 51 men, mean age 34.2 ± 6.89 participated in this study. In the study, the participants were evaluated once by question-answer and observations. According to the sociodemographic questionnaire, body-mass index of the participants was 22.67 ± 3.76 in women and 25.57 ± 3.32 in men. The total MET-min/week value of sitting during the day was 5688.13 ± 865.13 in women and 6193 ± 1119 MET-min/week in men. While the mean of occupation years is 10.5 ± 6.70 in women, it is 9.66 ± 6.2 in men. There was no statistical homogeneity between the groups. In our study, a specific questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics of the participants was applied. In addition, to assess the musculoskeletal injuries of the participants, the Cornell Muscleskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire, office ergonomics risk factors were assessed by the Rapid Office Strain Assessment, postural evaluation by the New York Posture Rating Chart, and physical activity level was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form. In this study, when we were analyzing the office ergonomics values, no significant difference was found between women and men (p<0,05). There was no statistically significant difference in total postural differences, but there was a significant difference in trunk scores (z=-2,762;p=006). When we look at the duration of house work (z=-2,184;p=,029) and the workload sharing of household(z=-3,301;p=,001), a significant difference was found between women and men. In conclusion, no significant difference was found between women and men in terms of musculoskeletal disorders. There was a negative correlation between height (r=-,193;p=,036) and total physical activity value (r=,199;p=,031) according to risk factors of office ergonomics. There was a positive correlation between the upper part scores of posture evaluation and peripheral component of risk factors (r=,231;p=,012). New york posture total values were positively correlated with physical activity (r=,197;p=,033), while a negative correlation was found between the duration of house work (r=,200;p=,030). Physical activity scores were negatively correlated with the duration of house work (r=-, 238;p=010); and there was a positive correlation (r=,218;p=018) with the trunk score of the posture.