Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders
Telework has become considerably more common during the ongoing pandemic. Although working remotely may have numerous advantages, negative impacts on workers’ health and safety should also be considered. Telework is a major contributor to the development or aggravation of work-related musculoskeleta...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1155745/full |
| _version_ | 1797789209550913536 |
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| author | Marina Milaković Helena Koren Karmen Bradvica-Kelava Marija Bubaš Josipa Nakić Pavle Jeličić Lovro Bucić Barbara Bekavac Jelena Čvrljak Magdalena Capak |
| author_facet | Marina Milaković Helena Koren Karmen Bradvica-Kelava Marija Bubaš Josipa Nakić Pavle Jeličić Lovro Bucić Barbara Bekavac Jelena Čvrljak Magdalena Capak |
| author_sort | Marina Milaković |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Telework has become considerably more common during the ongoing pandemic. Although working remotely may have numerous advantages, negative impacts on workers’ health and safety should also be considered. Telework is a major contributor to the development or aggravation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders where unsuited workstation ergonomics, sedentary behavior, as well as psychosocial and organizational factors play a role. This paper aims to identify telework-related risks and their impact on musculoskeletal health as well as provide recommendations that may be useful in constructing future preventive measures. A comprehensive literature search regarding the topic has been performed. Teleworkers experience musculoskeletal pain and discomfort mostly in low back area, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. Poor ergonomic solutions when it comes to workstation design resulting in prolonged sitting in non-neutral positions contribute to the development and aggravation of musculoskeletal disorders in teleworkers. Working with inadequately placed screens and laptops and sitting in maladjusted seats without usual functionalities and ergonomic support is associated with musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. Extended working hours with fewer rest periods to meet increased work demands, social isolation, and lack of support from work colleagues and superiors as well as blurred work-home boundaries and omnipresence of work are commonly stated psychosocial and organizational factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Environmental factors such as poor lighting and glare, inadequate room temperature, and ventilation or noise, are frequently overlooked remote workstation risk factors. For a certain part of workers, telework will remain a common way of work in the post-pandemic period. Therefore, it is essential to identify telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and address them with timely preventive measures tailored to each remote workstation’s risks and individual workers’ needs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:47:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5531912d77074290b6f6873b19568af0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:47:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-5531912d77074290b6f6873b19568af02023-07-03T04:58:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-07-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.11557451155745Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disordersMarina Milaković0Helena Koren1Karmen Bradvica-Kelava2Marija Bubaš3Josipa Nakić4Pavle Jeličić5Lovro Bucić6Barbara Bekavac7Jelena Čvrljak8Magdalena Capak9Division for Occupational Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaDivision for Occupational Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaDivision for Occupational Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaDivision for Occupational Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaDivision for Environmental Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaDivision for Environmental Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaDivision for Environmental Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaAndrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of History, Croatian Catholic University, Zagreb, CroatiaTelework has become considerably more common during the ongoing pandemic. Although working remotely may have numerous advantages, negative impacts on workers’ health and safety should also be considered. Telework is a major contributor to the development or aggravation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders where unsuited workstation ergonomics, sedentary behavior, as well as psychosocial and organizational factors play a role. This paper aims to identify telework-related risks and their impact on musculoskeletal health as well as provide recommendations that may be useful in constructing future preventive measures. A comprehensive literature search regarding the topic has been performed. Teleworkers experience musculoskeletal pain and discomfort mostly in low back area, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. Poor ergonomic solutions when it comes to workstation design resulting in prolonged sitting in non-neutral positions contribute to the development and aggravation of musculoskeletal disorders in teleworkers. Working with inadequately placed screens and laptops and sitting in maladjusted seats without usual functionalities and ergonomic support is associated with musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. Extended working hours with fewer rest periods to meet increased work demands, social isolation, and lack of support from work colleagues and superiors as well as blurred work-home boundaries and omnipresence of work are commonly stated psychosocial and organizational factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Environmental factors such as poor lighting and glare, inadequate room temperature, and ventilation or noise, are frequently overlooked remote workstation risk factors. For a certain part of workers, telework will remain a common way of work in the post-pandemic period. Therefore, it is essential to identify telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and address them with timely preventive measures tailored to each remote workstation’s risks and individual workers’ needs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1155745/fullteleworkmusculoskeletal disordersergonomic riskspsychosocial risksCOVID-19pandemic |
| spellingShingle | Marina Milaković Helena Koren Karmen Bradvica-Kelava Marija Bubaš Josipa Nakić Pavle Jeličić Lovro Bucić Barbara Bekavac Jelena Čvrljak Magdalena Capak Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders Frontiers in Public Health telework musculoskeletal disorders ergonomic risks psychosocial risks COVID-19 pandemic |
| title | Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders |
| title_full | Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders |
| title_fullStr | Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders |
| title_short | Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders |
| title_sort | telework related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders |
| topic | telework musculoskeletal disorders ergonomic risks psychosocial risks COVID-19 pandemic |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1155745/full |
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