Showing 2 results for Physical Activity
Marzieh Mohammadi, Zeinab Kazemi, Marzieh Izadi Laybidi, Mohammad Sadegh Ghasemi,
Volume 14, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Introduction: Operating room personnel are involved with occupational physical activities such as repetitive bending, holding surgical tools and standing for long hours that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Low back pain (LBP) is the most prevalent and costly problem among these disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between occupational physical activity, LBP and disability among operating room personnel.
Material and Methods: A total of 60 operating room personnel voluntarily participated in the study, all of which had at least two years of working experience. At the end of a working week, the degree of disability and pain were assessed by Graded Chronic Pain (GCP) questionnaire. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to evaluate the level of physical activity. Simple linear regression was conducted to investigate the relationship between physical activity, LBP and disability.
Results: The survey using the GCP questionnaire revealed that 58.3% of participants reported experiencing occupational back pain, while 41.7% reported no back pain. Among those with back pain, the average pain intensity was rated 43.11 (18.22) on the scale. Pain remained stable for an average of 2.3 days (standard deviation = 0.95). The average level of disability associated with back pain was 32.09 (27.44). Statistical analysis using simple linear regression showed a significant relationship between back pain and several factors: vigorous physical activity (p-value = 0.02), prolonged sitting time (p-value = 0.01), and chronic pain (p-value < 0.001).
Conclusion: Occupational physical activity characterized by low intensity, but high repetition and standing for a long time in fixed postures were the most significant contributors to lumbar back pain among operating room personnel. Chronic pain in this population was reported as grade 2, indicating severe pain with minimal disability; if left unaddressed, this could lead to movement restrictions.
Mohammadreza Shahabi Kaseb, Masoumeh Mahmoudzadeh, Zahra Estiri, Arezou Mehranian,
Volume 15, Issue 3 (10-2025)
Abstract
Introduction: Commercial trucking is one of the most challenging occupations, with long work hours, short rest periods, and substantial psychological pressures that contribute to fatigue and deterioration at work. Since regular physical activity is one of the pillars of healthy life and can improve physical and mental functioning, the present study investigated the relationship between physical activity and driver performance with occupational fatigue as a possible mediator.
Material and Methods: The study population was intercity commercial truck drivers in several cities of Razavi Khorasan Province. Using Green’s formula, we calculated a sample size of 140 participants. Data were collected with the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory, the Sharkey Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Driver Performance Questionnaire (unsafe behaviors). Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analyses.
Results: Our results showed a significant positive correlation between occupational fatigue and driver performance problems (P=0.001). Both the correlation between physical activity and work fatigue, and the correlation between physical activity and driver performance were significant negative correlations (P=0.001). In addition, the indirect link between physical activity and driver performance via occupational fatigue was also significantly negative (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Based on our research results, enhanced physical activity contributes to enhanced driver performance (decreased unsafe behaviors) of commercial truck operators, directly and indirectly through decreased occupational fatigue. This study provides scientific evidence for the development of safety policy in the transportation industry of Iran.
