Among a sample of 789 workers across a variety of industries, researchers found prolonged exposure to awkward postures could increase an individual’s risk of developing a musculoskeletal (MSK) condition. These postures include: kneeling/crouching (low-back pain), neck flexion and rotation (neck pain), trunk flexion (low-back pain), and arm elevation (neck and shoulder pain). Future studies aim to identify exposure limits for each posture in an effort to curb work-related MSK disorder risk.
Ergonomics, December 2015