JOURNAL OF LIAONING TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
(NATURAL SCIENCE EDITION)
LIAONING GONGCHENG JISHU DAXUE XUEBAO (ZIRAN KEXUE BAN)
辽宁工程技术大学学报（自然科学版）
PROPENSITY OF NECK PAIN AND ITS IMPACTS ON WORK PERFORMANCE AMONG SEWING MACHINE OPERATORS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY
Eman Javed, Amber Iftikhar, Ayesha Javed, Irrij Javed Jadoon, Laiba Sajid, Zupash Sadaqat, Saima Babar, Sumbal Muhammad Shoaib, Adeeba Tabassum, Pakeeza Sarwar
ABSTRACT
Introduction: One of the most familiar musculoskeletal issues encountered by sewing machine workers is neck pain. Long period of time spend in this uncomfortable position might lead to neck ache. This kind of work demands a great deal of concentration, attentiveness and visual focusing that might lead to the cited condition.
Objectives: To find out the prevalence and intensity of neck pain among sewing machine operators of Abbottabad.
Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study design was chosen after the approval from the Institutional Review Board of Women Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Abbottabad. A sample size of 377 was deemed appropriate for the study, calculated via raosoft sample size calculator. Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) was administered to the subjects selected in order to analyze the variables. Data was primarily collected by employing convenience sampling technique from the city of Abbottabad. The consent and willingness of the participants were ensured. Ethical guidelines were duly followed throughout the study.
Results: Out of the sample selected, 283 were males and 94 were females. Around 72.7% participants reported having neck pain and most of the operators ((40.6%) were found working for almost 7 years. 56.5% of operators were suffering from neck pain for more than one year. 49.6% were suffering with neck pain during activity and 52.5% had intermittent neck pain. Majority of participants’ sleep was not interrupted by neck pain.
Conclusion: Sewing machine operators of Abbottabad have high prevalence and intensity of neck pain with faulty posture and continuous working hours as major risk factors.
Keywords: Neck pain, Sewing machine operators, Prevalence, Intensity.