Influence of ergonomics of schoolchildren’s workplaces on the occurrence of musculoskeletal discomfort

Introduction. Purpose of the study — is to evaluate the influence of ergonomic parameters of modern educational environment workplaces on the manifestation of musculoskeletal discomfort in adolescents.

Materials and methods. The conformity of the size of the working places at school to the anthropometric parameters of adolescents was assessed, the goniometric parameters of the working postures were evaluated, presence of musculoskeletal discomfort was studied using an adapted version of the Nordic Questionnaire, and associated factors during the questionnaire.

Results. There were revealed discrepancies between the size of the school educational furniture and the anthropometric data of adolescents, the presence of deviations from the recommended ranges for the goniometric indicators of the working postures of adolescents at school. There is a high prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort among adolescents. The results of the influence of an irrational working posture on the manifestation of musculoskeletal discomfort among adolescents have been obtained.

Limitations. The study included groups of 10–11 years and 15–16 years adolescents. The questionnaire method was used to assess the manifestations of musculoskeletal discomfort, with no study of musculoskeletal disorders in adolescents. The study was cross-sectional in nature.

Conclusion. to prevent posture disorders and manifestations of musculoskeletal discomfort, it is important to teach adolescents ergonomic principles, the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, and the preservation of a rational working posture in school activities.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local ethical committee of the Kazan State Medical University, Ministry of Health Care of Russia (excerpt from protocol no. 3 of March 26, 2019).

Patient consent. Each participant of the study (or his/her legal representative) gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study and publish personal medical information in an impersonal form in the journal "Gigiena i Sanitariya (Hygiene and Sanitation, Russian journal)".

Contribution:
Ablyaeva A.V. — material collection and data processing, statistical processing, text writing;
Minacheva A.I. — material collection for the study;
Fathutdinova L.M. — work supervisor, research concept and design, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version. 

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest. 

Acknowledgment. The research was supported by a grant from the International Scientific Council for Young Scientists of Kazan State Medical University. The research was supported by the Strategic Academic Leadership Program of Kazan State Medical University (Priority 2030).

Received: October 27, 2022 / Accepted: December 8, 2022 / Published: January 12, 2023

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