Investigation of The Pain and Disability Situation of The Individuals Working "Home-Office" At Home At The Covid-19 Isolation Process

Year 2020, , 100 - 104, 20.12.2020

Nihan Özünlü Pekyavaş , Engin Pekyavas

https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.772675

Cited By: 1

Abstract

The aim of our study is to examine pain and disability in low back, knee and shoulder regions of individuals working at home during COVID-19 isolation process. In our study, 87 volunteers were included in digital media by questionnaire with data collection method. Individuals who worked in the office before COVID-19 isolation but started working from home during the isolation were included in our study. In addition to the socio-demographic characteristics of the individuals, their situation about the working environment at home was questioned. In addition, pain in the low back, knee and shoulder regions was evaluated with an 11-point pain scale (EPPS). In order to determine the level of disability, individuals were asked to fill in the Oswestry Disability Index (for the lumbar region), Lysholm Knee Score (for the knee region) and the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH) (for the shoulder region). It was seen that 86.2% preferred desk environment more frequently as home working environment and 65.5% spent 3 to 8 hours in this environment. During the home isolation process, the highest pain was observed for low back pain (50.6%) in individuals (EPPS:4-5), then shoulder pain (44.8%) (EPPS:5) and knee pain (35.6%) (EPPS:4-5). When the levels of disability were evaluated, the Oswestry score was found 13.08±11.98, the Lysholm score was found 91.20±12.23 and the DASH score was found 9.61±16.78. It has been observed that individuals working at home during COVID-19 isolation process may develop shoulder and knee pain, and mostly in the low back region, and all these pain are defined as moderate severity pain. However, when we look at the levels of disability, it was seen that low back pain, knee pain or shoulder pain did not pose a significant problem in the life of the patient and the level of disability was low.

Keywords

Pain, Low Back, Shoulder, Knee, Covid-19 isolation process

References

• Ariens, G., Bongers, P., Hoogendoorn, W., Houtman, I.L.D., van der Wal, G., van Mechelen, W. (2001). High quantitative job demands and low coworker support as risk factors for neck pain: results of a prospective cohort study. Spine, 26:1896–901.
• Carayon, P., Smith, M. J. (2000). Work organization and ergonomics. Appl Ergon, 31(6), 649-662.
• Collins, N.J., Misra, D., Felson, D.T., Crossley, K.M., Roos, E. M. (2011). Measures of knee function. Arthritis Care Res, 63(S11), 208-228.
• Demure, B., Luippold, R., Bigelow, C., Danielle, A., Mundt, K.A., Bernhard, L. Video display terminal workstation improvement program: I. Baseline associations between musculoskeletal discomfort and ergonomic features of workstations. J Occup Environ Med 2000;42:783–91.
• Düger, T., Yakut, E., Öksüz, Ç., Yörükan, S., Bilgütay, B. S., Ayhan, Ç., Leblebicioğlu, G., Kayıhan, H., Kırdı, N., Yakut, Y., Güler, Ç. (2006). Kol, omuz ve el sorunları (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand-DASH) anketi Türkçe uyarlamasının güvenirliği ve geçerliği. Fizyoterapi Rehabilitasyon, 17(3), 99-107.
• Ellison, J. K. (2011). Ergonomics for telecommuters and other remote workers. In ASSE Professional Development Conference and Exposition. American Society of Safety Engineers.
• Eriksen, W., Natvig, B., Knardahl, S., Bruusgaard, D. (1999). Job characteristics as predictors of neck pain. A 4-year prospective study. J Occup Environ Med, 41:893–902.
• Fairbank, J.C., Couper, J., Davies, J.B., O'Brien, J.P. (1980). The Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire. Physiotherapy, 66, 271-273.
• Fritz, J.M., Irrgang, J.J. (2001). A comparison of a modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire and the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale. Phys Ther, 81, 776-788.
• Harrington, S. S., Walker, B. L. (2004). The effects of ergonomics training on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of teleworkers. J Safety Res, 35(1), 13-22.
• Hartvigsen, J., Leboeuf-Yde, C., Lings, S., & Corder, E. H. (2000). Review Article: Is sitting-while-at-work associated with low back pain? A systematic, critical literature review. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 28(3), 230–239. https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948000280030201
• Hill, E. J., Ferris, M., & Märtinson, V. (2003). Does it matter where you work? A comparison of how three work venues (traditional office, virtual office, and home office) influence aspects of work and personal/family life. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 63(2), 220-241.
• Karakoyun, F. (2016). Home ofis-evden çalışma-yöntemi ve vergi hukukundaki düzenlemeler. Uluslararası Yönetim İktisat ve İşletme Dergisi, 12(29), 141-162.
• Kwong, W.J., Pathak, D.S. (2007). Validation of the eleven-point pain scale in the measurement of migraine headache pain. Cephalalgia, 27(4), 336-342.
• Roffey, D. M., Wai, E. K., Bishop, P., Kwon, B. K., & Dagenais, S. (2010). Causal assessment of occupational sitting and low back pain: results of a systematic review. The Spine Journal, 10(3), 252-261.
• Shannon, H., Woodward, C., Cunningham, C., McIntosh, J., Lendrum, B., Brown, J., & Rosenbloom, D. (2001). Changes in general health and musculoskeletal outcomes in the workforce of a hospital undergoing rapid change: a longitudinal study. J Occup Health Psychol, 2001;6:3–14.
• Szeto, G. P., & Lam, P. (2007). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in urban bus drivers of Hong Kong. Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 17(2), 181-198.
• Tittiranonda, P., Burastero, S., Rempel, D. (1999). Risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders among computer users. Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews,14:17–38.