Musculoskeletal disorders among female and male air traffic controllers performing identical and demanding computer work.

Full Abstract

Operators with identical, demanding computer work (90 female and 97 male air traffic controllers) were found to have high prevalences of disorders (assessed by questionnaire and physical examination) in neck, shoulders and upper back. In spite of the identical work, the women displayed higher prevalences than the men (e.g. neck diagnoses 21% vs. 4%). Disorders in elbows, wrists and hands were less common, with similar rates in both genders. Generally, the psychosocial work environment (assessed by questionnaire) was found to be good, but with large inter-individual variation. Women experienced lower decision latitude than men, particularly regarding influence and freedom at work, but perceived higher social support. Physically, the work was characterized by relatively low angular velocities of upper arms (measured by inclinometry) and wrists (right:
< 1 degrees/s during 19% of time, measuring by goniometry), dynamic muscular activities and high time fractions of rest in the trapezius and forearm extensor muscles (measuring by electromyography). There were only minor differences between the genders.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Arvidsson, I (I); Arvidsson, M (M); Axmon, A (A); Hansson, G-A (GA); Johansson, C R (CR); Skerfving, S (S);

Affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85, LUND, Sweden. inger.arvidsson(-atsign-)med.lu.se

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Ergonomics (Ergonomics), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Sep; vol 49 (issue 11) : pp 1052-67

Dates: Created 2006/09/04; Completed 2006/11/14; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16950721, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Accidents, Aviation - prevention & control
Adult
Female
Humans
Male

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.