title: Musculoskeletal disorders among female carpet weavers in Iran.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with self-reported upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) among female carpet weavers. Data on demographic characteristics and workplace factors were collected from 626 female carpet weavers. Type of carpet weaving looms, weaving style (Persian vs. Turkish), daily working hours and work experience as well as personal factors including age and marital status were significantly and independently associated with self-reported UEMSDs (p < 0.05), while education, handedness and weight of weaving comb were not. A major finding of this study was the significant association between weaving style and UEMSDs. Better measures of the biomechanical requirements of carpet weaving tasks in Persian and Turkish weaving types are required to understand better their influences on the health of weavers and on UEMSDs in particular. Poor workstation design, in particular, design inappropriate for the anthropometric dimensions of weavers, was a major risk factor for musculoskeletal symptoms in carpet weaving. Therefore, this industry should develop equipment adapted to women's sizes and shapes.
  This article provides an insight into the risk factors associated with self-reported UEMSDs among female carpet weavers, identifying major factors associated with upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and exploring guidelines for designing weaving workstations.
authors.affiliation: Ergonomics Department, School of Public Health and Research Centre for Health Sciences, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran. motamedzade@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motamedzade
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moghimbeigi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013783:Textile Industry / Q000379:methods*; D034941:Upper Extremity; D014931:Women, Working; D055815:Young Adult