title: Association between postures and work-related musculoskeletal discomforts (WRMD) among beverage bottling workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bottling tasks postures may increase risk for developing work related musculoskeletal discomforts (WRMDs). Postural evaluation with epidemiological investigation for possible association may be appropriate for planning ergonomic programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate working postures and investigate associations between postural risks and prevalence of WRMDs among beverage bottling workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  301 beverage bottling company workers (8 work-stations) participated in this survey. They were required to complete a modified standard Nordic questionnaire, and their working postures examined utilizing Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postural risks ratings were high (8- 10) to very high (11- 15). Shoulder was the most commonly reported body part with WRMDs except at the carbonating workstations where Neck, Upper and Lower back discomforts were the most common (60.0%). The compounding workstations recorded the highest prevalence of WRMDs in all body regions except shoulder and wrist. There was a significant association between working posture and occurrence of WRMDs in at least one body part. Similarly, working posture was significantly associated with WRMDs at Neck, Upper back and Wrist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Working postures may be exposing beverage bottling workers to significant risk of developing WRMDs in at least one body part, more specifically, Shoulder, Neck, Upper back and Wrist. Intervention aimed at reducing postural risks is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: U O
authors.initials: UO
authors.lastname: Abaraogu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Odebiyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Olawale
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019649:Food Industry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011187:Posture; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ergonomics; REBA; working posture