Rahul Jain

Greenhouse pruning involves repetitive hand movements, sustained grip force, and prolonged exposure to heat, placing farmers at risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This study examined the effects of individual, work-related, and environmental factors on hand grip strength (HGS) among greenhouse farmers during pruning tasks. A field-based repeated-measures study was conducted among 100 greenhouse farmers performing tomato-pruning activities under real-time greenhouse conditions. HGS was measured six times daily over a 15-day pruning period using a digital hand dynamometer for both hands. Anthropometric variables, pruning tool type, and environmental temperature were recorded. Hierarchical linear mixed-effects modelling was performed to account for within-subject variability across repeated work phases and working days. Mean HGS was 32.55 ± 5.41 kg for the dominant hand and 28.24 ± 5.05 kg for the non-dominant hand. Dominant hand usage, gender, and forearm-to-hand length were the strongest predictors of HGS. HGS progressively declined across work phases, with an overall reduction of approximately 7.6% from morning to evening work periods. Male participants demonstrated consistently greater HGS values than female participants. HGS was significantly associated with anthropometric characteristics. Indoor greenhouse temperature demonstrated a weak negative but statistically non-significant association with HGS. Repetitive greenhouse pruning tasks contribute to progressive reductions in HGS during prolonged work periods. Anthropometric characteristics and pruning tool design substantially influence grip performance during pruning activities. The findings support ergonomic interventions, including optimized tool design, task-specific training, and work-rest scheduling, to reduce cumulative upper-extremity loading and improve occupational health among greenhouse farmers.

Manual farming operations among small-scale independent farmers engaged in subsistence agriculture expose workers to significant ergonomic hazards, leading to a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study assessed MSD prevalence and associated risk factors among 298 manual farming workers (177 males, 121 females) in the State of Rajasthan, India. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire, and work postures were analyzed using rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) and rapid entire body assessment (REBA) assessment methods. Binary logistic regression identified significant predictors of MSDs: age >40 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.71), body mass index >25 kg/m² (OR = 3.04), working >6 hr/day (OR = 4.6), limited rest breaks (OR = 6.58), and prolonged awkward postures. Postural assessment outcomes revealed that 90% of participants had RULA scores >7 and 84% had REBA scores >8, both indicating high ergonomic risk levels. The findings highlight the urgent need for ergonomic interventions, work-rest cycle optimization, and posture modification strategies to mitigate the burden of MSDs in manual farming communities.

Objectives. The current study correlated grip strength (GS) measurements with upper-limb muscle activity (UMA) for three different experience levels of manual workers (beginner, intermediate and advanced). Methods. A total of 182 male and female manual workers were chosen, and GS was assessed in some contexts using a digital handgrip dynamometer. Results. The GS values change significantly depending on the amount of experience of the workers. The difference in GS for different UMA demonstrates that continuous exposure to hand tools in different conditions of the hands (twisting, bending, etc.) significantly impacts manual arm strength. Conclusions. These findings suggest that repetitive use of hand tools in various manual operations (cutting, digging, pruning, spading, etc.) causes GS to vary significantly. In addition, beginner experience-level individuals exhibited much lower GS values in the dominant hand, whereas advanced experience-level workers had the greatest strength. Thus, for generating higher forces, professionals (advanced and intermediate levels) choose to execute safer activity (i.e., more neutral positions) than beginners.

Objectives. The coronavirus outbreak delivered the condition of dying from infection and forced people (especially university student computer users) to perform all working and non-working activities during homestay. In this situation, device usage for a longer duration is mainly responsible for work-related health issues. This study aims to discover the effect of a physical activity intervention (PAI) on computer users’ musculoskeletal health during homestay. Methods. The investigation was performed on 40 university student computer users. To measure body discomfort before and after using the PAI, the body part discomfort scale of Corlett and Bishop was applied. Results. After implementing the PAI, the musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) decrement in major body regions was reported as wrist/forearm (from 8.17 ± 1.45 to 4.57 ± 1.10), lower back (from 8.01 ± 1.42 to 4.40 ± 1.14), elbow (from 7.57 ± 1.71 to 3.49 ± 1.13) and neck (from 7.40 ± 1.71 to 4.02 ± 0.81). Conclusions. PAI significantly decreased the discomfort among users in various body regions. This research suggested that PAIs may reduce the risk of MSDs in the long term for different body regions.

Objectives. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting people throughout the world. People are forced to conduct various activities at home using mobile devices (MDs) as a result of the outbreak. In this case, prolonged use of MDs is the major cause for work-related health problems. Methods. We used systematic cluster random sampling to sample a diverse group of Indians from India’s various states. Subjects filled out a questionnaire with questions about their demographics, MD usage and musculoskeletal symptoms (MSSs) faced. The relationship between MSSs and various factors was investigated using χ² and binomial logistic regression analysis. Results. An online survey yielded 720 responses. More than half of employees registered MSSs in their upper body regions. Age, gender and MD usage were correlated with MSSs in various body regions. According to the binomial logistic regression findings, gender was significantly linked to MSSs in each body region. Conclusions. Results show that MDs can be used effectively in intermediate leisure activities if they are used in accordance with their basic needs.