Static posture and musculoskeletal performance in an aging workforce

Background: Back and lower extremity symptoms are concomitants of the aging workforce, with accelerated incidence with greater physical demands. Health promotion efforts have focused on individual factors such as obesity and leisure exercise, but contributions from workplace activity need better definition. Standard survey items for worker activity may not provide necessary information concerning static standing and active movement in a small area, and these details may help understand the relationships between individual and workplace risk. Methods: As part of a larger study, work activities for 180 manufacturing workers were measured (data logging of motions and structured observation). Survey responses and physiologic measurements of strength and body fat were collected. Results: Data analysis is currently being conducted to determine the consistency of self-report, structured observation and data logging based on differences of ranks categorized into no, minor, and major inconsistencies. Stepwise logistic regression will be conducted for age, gender, weight category and psychosocial measures of job satisfaction and health-self efficacy to assess whether job type and physical content is associated with either health risk profiles or physical activity capacities. Comparisons will be made across job categories in terms of sitting/standing and activity level in relation to human performance outcome measures. Conclusion: Static posture and movement variables in combination with individual characteristics will be assessed in relation to strength outcomes.