Alleviation: An International Journal of Nutrition, Gender & Social Development, ISSN 2348-9340 Volume 7, Number 7 (2020): 1-11
© Arya PG College (College with Potential for Excellence Status by UGC) & Business Press India Publication, Delhi http://apcjournals.com, www.aryapgcollege.com

Musculoskeletal Disorders Developed in Women Working in Handicraft Industries of Patiala District

Ajita D Singh1* and Jeewanjot Kaur2
1Associate Professor, Department of Sports Science, Punjabi University, Patiala
2 Research Scholar, Department of Sports Science, Punjabi University, Patiala
(Punjab), India
*Email: ajitadsingh1@gmail.com

Abstract

Patiala, a city in the Punjab, is known for its handicraft heritage. Most of the lower class women of the interior of the city are involved in this small scale industry to earn their income. The handicraft industry involves skill of the hand and which embodies a part of the creator’s personality in addition to as centuries of evolutionary tradition. To develop any object related to the industry, the repetitive movements of hands and other body parts are involved. The repetition of the use of any joint or a body part may result in the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) which are currently one of the most critical problems globally faced by the ergonomists at the workplace. For ergonomists and health professionals, it is important to study the problems of workplace injuries because it is only poor working conditions and the absence of an effective work injury prevention program in industrially developing countries have resulted in a very incidence of MSDs. The present study was conducted on total 150 workers who are engaged in phulkari embroidery, pranda making, dari weaving, naala weaving and pakhi making. The subjects related to each category were evaluated for their physiological cost of work by measuring heart rate stress during activity, during rest and during recovery. Total cardiac cost of work and energy expenditure was calculated. On the basis of heart rate (beats/min) and energy expenditure (KJ/min), physiological workload was calculated. Physical fitness of the subjects was determined according to classification of given by Verghese et. al. (1996). Grip strength of both hands was measured before activity and after activity. All the subjects reported muscular pain and reduction in capacity of work. The musculoskeletal disorders were also developed due to prolonged and repetitive movements. Thus it is concluded from the present study that the periodic training program should be organized to educate the workers regarding musculoskeletal disorders and the importance of rest and pause during their working hours. Moreover, their workstation should be reorganized in order to maintain their proper posture.

Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Women Workers, Handicraft Industries, Physiological Cost of Work.

Introduction

Patiala, a city in the Punjab, is known for its handicraft heritage. Most of the lower class women of the interior of the city are involved in this small scale industry to earn their income. Many operations and household activities performed by women involve a lot of physical strain, which create serious health problems in the long run (Choobineth et al 2004). Since they are overburdened with so much work both at their workplace and home, there is chance of neglecting their health.
The handicraft industry involves skill of the hand and which embodies a part of the creator’s personality in addition to as centuries of evolutionary tradition. To develop any object related to the industry, the repetitive movements of hands and other body parts are involved. The repetition of the use of any joint or a body part may result in the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) which are currently one of the most critical problems globally faced by the ergonomists at the workplace. For ergonomists and health professionals, it is important to study the problems of workplace injuries because the poor working conditions and the absence of an effective work injury prevention program in industrially developed countries have resulted in a very incidence of MSDs. The objectives of the present study were:
• To identify and compare the grip strength in female workers belonging to different categories of handicraft industry.
• To identify and compare the physiological cost of work of female workers belonging to different categories of handicraft industry.
• To identify the various musculoskeletal disorders developed in this industry.
The hypotheses of the study were :
• Repetitive movements during weaving may result in particular type of musculoskeletal disorder.
• Traditional weaving posture cause back and neck problems.
Material and Methods
Subjects
One fifty workers were chosen who were engaged in various activities of handicraft industry like phulkari embroidery, pranda making, dari weaving, naala weaving and pakhi making- comprising 30 workers in each category.
Inclusion Criteria:
• Workers must work for 3-5 hours daily.
• Workers must have working experience of last 5 years.
Exclusion Criteria: • Pregnant women.
• Women with CHD.
• Women with physical disability like polio.
Study Design
Experimental design.
Instrumentation
• Weighing machine was used to record weight of the subject.
• Anthropometric rod was used to record stature of each subject.
• Body mass index of each subject was calculated using the following formula:
BMI (Kg/m2)= Weight (kg)/Height (m2 ).
• Dynamometer was used to measure grip strength of the subjects.
• Grip strength was measured by digital grip dynamometer. Before activity and after activity grip strength was measured to calculate the change in grip strength after work.
• Heart rate monitor was used to record heart rate during rest, activity and during recovery. On the basis of heart rate, physiological cost of work and energy expenditure was calculated.
Physiological Cost of Work
Physiological cost of work was calculated by measuring heart rate stress during activity, during rest and during recovery. Total cardiac cost of work and energy expenditure was calculated on the basis of heart rate (beats/min) and energy expenditure (KJ/min).
Results and Discussion
Table 1 shows that mean and SD values of physical characteristics of the handicraft workers belonging to different categories. The physical characteristics include age (yrs), height (cms), weight (Kgs) and body mass index. It is clear from the table that all subjects were almost of same age, height and weight. The mean values of all the categories shows that they were in the normal range of body height and weight according to their age and sex and hence possess normal values of body mass index. Table 2 shows the mean and SD values of right and left hand grip strength before and after performing the particular activity among the handicraft workers belonging to different categories. As the various activities involved in the handicraft industry are performed by repetitive movements of hands, that’s why the grip strength is an important parameter to be identified . As after performing physical activity, the muscles involved in the particular activity get fatigued influencing the performance of those particular muscles. It is clear from the table that there is decrease in the grip strength values after the activity performed.
Table 3 shows the prevalence of the musculoskeletal pain among the different categories of workers of handicraft industry.
This study presents evidence confirming that the work of weavers is strenuous. Consequently, the weavers suffer from musculoskeletal disorders arising from of a number of reasons — the most relevant being the adoption of a constrained sitting posture for prolong time periods. Among those experiencing musculoskeletal disorders, the neck pain was experienced mostly by pakhi makers (80%), followed by phulkari weavers (60%), pranda weavers ( 56.7%), naale weavers (43.3%) and dari weavers (36.6%). Shoulder pain was experienced maximum by dari weavers (70%), followed by pranda weavers (66.7%), phulkari weavers (36.6%), naale weavers (30%) and pakhi makers (26.7%) and lower back pain was observed maximum in naale weavers (80%), followed by pranda weavers (66.7%), dari weavers (63.3%), phulkari weavers (60%) and pakhi makers (53.3%).

Even in our modern times, the traditional cultural activity of handloom weaving is invaluable and it is essential that weavers are sufficiently cared for and valued as artisans and employees. Moreover, this profession provides the livelihood of a large section of the working population in Patiala district.
Heart rate of workers was measured during activity and rest. Cardiac cost of work (CCW) and Cardiac cost of recovery (CCR) were calculated to evaluate the physiological cost of work and energy expenditure during the activity performed during their work in each category of workers. Any physical activity performed voluntarily or involuntarily costs some energy expenditure. In the present study, it has been calculated with the help of heart rate. It was observed that physiological cost of work as well as energy expenditure was highest in the pakhi makers and was least among the pranda weavers. It may be attributed to the fact of the sitting posture, followed during the particular activity.
Level of fitness as observed by VO2 max is good in all the categories of handicraft workers except the pranda weavers who come in the low average categories as per classification given by Verghese et. al., 1996.

Conclusion
Women involved in handicraft industries work from morning to evening, usually they adapt same posture throughout work for long period of time without change in posture. Therefore, they reported muscular pain and reduction in capacity of work. Hence, periodic training program should be organized to emphasize on education of the worker regarding musculoskeletal disorders and the importance of rest and pause during their working hours. Moreover, their workstation should be reorganized in order to maintain their proper posture.
Relevance and Scope
Further research is required to build up effective preventative or ergonomic strategies that may be applied to the handicraft industry to decrease the incidence of occupational diseases. Therefore, interventions toward designing ergonomic weaving workstations and weaving hand tools should also be regarded as a main concern for improving the situation for workers in the handicraft industry. Therefore, there is an immediate need for government cooperation to provide a safer environment and proper ergonomics for weavers in the handicraft industry of Patiala. This study is important not only from the occupational health and financial point of view of the weavers, but also for the sustenance of the aesthetic and cultural value of the handloom weaving profession.
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