To describe the work ability and health problems among Brazilian recyclable waste pickers. Sixty-one workers answered questionnaires related to the work ability (Work Ability Index-WAI), musculoskeletal problems (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire-NMQ), low back related disability (Roland Morris Questionnaire-RMQ), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-IPAQ), smoking (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence-FTND), and alcohol use (The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test AUDIT). Brazilian recyclable waste pickers are mostly young (25-44 years old: 54%), women (88%) with low schooling (incomplete elementary school: 54%), high turnover at work (job seniority < 12 months: 70%), low rates of sick leave (20%) and accidents at work (13%). The workers reported good (44%) or optimal (43%) work ability. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the last 12 months was high (lower back: 49%, shoulders: 28%, neck: 23%, wrists and hands: 21%), as well as the prevalence of hypertension (28%). Most of the workers reported to be physically active or very active (57%), smoke (34%) and drink alcohol (44%). This study outlined the profile of recyclable waste pickers regarding work ability and health problems, which highlight the need for preventive measures focused on musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases among this population.

There is much evidence to show postural flaws occurring in violin players during performance. The general objective of this study was to observe violinists during performance for the appearance of postural flaws and the frequency with which these flaws occurred. For this work, 20-minute video recordings were made of four student violinists from an orchestra; the violinists were recorded from a frontal viewpoint, and also anatomic markers were placed on them in order to separately analyze some of the arm and head movements through a computer program. After recording, we captured images in order to categorize some postures, verifying how often these flaws appeared from different points of view. We conclude that all violinists presented postural flaws which could be avoided because they are not part of the normal instrumental techniques.

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Recyclable material collectors perform manual material handling activities using nylon bags. In cooperatives, these bags are dragged on the floor; however, this activity has been replaced by carts to facilitate activity, improve logistics, increase the useful life of bags and reduce musculoskeletal complaints. However, there is no evidence that the use of carts can bring benefits to this activity. Thus, we compared the traction force and the muscular activity of the upper limb during manual handling with and without the aid of a cart. Fifteen workers pulled bags with plastic (20 kg), cardboard (30 kg) and aluminum (40 kg), with and without the use of a cart. The traction force was greater when the bag was handled manually and increased according to the bag's mass; no differences were found between the masses with the use of the cart. Muscle activity was greater for the cart and with a tendency to increase activation as the mass increases. Thus, we noticed that the use of the cart reduced the traction force and increased the activation of the muscles of the upper limbs.