Association Between Subjective Neck Pain and Characteristics of the Neck Region Among Female Sewing Machine Operators.

Abstract

Key words:-sewing machine operators, neck pain, range of motion, muscle strength, neck height and circumference.Operating a sewing machine is an identified occupational risk for neck disorders. The scope of this study was to identify whether there is an association between neck pain and characteristics of the neck (range of motion, muscle strength, height and circumference) among female sewing machine operators. A cross sectional, descriptive study was carried out among 100 female sewing machine operators with an age range of 25-35 years in a garment factory in Katunayake Free Trade Zone, Sri Lanka. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to find out the neck pain distribution. Physical assessment was conducted to assess neck characteristics. Characteristics of the neck among "neck pain" group (who complained of neck pain within last two years) and "no neck pain" group (who had not neck pain within last two years) were analyzed with independent sample t test using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 17. Study revealed that 49% had neck pain within last two years, while neck range of motion, neck muscle strengths of extensor and left and right rotators, neck height and circumference were significantly reduced in "neck pain" group when compared with "no neck pain" group. The study concluded that high proportions of sewing machine operators had neck pain; and there is an association between neck pain and some characteristics of the neck (range of motion, muscle strengths of extensor and left and right rotators, height and circumference) as these characteristics were significantly reduced in "neck pain" group when compared to "no neck pain" group.