Effect of working posture on back pain occurrence among electronic workers in Malaysia

Abstract

Back pain remains a major work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) and has caused loss in individuals’ workdays and organisations’ productivity. Hence, this study compares muscular activities of the trapezius and erector spinae muscles of the back, in order to identify the onset of fatigue among standing and sitting electronics workers in Malaysia. Surface electromyography was used to evaluate the muscular activities in 11 electronics assembly workers, made up of six males and five females, continuously for one hour. Two measures, mean power frequency and average electromyography were used to identify the difference. Both measures indicated significant difference between the upper back muscles of standing and sitting workers, and more muscular activities were observed among sitting workers than the standing workers. However, the reduction in frequency was not significant enough to show fatigue among both standing and sitting workers. Hence, organisations should provide short breaks after every hour to reduce WMSD, and improve general wellbeing of the workers.