Construction of a Musculoskeletal Discomfort Scale for the Lower Limbs of Workers: An Analysis Using the Multigroup Item Response Theory

Joel Gomes da Silva, Jonhatan Magno Norte da Silva (), Lucas Gomes Miranda Bispo, Deividson Sá Fernandes de Souza, Rômulo Silva Serafim, Manoel Gerônimo Lino Torres, Wilza Karla dos Santos Leite and Elamara Marama de Araujo Vieira
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Joel Gomes da Silva: Production Engineering Course, Backland Campus, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, AL, Brazil
Jonhatan Magno Norte da Silva: Production Engineering Course, Backland Campus, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, AL, Brazil
Lucas Gomes Miranda Bispo: Department of Production and Transport Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90010-190, RS, Brazil
Deividson Sá Fernandes de Souza: Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of Pernambuco, Caruaru 55040-900, PE, Brazil
Rômulo Silva Serafim: Production Engineering Course, Backland Campus, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, AL, Brazil
Manoel Gerônimo Lino Torres: Production Engineering Course, Backland Campus, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, AL, Brazil
Wilza Karla dos Santos Leite: Physiotherapy Course, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68903-419, AP, Brazil
Elamara Marama de Araujo Vieira: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-24

Abstract: Musculoskeletal symptoms are a major occupational health problem in workers, and these can affect all professional occupations. Previous studies have proposed metrics capable of evaluating the musculoskeletal discomfort experienced by workers. However, no study has developed a metric that considers professional groups. Thus, this study aimed to develop a scale for musculoskeletal discomfort in the lower limbs to compare self-reported symptoms among education, health, and industry professionals. The sample included 159 teachers, 167 health professionals, and 401 industrial operators who relayed their symptoms using a diagram of the hips, thighs, knees, lower legs, and feet. Factor and multigroup item response theory analyses were used to construct a musculoskeletal discomfort scale consisting of seven levels and to assess and compare the identified symptoms. The results showed that the progressive evolution of discomfort differed for each profession, demonstrating that each context and work environment affects workers differently, which may explain the different patterns of symptom responses among professional groups.

Keywords: pain symptoms; discomfort metric; multiple professions; lower limb (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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