Women's economic contribution towards national economy hindered due to upper and lower extremity complaints Vijayapriya S.*, Dr. Sankar P.** *Assistant Professor, Dept.of. Home Science, Queen Mary's College, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India **Professor, Dept.of. Library and information Studies, PRIST University, Chennai Campus, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India Online published on 20 June, 2013. Abstract Women play multiple tasks at home and at work place. Working women's dual responsibility at home and in office causes multiple musculoskeletal disorders. They tend to perform tasks that have elements of high repetition, forceful motions or awkward postures. As a result they are prone to muscular injuries especially ones that affect the back, hands, wrists, neck, shoulders and arms. Repetitious handling of heavy objects includes carrying, lifting and check out materials. Unnecessary handling of tasks such as relocating things to different shelves when shelves are overfull, taking a heavier load than necessary when moving or recovering materials, carrying a load of materials in one hand and using the other hand to shelve, excessive reaches and awkward postures, due to poor equipment design and crowded work area were the significant contributing to musculoskeletal disorders among women. Work-related diseases may be caused, aggravated, accelerated or exacerbated by workplace exposures and they may impair working capacity. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are defined as disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which have been proven or assumed to have at least a partly work-related background (WHO, 2010). Low back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions were significant problem among the women. The risk factors for shoulder pain were related to heavy physical workload, awkward postures and long work experience, repetitive movements and duration of employment were associated with of shoulder pain. Work related musculoskeletal disorders are recognized as leading causes of significant human suffering, loss of productivity and economic burdens on society. This paper highlights the significant of work related risk factors among the women. Top Keywords Musculoskeletal disorders, Upper extremity, Lower extremity, Ergonomics, Awkward postures, work related risk factors. Top |