Assessment of musculoskeletal symptoms and their impact on workplace ergonomics among the administrative staff of the Municipal GAD of Logroño
Abstract
This study addresses the scientific question: What are the most prevalent musculoskeletal symptoms among the administrative staff of the GAD Municipal of Logroño, and how do they influence workplace ergonomics? The general objective was to identify these symptoms and analyze their relationship with ergonomic conditions in the work environment. An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted, complemented by a literature review using scientific databases such as Scopus, SciELO, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Data collection was carried out through a custom-designed questionnaire based on prior studies and tailored to the specific needs of this research. The analysis focused on five key variables: workload, lack of active breaks, repetitive movements, working posture, and physical effort, in relation to the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The results showed that workload and physical effort were the main predictors of musculoskeletal symptoms, together explaining 67.1% of their variability, while repetitive movements, working posture, and lack of active breaks had a lesser impact. These findings highlight the urgent need to prioritize ergonomic interventions aimed at reducing physical load and optimizing work organization. The study provides valuable insights for occupational health management, offering evidence to inform preventive strategies and workplace adaptations that could improve the well-being of administrative personnel. However, the small sample size (n = 29) represents a limitation, reducing the generalizability of the findings. Future research should consider larger and more diverse samples, longitudinal designs, and objective measures of physical workload to strengthen the understanding of the associations identified here. In conclusion, this research contributes meaningful evidence regarding the ergonomic challenges faced by administrative staff, underscoring the importance of targeted actions to mitigate musculoskeletal risks and enhance occupational well-being.
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