Evaluation of Muscle Fatigue and Determination of Risk Factors of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Saffron Harvesters in Gonabad in 2017

Aims Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common in farmers due to the high workload in agriculture. Because several factors, such as physical, personal, and psychological factors in saffron harvesters can influence persons’ physical conditions and expose them to the risk of MSDs, the present study aimed to investigate muscle fatigue and determine the prevalence of MSDs and related factors among Gonabad saffron harvesters. Methods & Materials This cross-sectional study was performed on 84 saffron harvesters in Gonabad city, Iran. Data collection tools included a standard Nordic questionnaire to assess the prevalence of MSDs and the muscle fatigue assessment (MFA) method to assess body muscle fatigue. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Findings The prevalence of MSDs in saffron harvesters in the shoulder, wrist, ankle, upper back, lower back, elbow, neck, thigh, and knee was 91.7, 90.5, 92.9, 8.48, 50, 88.1, 15.5, 50, and 47.6%, respectively. The results of the MFA evaluation also showed that the risk of muscle fatigue in the neck, right wrist, and right arm is very high in 98.8%, 49.4%, and 36.5% of employees, respectively. There was a significant relationship between MSDs in the past 12 months and age, sex, medical history, and working hours, and between muscle fatigue and age, smoking, and exercise (P<0.05). Conclusion The highest prevalence of symptoms of MSDs was in the shoulder, wrist, and ankle areas. Due to the significant prevalence of MSDs among saffron harvesters, it is necessary to consider ergonomic interventions, soft movements at regular intervals, and raising awareness in the form of educational programs.