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Posture Assessment for Information

Technology Engineers Who Are Remotely


Working During COVID-19 Pandemic
Because of the widespread health and As a result of the lack of physical
economic concerns associated with the activities while working from home,
COVID-19 outbreak and the requirement physical disablities and problems might be
for physical distancing, many companies developed. The majority of remote
had to implement a work from home (WFH) employees utilize computers, and
basis for their employees [1]. There are particularly laptops, which are known to
perceived benefits to WFH policy in increase the risk of musculoskeletal injuries
companies. Workers can reduce their daily and other health concerns. Neck, shoulder,
commute by working from home. They can arm, wrist, and back problems and other
spend more time at home with their families issues in the musculoskeletal system are
[2]. WFH enables individuals to select when common among computer users, and this is
they work, which is great for minimizing especially true in multiple sectors [6]. Long
interruptions in open offices, as well as periods of sitting, improper workspaces,
increasing their productivity [3]. Employees poor body positions, and job cycles are all
do not have to be limited to their offices at likely causes of musculoskeletal symptoms
work; instead, they are free to work from when working from home.
home in a setting they may choose
conducive to doing their jobs [4]. Sitting in improper postures for long
durations with little activity and few
On the other hand, even if there are opportunities to stand or stroll can have a
various advantages to working full time in a negative influence on workers' health and
WFH mode, there are also disadvantages diminish their ability to work. As a home-
observed by employees. Being at home based job arrangement, this alteration in the
might leave employees feeling isolated from worker's schedule was completely
colleagues, and doing less physical activity, unexpected. This forces employees to
including the lack of walking among extend their workdays and causes them
gathering places [2]. The limited amount of more back and neck pain. These days, back
available space within a tiny home might and neck pain are very widespread, leading
reduce worker productivity, as people who to an employee's inefficiency and harming
live there must spend it with others who are their mental health. It may not cause a
schooling or working. It might be tough to lasting physical condition, but it might
build up a safe and successful work impede daily activities significantly [7].
environment in a home office. Research has
shown that it can be hard to draw a line Postural dysfunction, where the spine is
between work and home responsibilities in an offside position, is classified as bad or
when there is no designated work place at poor posture. Since the improper posture
home [5]. continues, pressure builds up in these tissues
[8]. With the current situation of workers work. Retrieved from:
during the COVID-19 pandemic, physical https://www.nber.org/papers/w27612
health problems are widespread [9]. Thus, [5] Ammons, S.K., Markham, W.T. (2004).
the researchers decided to assess the posture Working at home: experiences of
of information technology engineers who skilled white collar workers. Retrieved
are working from home during pandemic. from:
https://doi.org/10.1080/027321704902
71744
References [6] Vinothini, P., Radin Umar, R.Z., Too,
Y.W., and Halim, I. A. (2018). Future
[1] OECD (2020). Productivity gains from framework for musculoskeletal
teleworking in the post COVID-19 disorders symptoms among computer
era : How can public policies make it office workers. Retrieved from:
happen?. Retrieved from: https://www.ijphy.org/index.php/journ
https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/poli al/article/view/379
cy-responses/productivity-gains-from- [7] Vats, V. (2020). Work From Home And
teleworking-in-the-post-covid-19-era- The Increased Incidences Of Back And
a5d52e99/ Neck Pain. Retrieved from:
[2] Tavares, A. I. (2017). Telework and https://www.ndtv.com/health/year-
health effects review. Retrieved from: ender-2020-work-from-home-and-the-
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ai increased-incidences-of-back-and-
da-Isabel-Tavares/publication/ neck-pain-2338575
318108862_Telework_and_health_effe [8] The Physio Company (2014).
cts_review/links/ Symptoms, Causes And Treatment Of
5966524e0f7e9b80917fea7d/Telework- Bad Posture. Retrieved from:
and-health-effects-review.pdf https://www.thephysiocompany.com/bl
[3] Kim, J. & Dear, R. (2013). Workspace og/stop-slouching-postural-
satisfaction: the privacy- dysfunction-symptoms-causes-and-
communication trade-off inopen-plan treatment-of-bad-posture
offices. Retrieved from: [9] Xiao, Y., Gerber, B.B., Lucas, G., and
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ Roll, S. (2021). Impacts of Working
article/abs/pii/S0272494413000340 From Home During COVID-19
[4] DeFilippis, E., Impink, S., Singell, M., Pandemic on Physical and Mental
Polzer, J.T., Sadun, R. (2020). Well-Being of Office Workstation
Collaborating during coronavirus: the Users. Retrieved from:
impact of COVID-19 on the nature of https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti
cles/PMC7934324/

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