ABSTRACT
Working postures are a major risk factor in industry. Several studies reported the association of working postures with musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. The results of Aaras et al. (1988) indicate that an average range of motion of 10.1% across the back and shoulder motions is associated with an average prevalence rate of 0.165. The findings of Ryan (1989) reveal that there is a threshold of about 45-50% of the time spent standing creating lower extremities, ankle and feet problems, and about 25% of the time spent standing creating lower back symptoms. Punnett et al. (1991) found the following odds ratios between back disorders and trunk postures: (1) 4.9 for mild flexion; (2) 5.7 for severe flexion; and (3) 5.9 for rotation or lateral bending.
