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Objectives Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are highly prevalent and put a large burden on (working) society. Primary prevention of work-related MSD focuses often on physical risk factors (such as manual lifting and awkward postures) but has not been too successful in reducing the MSD burden. This may partly be caused by insufficient knowledge of etiological mechanisms and/or a lack of adequately feasible interventions (theory failure and program failure, respectively), possibly due to limited integration of research disciplines. A research framework could link research disciplines thereby strengthening the development and implementation of preventive interventions. Our objective was to define and describe such a framework for multi-disciplinary research on work-related MSD prevention. Methods We described a framework for MSD prevention research, partly based on frameworks from other research fields (ie, sports injury prevention and public health). Results The framework is composed of a repeated sequence of six steps comprising the assessment of (i) incidence and severity of MSD, (ii) risk factors for MSD, and (iii) underlying mechanisms; and the (iv) development, (v) evaluation, and (vi) implementation of preventive intervention(s). Conclusions In the present framework for optimal work-related MSD prevention, research disciplines are linked. This framework can thereby help to improve theories and strengthen the development and implementation of prevention strategies for work-related MSD.

© 2017 This study explored the effects of ground-based walking training on physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Participants were randomised to a walk group (WG) [supervised, ground-based walking training, two or three times per week for 8-10 weeks] or a control group (CG) [usual medical care] . Before and after the intervention period, PA and ST were measured using the SenseWear ® Pro3 Armband. Of the 143 participants randomised, 101 (71%) had sufficient data for the primary analysis; 62 were from the WG (mean [SD] age 69 [8] years, FEV 1 42 [15] % predicted) and 39 were from the CG (age 68 [9] years, FEV 1 43 [15] % predicted). No between-group differences were demonstrated in any measure of PA or ST (all p > 0.05). Secondary analyses (n = 44) revealed that, compared to the CG, the proportion of waking hours spent in moderate intensity PA accumulated in uninterrupted bouts of between 30 and 60 min, increased in the WG by 0.8% (95% CI = 0.4 to 1.3). This study demonstrated that, in people with COPD, ground-based walking training alone had little, if any clinically important effect on daily PA and no effect on ST.

Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Background Abdominal bracing (AB) is a widely advocated method of increasing spine stability, yet the influence of AB on the execution of sporting movements has not been quantified. Landing is a common task during sporting endeavors; therefore, investigating the effect of performing AB during a drop-landing task is relevant. Objective To quantify the effect of AB on kinematics (ankle, knee, hip, and regional lumbar spine peak flexion angles) and peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) during a drop-landing task. Methods Sixteen healthy adults (7 female, 9 male; mean ± SD age, 27 ± 7 years; height, 170.6 ± 8.1 cm; mass, 68.0 ± 11.3 kg) were assessed using 3-D motion analysis, electromyography (EMG), and a force platform while performing a drop-landing task with and without AB. Abdominal bracing was achieved with the assistance of real-time internal oblique EMG feedback. Lower-limb and regional lumbar spine kinematics, peak vGRF, and normalized EMG of the left and right internal obliques and lumbar multifidus were quantified. Paired-samples t tests were used to compare variables between the AB and no-AB conditions. Results Abdominal bracing resulted in significantly reduced knee and hip flexion and increased peak vGRF during landing. No differences in lumbar multifidus EMG or lumbar spine kinematics were observed. Conclusion Abdominal bracing reduces impact attenuation during landing. These altered biomechanics may have implications for lower-limb and spinal injury risk during dynamic tasks.

Background: Limited studies have investigated relationships in psychosocial outcomes between adolescents who are obese and their parents and how psychosocial outcomes change during participation in a physical activity and healthy eating intervention. This study examined both adolescent and parent psychosocial outcomes while participating in a one - year multi-disciplinary family-based intervention: Curtin University’s Activity, Food, and Attitudes Program (CAFAP). Methods: Following a waitlist control period, the intervention was delivered to adolescent (n = 56, ages 11–16) and parent participants over 8 weeks, with one-year maintenance follow-up. Adolescent depression and quality of life, family functioning, and parent depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed at six time points: baseline and prior to intervention (e.g., waitlist control period), immediately following intervention, and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-intervention. Relationships between adolescent and parent psychosocial outcomes were assessed using Spearman correlations and changes in both adolescent and parent outcomes were assessed using linear mixed models. Changes in adolescent psychosocial outcomes were compared to changes in behavioural (physical activity and healthy eating) and physical (weight) outcomes using independent samples t-tests.Results: The majority of psychosocial outcomes were significantly correlated between adolescents and parents across the one-year follow-up. Adolescent depression, psychosocial and physical quality of life outcomes significantly improved before or following intervention and were maintained at 6-months or one-year follow-up. Parent symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were reduced during waitlist and primarily remained improved. Changes in adolescent psychosocial outcomes were shown to be partially associated with behavioural changes and independent of physical changes. Conclusions: Adolescents in CAFAP improved psychosocial and physical quality of life

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence on the association between sagittal neck posture and neck pain. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were: (1) to determine the existence of clusters of neck posture in a cohort of 17-year-olds and (2) to establish whether identified subgroups were associated with biopsychosocial factors and neck pain. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: The adolescents (N=1,108) underwent 2-dimensional photographic postural assessment in a sitting position. One distance and 4 angular measurements of the head, neck, and thorax were calculated from photo-reflective markers placed on bony landmarks. Subgroups of sagittal sitting neck posture were determined by cluster analysis. Height and weight were measured, and lifestyle and psychological factors, neck pain, and headache were assessed by questionnaire. The associations among posture subgroups, neck pain, and other factors were evaluated using logistic regression.RESULTS: Four distinct clusters of sitting neck posture were identified: upright, intermediate, slumped thorax/forward head, and erect thorax/forward head. Significant associations between cluster and sex, weight, and height were found. Participants classified as having slumped thorax/forward head posture were at higher odds of mild, moderate, or severe depression. Participants classified as having upright posture exercised more frequently. There was no significant difference in the odds of neck pain or headache across the clusters. LIMITATIONS: The results are specific to 17-year-olds and may not be applicable to adults. CONCLUSION: Meaningful sagittal sitting neck posture clusters were identified in 17-year-olds who demonstrated some differences with biopsychosocial profiling. The finding of no association between cluster membership and neck pain and headaches challenges widely held beliefs about the role of posture in adolescent neck pain.

Background and aims Currently there is a lack of large population studies that have investigated pain sensitivity distributions in healthy pain free people. The aims of this study were: (1) to provide sex-specific reference values of pressure and cold pain thresholds in young pain-free adults; (2) to examine the association of potential correlates of pain sensitivity with pain threshold values. Methods This study investigated sex specific pressure and cold pain threshold estimates for young pain free adults aged 21–24 years. A cross-sectional design was utilised using participants (n = 617) from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study at the 22-year follow-up. The association of site, sex, height, weight, smoking, health related quality of life, psychological measures and activity with pain threshold values was examined. Pressure pain threshold (lumbar spine, tibialis anterior, neck and dorsal wrist) and cold pain threshold (dorsal wrist) were assessed using standardised quantitative sensory testing protocols. Results Reference values for pressure pain threshold (four body sites) stratified by sex and site, and cold pain threshold (dorsal wrist) stratified by sex are provided. Statistically significant, independent correlates of increased pressure pain sensitivity measures were site (neck, dorsal wrist), sex (female), higher waist-hip ratio and poorer mental health. Statistically significant, independent correlates of increased cold pain sensitivity measures were, sex (female), poorer mental health and smoking. Conclusions These data provide the most comprehensive and robust sex specific reference values for pressure pain threshold specific to four body sites and cold pain threshold at the dorsal wrist for young adults aged 21–24 years. Establishing normative values in this young age group is important given that the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical temporal period during which trajectories for persistent pain can be established.

Sedentary behaviors such as watching television (TV) are associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic disease. The effects of TV watching during key developmental stages on skeletal health are uncertain. Hours of TV watching/week were recorded by parental or self-report at 5, 8, 10, 14, 17, and 20 years of age in 1181 members (48% female) of a pregnancy cohort (the Raine Study). Participants were classified into one of three TV-watching trajectories (using latent class analysis): low (consistently <14 h/week; 20.3%), high (consistently >/=14 h/week; 44.4%), or increasing (increased from <14 to >/=14 h/week during adolescence; 35.3%). General linear models tested associations between TV trajectory and bone mineral content (BMC) measured at age 20 years using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. After adjustment for height, body mass, physical activity, calcium intake, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, alcohol, and smoking (all at age 20 years), males in the low TV-watching trajectory had greater BMC for whole body (mean +/- SEM, 3338 +/- 59 g versus 3111 +/- 31 g), legs (612 +/- 12 g versus 569 +/- 6 g), and arms (234 +/- 5 g versus 214 +/- 3 g) than those in the high TV-watching trajectory. Differences between low and high TV-watching trajectories were similar for females. BMC in the increasing TV-watching trajectory also differed for both sexes, for example males in the increasing TV-watching trajectory had greater whole-body BMC (3252 +/- 38 g) than males in the high TV-watching trajectory (3111 +/- 31 g) but less arm BMC (218 +/- 3 g) than those in the low TV-watching trajectory (234 +/- 5 g). In this community-based cohort, consistently high TV watching during childhood and adolescence independently predicted reduced peak bone mass at age 20 years. Because attainment of optimal peak bone mass is protective against osteoporosis in later life, reducing sedentary time in children may have long-term skeletal benefits. (c) 2016 American Society for Bone

Item does not contain fulltext, Animal Fun was designed to enhance motor and social development in young children. Its efficacy in improving motor skills was presented previously using a randomised controlled trial and a multivariate nested cohort design. Based on the Environmental Stress Hypothesis, it was argued that the program would also result in positive mental health outcomes, investigated in the current study. Pre-intervention scores were recorded for 511 children aged 4.83-6.17 years (M=5.42, SD=.30). Intervention and control groups were compared 6 months following intervention, and again in their first school year. Changes in teacher-rated prosocial behaviour and total difficulties were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and data analysed using Generalised Linear Mixed Models. There was a significant improvement in prosocial behaviour of children in the intervention group six months after initial testing, which remained at 18-month follow-up. Total difficulties decreased at 6 months for the intervention group, with no change at 18 months. This effect was present only for the hyperactivity/inattention subscale. The only significant change for the control group was an increase in hyperactivity/inattention scores from pre-intervention to 18-month follow-up. The Animal Fun program appears to be effective in improving social and behavioural outcomes.

© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Background: Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are highly inactive and sedentary. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a home-based active video game intervention on objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children at risk for DCD. Methods: In a crossover randomized clinical trial, 21 children (mean age 11.0, SD 1.0; n=11 girls) in Perth, Western Australia participated in two 16-week periods: no active video games (AVGs) control period and AVGs intervention period. Two active input consoles were provided to participants along with a selection of non-violent AVGs for participants to play at home. Participants wore accelerometers at baseline and following each period to determine minutes of sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous times in addition to self-reported types of activities in a diary. Linear mixed models, adjusted for the order of periods, compared physical activity and sedentary time during the last week of each period. Results: There were no significant differences between the intervention and control periods in time spent in sedentary (decrease of -1.0min/day during the intervention period, 95%CI -12.1, 10.1), light (increase of 2.2min/day, 95%CI -8.8, 13.2), moderate (decrease of 0.7min/day, 95%CI -4.6, 3.3) or vigorous (decrease of -0.6min/day, 95%CI -1.6, 0.4). Conclusions: Among children at risk for DCD, participating in this AVG intervention did not improve objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time.

Background: The global trend of increased life expectancy and increased prevalence of chronic and degenerative diseases will impact on health systems. To identify effective intervention and prevention strategies, greater understanding of the risk factors for and cumulative effects of chronic disease processes and their effects on function and quality of life is needed.The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study aims to enhance understanding of ageing by relating the clustering and interactions of common chronic conditions in adults to function. Longitudinal (3-5 yearly) follow-up is planned. Methods/design. Phase I (recruitment) is a cross-sectional community-based prospective cohort study involving up to 4,000 'Baby Boomers' (born from 1946 to 1964) living in the Busselton Shire, Western Australia. The study protocol involves a detailed, self-administered health and risk factor questionnaire and a range of physical assessments including body composition and bone density measurements, cardiovascular profiling (blood pressure, ECG and brachial pulse wave velocity), retinal photography, tonometry, auto-refraction, spirometry and bronchodilator responsiveness, skin allergy prick tests, sleep apnoea screening, tympanometry and audiometry, grip strength, mobility, balance and leg extensor strength. Cognitive function and reserve, semantic memory, and pre-morbid intelligence are assessed. Participants provide a fasting blood sample for assessment of lipids, blood glucose, C-reactive protein and renal and liver function, and RNA, DNA and serum are stored. Clinically relevant results are provided to all participants. The prevalence of risk factors, symptoms and diagnosed illness will be calculated and the burden of illness will be estimated based on the observed relationships and clustering of symptoms and illness within individuals. Risk factors for combinations of illness will be compared with those for single illnesses and the relation of combinations of illness and symptoms to c

Many schoolchildren frequently use computers. Lack of postural variation is proposed as a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in adult computer users, but the effect of computer use on children's postural t variation is unknown. This study exarnined if there was a reduction in postural variability among schoolchildren when ! using computers compared to other tasks. Nine schoolchildren were observed in their natural environment while upper body postures were measured using inclinometers. Tasks performed and type of technology used was documented by an observer and matched to postural data with a rninute-to-rninute resolution. A comparison was made of postures during New Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tasks ( electronic-based), Old ICT (paperbased), and Non ICT tasks. Mean postures were deterrnined and postural variation was characterised using an index based on the Exposure Variation Analysis (EV A) matrix, and the range between the 10th and 90th percentiles of the Amplitude Probability Distribution Function (APDF). New ICT produced more neutral postures but significantly lower postural variation. Old ICT had less neutral postures but greater postural variation. The relationship between lack of variation and MSDs among children requires further investigation.