Standing and sitting postures at work and symptoms of venous insufficiency

<div><img src="/Portals/31/Images/E-connect/Mar 2202 -08.jpg?ver=2022-02-28-182553-423" alt="" width="100%"></div> <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr> <td><b><a href=""></a></b><p><p>Venous diseases affect more than half of the population of developed countries. The most common of these diseases is chronic venous insufficiency, whereby venous dysfunction is caused by the failure of venous valves due to an obstacle in the outflow of blood through the veins of the lower limbs. Because of its high incidence, the disorder is considered a social disease. It is estimated that the incidence among adult Poles ranges from 38.33% in men to 50.99% in women. The social cost of chronic venous insufficiency, which includes medical leave, diagnostic tests, hospitalization and surgery, is comparable to the cost of treatment of diseases generally regarded as more serious, for example cardiovascular diseases. The primary cause of the disease and its consequences is the lack of prevention due to insufficient knowledge about the risk factors, which primarily include age, the female gender, positive family history, congenital anomalies of the veins, pregnancy, obesity, constipation, hormonal changes, high ambient temperature as well as long stay in a sitting or standing position and is related to the work performed. A significant relationship between postures adopted at work and the development and/or exacerbation of chronic venous insufficiency symptoms has been the subject of many scientific studies. These works usually concerned the elderly. Given that age is one of the main factors of chronic venous insufficiency, drawing conclusions on the work-related risk factors of the disease was limited in these cases. These studies involved people of different ages, including relatively young people, and the main inclusion criterion was a minimum of 5?years of work performed in the sitting or standing position.</p> <p>Due to the fact that the consequences of undiagnosed and untreated chronic venous insufficiency are very serious, and that the number of jobs in which most duties are performed in the standing or sitting position is still increasing, undertaking a study on the incidence of chronic venous insufficiency among persons who have a job of such nature, and identifying the relevant factors, appears to be justified.</p> <p>The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of chronic venous insufficiency in a group of employees who work in the standing or sitting position, and to determine the influence of work-related and non-work (lifestyle) factors on the symptoms of the disease in the study group.</p> <p>Eighty subjects (16.0%) used a desktop computer for more than 6?h/day during their work shift. Almost a quarter of the respondents (22.6%) reported insufficient space to comfortably put their lower limbs under the desk when working on a computer. Only 50 subjects used footrests when working on a computer (10.0%). Almost one-third of the respondents (30.6%) had the habit of crossing one’s lower limbs while sitting at a computer or desk.</p> <p>An overwhelming number of respondents (380 respondents, 76%) declared that they had the right to decide about the time of a break at work, depending on their needs. Less than half of the subjects declared that they could change the order of their duties (220 subjects, 44.0%), the pace of work (135 subjects, 27.0%) and the way they worked (78 subjects, 15.6%).</p> <p>Eighty-one respondents (16.2%) used a break at work for a change in body position and a short walk, while 46 respondents (9.2%) used a break for stretching exercises. The remaining of the respondents spent their free time during a break sitting or standing.</p> <p>Awareness of the health risks of working in the sitting and standing positions was declared by 199 subjects (39.8%) and 185 subjects (37.0%), respectively. Among the health effects of sedentary jobs, the respondents most often mentioned pain in the musculoskeletal system (116 respondents, 58.3%), varicose veins of the lower limbs (40 respondents, 20.1%) and obesity (eight respondents, 4.0%). In turn, among the health risks of working in the standing position, the respondents most commonly mentioned pain of the musculoskeletal system (85 respondents, 45.9%) and varicose veins of the lower limbs (77 respondents, 41.6%).</p> <p>A statistically significant positive correlation (<i>p</i>?<?0.05) was found between the presence of varicose veins and occupational factors such as a forced position in performing duties, work in the sitting position for more than 4?h/day, lifting and carrying heavy objects, use of a large leg strength, fast-paced work and computer work. A negative correlation was observed between the presence of varicose veins and the use of a footrest while working on a computer.</p> </p></td></tr></table> <hr style="color:#999999" />