Effect of Body Mass Index on Posture and Flexibility of Computer Professionals in a Developed Ergonomic Setup

Study design: A descriptive co-relational study. Aims&Objectives: To identify the correlation between different Body Mass Index with Dynamic Posture and Flexibility of Computer workers in a Developed Ergonomic setup. Summary&Background: Work urgency, work accuracy and work demands force the computer professionals to spend longer hours with computer. At the same time they do not give importance to their health, especially body weight. Increase in body weight leads to improper Body Mass Index which may affect on their work posture and flexibility. This study will explore and quantify the different dimensional static and dynamic (work) posture and flexibility in a developed ergonomic setup. Methods: A total of 100 computer workers aged 25- 35 years randomly selected from Computer and BPO companies in Bangalore, INDIA, participated in this study. Every individual's static and dynamic posture and flexibility were assessed and correlated to their body mass index. Data Analysis: The effect of BMI on Flexibility was analyzed by ANOVA. Separate Chi square analysis was done to associate BMI with Dynamic Posture score RULA. Also a multivariate discriminant functional analysis was done to predict the BMI based on study parameters. Result: A significant correlation (p<0.001) was seen with high BMI computer workers with increase scores of dynamic posture and decrease of flexibility in a developed ergonomic setup. Conclusion: This study provides the insight to the Physicians, Physiotherapists and Ergonomists about the relationship between BMI and Posture&flexibility in order to formulate well designed training program for making the computer professionals free from occupational injury.