Influence of prevalent occupational position during working day on occupational lower limb edema

BACKGROUND: The lower limb edema observed in normal people at the end of their working days can vary in intensity and frequency depending on the predominant working positions required to perform different jobs.OBJECTIVES: To compare lower limb volumes of volunteers allocated to three study groups, depending on the predominant positions in which they work.METHODS: Volumetric assessments were conducted of both lower limbs of 51 people free from vascular disease, allocated to three groups of 17 individuals each by predominant working position: sitting, static standing or alternating between the two. Volumes were measured at the start and at the end of the working day and the differences in volumes were calculated for each group. Means and frequencies were compared using appropriate inferential statistics and correlation coefficients were calculated.RESULTS: The groups were homogenous in terms of sex distribution, age, skin color and BMI. The volumetric data from measurements taken before starting work revealed significant differences between all three groups. Volunteers who predominantly worked sitting down had largest volumes, followed by those who remained standing for long periods and then those who varied between these positions. The frequency of lower limb volume increase > 100 mL was significantly higher in the group of people who worked sitting down and maintained this position for long periods.CONCLUSIONS: Postural edema is more common among people who work sitting down for long periods, among whom it appears that there is a cumulative effect from the position, since they exhibit larger lower limb volumes at the start of the day. CONTEXTO: O edema de membros inferiores (MMII) de indivíduos normais, que se observa ao final da jornada de trabalho, pode ser mais intenso e frequente conforme a postura laboral prevalente no exercício da profissão.OBJETIVOS: Comparar os volumes dos MMII de indivíduos alocados em três grupos, conforme a postura laboral prevalente adotada ao longo do dia trabalho.MÉTODOS: Realizadas avaliações volumétricas de ambos os MMII de 51 indivíduos sem doença vascular, que foram alocados em três grupos de 17 indivíduos, considerando a postura prevalente: sentada, ortostática estática e alternada. As volumetrias foram realizadas no início e no término do dia trabalhado, e calculou-se a diferença dos volumes aferidos em cada grupo. Foram utilizadas as estatísticas inferenciais adequadas para comparações de médias e de frequências, e par