Impact of Prolonged Standing on Activity Limitation and Participatory Restriction Among Security Guards: An Observational Study

Abstract

Prolonged standing at work, lower extremity discomfort as well as the eventual development of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) is particularly pronounced among security guards, whose job demands extended periods of standing, significantly impacting their personal and social lives. This issue can be addressed using the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) which serves as a comprehensive framework for understanding an individual’s functioning profile, essential for discerning their specific needs. Hence, this study aimed to examine the impact of prolonged standing on the activity limitations and participation restrictions experienced by security guards, utilising the ICF qualifiers, SF- 36 and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) as a functional assessment tool. A total of 260 individuals residing in Belagavi city, Karnataka, India, aged between 25 and 65 years, employed as security guards for more than two years and engaged in standing duties for at least 4 to 8 hours per day were examined for their activity limitations and participation restrictions were conducted using ICF qualifiers, SF-36 and the LEFS. The activity limitation and participation restriction studies use frequency distribution of the ICF codes. Karls Pearsons Coefficient was used to assess the correlation between SF-36 and LEFS. The results revealed that as per the ICF questionnaire, the majority of the participants exhibited mild to moderate difficulty in performing various tasks, including squatting, kneeling, standing, moving objects with lower extremities, running and jumping (coded as d4101, d4102, d4104, d435, d4552 and d4553, respectively). Upon correlating the scores from the LEFS with each component of the SF36 questionnaire, a significant positive correlation was observed with p<0.05. In conclusion, the demanding nature of security work, characterised by prolonged standing, contributes to activity limitations and participation restrictions among security personnel. Additionally, the detailed questions provided in the ICF documentation form facilitate a thorough assessment of activity limitations and participation restrictions among security guards, making it a preferred tool for such evaluations.