Prevalence of Upper Limb Dysfunction in Fashion Designer Students Using Fades Chairs

Abstract

Background: Fashion design students face an increased risk of upper limb dysfunction due to prolonged sitting, notably exacerbated by the lack of arm and backrests in specialized chairs like the Fades chair. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of upper limb dysfunction among fashion design students using Fades chairs.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, from April to July 2023, involving 169 participants aged 18-25 from the University of Management and Technology (UMT) and the National College of Arts (NCA). The study excluded participants with systemic diseases and utilized the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) for data collection, analyzed with SPSS version 25.

Results: Results revealed varying levels of risk: 26.04% low risk, 46.15% medium risk, and 26.63% very high risk based on RULA for right-sided limb assessment, with similar trends for left-sided assessment. Regarding pain levels, 50.09% experienced severe upper back pain, 43.2% neck pain, 46.2% shoulder pain, 18.3% elbow pain, and 23.7% wrist pain.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the use of Fades chairs significantly contributes to upper limb dysfunction among fashion design students, posing moderate to severe risks. This dysfunction could potentially impair their performance.