Keywords
Handicrafts
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Biomechanical Risk Factors
How to Cite
Abstract
Objective: To identify, analyze, and synthesize the available evidence on ergonomic interventions implemented to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders and biomechanical risk factors among artisans.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Original studies published between 2005 and 2025 were selected, with no language restrictions, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and case study designs involving ergonomic assessment and intervention in artisan populations. The search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using MeSH and UNESCO terms. Study selection was performed by independent reviewer pairs, while data extraction was conducted jointly and simultaneously by the three authors.
Results: Fifteen studies were included, most of which were conducted in Indonesia. The most frequently reported intervention was the physical redesign of the workstation, mainly through anthropometric adjustments to tables and chairs. These interventions were associated with reductions in musculoskeletal symptoms, pain, and fatigue, as well as with decreased biomechanical risks. To a lesser extent, educational, organizational, and environmental interventions were identified, which also showed positive effects, although less frequently.
Conclusions: Simple, contextualized, and participatory ergonomic interventions are consistently associated with reductions in musculoskeletal symptoms and biomechanical risk factors. These findings support the integration of ergonomics into artisanal contexts without altering the cultural and heritage value of traditional crafts, positioning this discipline as a relevant contribution to health, well-being, and work performance. Furthermore, the role of occupation in personal and local identity is acknowledged, supporting the continuity of artisanal work.
References
Pöllänen S. The meaning of craft: craft makers’ descriptions of craft as an occupation. Scand J Occup Ther. 2013;20(3):217–227. doi:10.3109/11038128.2012.725182.
Das D, Kumar A, Sharma M. A systematic review of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among handicraft workers. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2020;26(1):55–70. doi:10.1080/10803548.2018.1458487.
Artisan Alliance. Artisan sector [Internet]. Washington (DC): Aspen Global Innovators Group, Aspen Institute; [citado 2025 Nov 13]. Disponible en: https://www.artisanalliance.org/sector
Rivas RD. La artesanía: patrimonio e identidad cultural. Rev Museol Kóot [Internet]. 2018 [citado 2025 Nov 13];(9):1–15. Disponible en: http://portal.amelica.org/ameli/jatsRepo/297/2971213008/index.html
Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes. Hacia una noción de artesanía para el Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes [Internet]. Santiago (CL): Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes; 2010 [citado 2025 Dec 21]. Disponible en: https://www.cultura.gob.cl/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/definiciones_artesania.pdf
Flores-Bustos C. La producción artesanal: visión general. Visión Gerencial [Internet]. 2009;(1):37–52; [citado 2026 Jan 25]. Disponible en: https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=465545880009
Das D, Singh AK. Risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders among floor-sitting precision handicraft workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2022;95(5):1129–1145. doi:10.1007/s00420-021-01817-5.
Da Costa BR, Vieira ER. Risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of recent longitudinal studies. Am J Ind Med. 2010;53:285–323. doi:10.1002/ajim.20750.
International Labour Organization. A call for safer and healthier working environments [Internet]. Geneva: International Labour Organization; 2023 Nov;[citado 21 Dec 2025]. Disponible en: https://www.ilo.org/osh
Karwowski W, Taiar R, Rodrick D, Sherehiy B, Fox RR. Human factors and ergonomics standards. In: Salvendy G, Karwowski W, editors. Handbook of human factors and ergonomics. 5th ed. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley & Sons; 2021. p. 1307–1347.
Jeanson AL, Morales MR, Luna RIF. Assessing musculoskeletal injury risk and skeletal changes from backstrap loom weaving and traditional embroidery in Chiapas, Mexico. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025;5(4):e0004574. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0004574.
International Ergonomics Association. What is ergonomics (HFE)? [Internet]. Geneva: International Ergonomics Association; [citado 2025 Nov 13]. Disponible en: https://iea.cc/about/what-is-ergonomics/
Tricco AC, Lillie E, Zarin W, O’Brien KK, Colquhoun H, Levac D, et al. PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): checklist and explanation. Ann Intern Med. 2018;169(7):467-473. doi:10.7326/M18-0850.
Campbell F, Tricco AC, Munn Z, Pollock D, Saran A, Sutton A, et al. Mapping reviews, scoping reviews, and evidence and gap maps (EGMs): the same but different—the “big picture” review family. Syst Rev. 2023;12:45. doi:10.1186/s13643-023-02178-5.
Sandoval-Alarcón S, Bäumle R, Castellucci HI. Impact of ergonomic interventions on musculoskeletal health and work performance in dentists and dental students: a scoping review. Appl Ergon. 2025;129:104602. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104602.
Haddaway NR, Page MJ, Pritchard CC, McGuinness LA. PRISMA2020: an R package and Shiny app for producing PRISMA 2020–compliant flow diagrams, with interactivity for optimised digital transparency and open synthesis. Campbell Syst Rev [Internet]. 2022;18(2):e1230. doi:10.1002/cl2.1230.
Putri PDW, Griadhi IPA. Perbaikan stasiun kerja menurunkan aktivitas listrik otot dan keluhan muskuloskeletal pada perajin ukir kayu di Desa Batuan Gianyar Bali. Jurnal Harian Regional [Internet]. 2015;[citado 2025 Nov 2]. Disponible en: https://jurnal.harianregional.com/eum/full-20903
Syamsul M, Russeng S, Rivai F. Effect of musculoskeletal ergonomics chair on silver smith in Borong villages, District Manggala, Makassar City. Indian J Public Health Res Dev. 2019;10(4):818–822. doi:10.5958/0976-5506.2019.00805.2.
Fitriyah I, Hutabarat J, Vitasari P. Enhancing workspace ergonomics to mitigate musculoskeletal disorders in stamped batik production (case study at PT XYZ). Andalas Int J Appl Sci Eng Technol. 2024;4(3):224–232. doi:10.25077/aijaset.v4i3.178.
Piegorsch K. An ergonomic bench for indigenous weavers. Ergonomics in Design. 2009;17(4):7-11. doi:10.1518/106480409X12587547656769.
Tirtayasa K, Adiputra N, Djestawana IG. The change of working posture in manggur decreases cardiovascular load and musculoskeletal complaints among Balinese gamelan craftsmen. J Hum Ergol. 2003;32:71–76.
Arjani IAMS, Sundari CDWH, Mastra N, Mahayana IMB. The use of gloves reduces musculoskeletal disorders, workload, and increases the work productivity of gamelan craftsmen in Tihingan Village, Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia. Indones J Biomed Sci [Internet]. 2024;18(2):252–257. doi:10.15562/ijbs.v18i2.598.
Srivastava P, Khan MS. Musculoskeletal disorders among the bone carving artisans of Uttar Pradesh: a study on cognitive space and accessory design for MSD and health-related problems. Mater Today Proc. 2022;64:1465–1474. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2022.04.781.
Pristianto A, Faris N A, Istiqomah, Azizah U. Penerapan program fisioterapi untuk mengatasi permasalahan nyeri leher pada komunitas pengrajin stamp batik Laweyan. Abdi Geomedisains [Internet]. 2023;4(1):10–17. [citado 2025 Nov 24]. Disponible en: http://journals2.ums.ac.id/index.php/abdigeomedisains/
Widana IK, Sumetri NW, Sutapa IK, Cahya Dewi GAO. Antisipasi pada keluhan low back pain dapat mengurangi kelelahan dan meningkatkan motivasi kerja. J Ergonomi Indones. 2020;6(1):68–77. doi:10.24843/JEI.2020.v06.i01.p09.
Widana IK, Sumetri NW, Sutapa IK. Effect of improvement on work attitudes and work environment on decreasing occupational pain. Int J Life Sci. 2018;2(3):86–97. doi:10.29332/ijls.v2n3.209.
Andarini D, Waldani D, Lestari M, Fujianti P, Novrikasari, Camelia A. Pelaksanaan desain panggangan dan meja berjaring ergonomis untuk pekerja pembuat kemplang di Desa Meranjat Ogan Ilir Sumatera Selatan. Idea Pengabdian Masyarakat. 2025;5(3):289–294.
Yamtana, Kasjono HS, Suyanto A. Minimizing the risk factors for low back pain in the creative industry workers. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Social Science (ICSS); 2023 Feb; Indonesia. p. 50–57. doi:10.59188/icss.v2i1.83.
Gracia G, Guzman A, Forst L. Design, implementation and evaluation of a participatory ergonomics program among home-based Mapuche weavers. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2022;28(4):2250–2261. doi:10.1080/10803548.2021.1955560.
Sahu A, Pandit S. Occupational ergonomic research and contextual design execution of a new workstation to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) among Dhokra handicraft artisans: an unorganized sector of India. Ind Health. 2025;63:1–12. doi:10.2486/indhealth.2024-0200.
Sahu A, Pandit S. Development of a new wax thread extruder machine to enhance productivity and reduce muscular strain in the Dhokra handicraft process: an unorganised sector in Indian handicraft industry. Ergonomics. 2025. Epub ahead of print. doi:10.1080/00140139.2025.2456527.
Debora S, Suryadi A. Analysis of cleaning service work postures to reduce musculoskeletal injuries with the posture evaluation index approach. J La Multiapp. 2025;6(1):12–22.
Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, Vinterberg H, Biering-Sørensen F, Andersson G, et al. Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon. 1987;18(3):233–237.
Reynolds JL, Drury CG, Broderick RL. A field methodology for the control of musculoskeletal injuries. Appl Ergon. 1994;25(1):3–16.
Roodbandi ASJ, Feyzi V, Foroozanfar Z, Rahimimoghadam S. The correlation between ART and OCRA methods used for posture assessment of repetitive tasks. Med Lav. 2021;112(5):370–376. doi:10.23749/mdl.v112i5.11117.
David G, Woods V, Li G, Buckle P. The development of the Quick Exposure Check (QEC) for assessing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Appl Ergon. 2008;39(1):57–69. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2007.03.002.
Dianat I, Molenbroek J, Castellucci HI. A review of the methodology and applications of anthropometry in ergonomics and product design. Ergonomics. 2018;61(12):1696–1720. doi:10.1080/00140139.2018.1502817.
Hägg GM, Luttmann A, Jäger M. Methodologies for evaluating electromyographic field data in ergonomics. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000;10(5):301–312. doi:10.1016/S1050-6411(00)00022-5.
Castellucci H, Viviani C, Arezes P, Molenbroek JFM, Martínez M, Aparici V, et al. Applied anthropometry for common industrial settings design: working and ideal manual handling heights. Int J Ind Ergon. 2020;78:102951. doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2020.102951.
Robertson M, Amick BC, DeRango K, Rooney T, Bazzani L, Harrist R, et al. The effects of an office ergonomics training and chair intervention on worker knowledge, behavior and musculoskeletal risk. Appl Ergon. 2009;40(1):124–135. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2008.02.001.
Hosseini ZS, Tavafian SS, Ahmadi O, Maghbouli R. Assessing the impact of a social cognitive theory-based educational intervention on ergonomic behaviors: a randomized controlled trial utilizing a learning-by-doing approach. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1):24533. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-24533-y.
Magnavita N, Elovainio M, De Nardis I, Heponiemi T, Bergamaschi A. Environmental discomfort and musculoskeletal disorders. Occup Med (Lond). 2011;61(3):196–201. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqr024.
Ranavolo A, Varrecchia T, Iavicoli S, Marchesi A, Rinaldi M, Serrao M, et al. Surface electromyography for risk assessment in work activities designed using the revised NIOSH lifting equation. Int J Ind Ergon. 2018;68:34–45. doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2018.06.003
Astudillo Cornejo P, Ibarra Villanueva C. La perspectiva de género: desafíos para la ergonomía en Chile. Una revisión sistemática de literatura. Cienc Trab. 2014;16(49):28–37.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Javier Mancilla Aliste, Daniela Robles Reyes, Lucas Castro Navarro