Termografia infravermelha na avaliação da sobrecarga osteomioarticular por posturas de trabalho: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

Introduction: Individual factors and the work environment can predispose workers to work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD), compromising their health, productivity and safety. The vascular, metabolic and inflammatory changes caused by osteomioarticular overload allow the use of Infrared Thermography (IT) as a technology capable of visualizing and quantifying changes in temperature on the skin surface. However, even though it is used as an auxiliary tool in the assessment and prediction of risks to workers' health, after a bibliographic survey, no studies were found that determine the accuracy of this technology in the assessment of osteomyoarticular overload caused by working postures. Objective: To review and systematize the information reported so far about the use of IT in determining musculoskeletal overload due to working postures. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, PEDro and DITA databases, without using filters, without restrictions on language or publication period. Accuracy studies, randomized clinical trials, and observational case studies, case-control, cohort and cross sectional studies that used infrared thermography to assess osteomyoarticular overload were included. Theoretical review studies (narrative, integrative, systematic or Scoping Review), studies without access to the full text, book chapters, congress abstracts and duplicate studies were excluded. Data were obtained and analyzed for risk of bias using the QUADAS 2 and TISEM tools. The scarcity of accuracy data did not allow a meta-analysis to be carried out. Results and Discussion: 6,609 articles were found, of which 2,165 were excluded due to duplicates; 4,392 excluded after reading the titles; and 17 excluded after reading the abstracts. Thus, 35 articles were selected to be read in full and evaluated for eligibility. Of these, 25 were excluded due to lack of access to the full text and 01 for not using IT as a technology for assessing the burden. Thus, in the end, 09 articles were included in this review, in which the risk of uncertain bias was classified in most of the included studies. Conclusion: Although IT is already widely used as an aid in the diagnosis of disease, its applicability and effectiveness in the assessment and prediction of risks to workers' health is still poorly studied and based on studies with questionable methodological quality. According to the analyzed literature, it is understood that IT can be used as an auxiliary resource in the assessment of musculoskeletal overload in workers. However, studies of diagnostic accuracy using comparative gold standard techniques should be encouraged so that the sensitivity and specificity of IT can be confirmed.