SITTING POSTURE AND MUSCULOSKELETAL COMPLAINTS AMONG WOMEN POTTERS IN PAGERJURANG, KLATEN USING THE TRADITIONAL TILTED WHEELS

• Main Author: Bilqis, Farikha
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/86199
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

This research project aims to examine the relationship between traditional pottery-making and musculoskeletal health outcomes among women potters in Pagerjurang. The primary objective was to examine the influence of a tilted sitting posture on the utilization of a traditional pottery wheel (perbot miring) on the physical condition of the potters. The research method is a combination of ethnographic and ergonomic approaches, including field observations, interviews, and biomechanical measurements using the Nordic Body Map (NBM), electromyography (EMG), and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). The findings demonstrated the pivotal role of women potters in maintaining traditional practices, while also underscoring the potential risks associated with musculoskeletal disorders related to work postures. The NBM mapping identified a prevalence of pain in the lumbar area (100%) and in the right thigh (83%). The EMG analysis demonstrated elevated muscle contractions in the left erector spinae lumbar (ESL-L) and right biceps femoris (BF-R) muscles during pedaling activities. Additionally, the height factor of participants was identified as a contributing factor to pain in the left rectus femoris (RF-L) muscle. In light of these findings, an enhanced work system design is proposed, comprising pre-work muscle strength training, rest and stretching time during work, and post-work recovery protocols to achieve a balance between the preservation of traditional values and the improvement of the health and safety of potters. This research makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the complex interaction between traditional cultural practices and work ergonomics, and it offers solutions that honor cultural heritage while improving the well-being of crafters.