Studies on the progress of occupational cervicobrachial disorder by analysing the subjective symptoms of work-women in assembly lines of a cigarette factory

The Committee on Cervicobrachial Syndrome in Japan Association of Industrial Health (JAIH) made a report on the questionnaires for checking for the complaints of patients suffering from Occupational Cervicobrachial Disorder (OCD). In order to reveal how the complaints develop in the progress of OCD, we analysed the complaints of 117 workwomen in assembly lines of a cigarette factory by using the questionnaires. And the followings were made clear: 1) At the mild stage of OCD, stiffness or dullness at the neck and shoulders, and eyestrain become remarkable. 2) At the moderate stage, pain at the neck, shoulders, arms and hands, dullness at extremities, general fatigue, pain or heavy feeling in the head, increased irritability etc. become remarkable in addition to the mild stage complaints. 3) At the severe stage, pain and dullness at the back, numbness at arms and hands, hand coldness, sleep disturbance etc. become remarkable in addition to the moderate stage complaints. 4) Various sufferings in daily life such as "I want to lie down at rest time," "I lack patience to go on reading long," "It is hard for me to go on writing long," and "Fixed sitting soon tires me" become more and more frequent as the stage advances. We consider it is important in the diagnosis of OCD to pay attention to the general symptoms such as general fatigue, pain or heavy feeling in the head, increased irritability and sleep disturbance, together with complaints at the neck, shoulders, arms and hands.     

Risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders among nursing personnel in Greek hospitals

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationships between physical, psychosocial, and individual characteristics and different endpoints of musculoskeletal complaints of the lower back, neck and shoulders. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study a questionnaire survey was carried out among 351 nursing personnel (response 84%) in six general hospitals in Athens, Greece. A questionnaire was used on physical and psychosocial workload, need for recovery, perceived general health and (1) the occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints in the past 12 months, (2) chronic complaints during at least 3 months, and (3) complaints which led to sickness absence. In logistic regression analysis odds ratios (ORs) were estimated for all relevant risk factors. RESULTS: Self-reported factors of physical load were associated with the occurrence of back pain (OR=1.85), neck pain (OR=1.88), and shoulder pain (OR=1.87) but these factors were not associated with chronic complaints and musculoskeletal sickness absence. Physical load showed a trend with the number of musculoskeletal complaints with ORs of 2.47 and 4.13 for two and three musculoskeletal complaints, respectively. No consistent influence of psychosocial factors on complaints, chronicity, or sickness absence was observed. A perceived moderate general health was also a risk factor, and strongest associations were observed for sickness absence due to back pain (OR=2.03), neck pain (OR=8.31), and shoulder pain (OR=6.84). CONCLUSIONS: The handling of physical loads among nurses seems to put them at risk for the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. The development of these complaints into chronic complaints and associated sickness absence is strongly determined by perceived general health and almost not associated with work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors. When the influence of work-related risk factors on musculoskeletal health is being investigated, the general health status of individual workers should be taken into account.     

Musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial work environment,among Swedish commercial pilots

Purpose

The associations between psychosocial work conditions and health in pilots are understudied, and therefore, the associations between the psychosocial work conditions and musculoskeletal problems among Swedish commercial pilots were investigated.

Methods

In 2010, a self-administered questionnaire study was performed among pilots in one Swedish commercial airline: 354 pilots participated (61 %). Musculoskeletal symptoms and the psychosocial work conditions measured by the demand control social support model were investigated. Odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) were expressed per change of one unit on the interquartile score scale.

Results

Pilots on long-haul flights had less elbow symptoms (OR 0.34, 95 % CI 0.14–0.85), and women had more hand symptoms (OR 2.90, 95 % CI 1.11–7.52). There were associations between high work demands and symptoms from the neck (OR 2.04, 95 % CI 1.45–2.88), shoulders (OR 1.46, 95 % 1.05–2.03), elbows (OR 1.79, 95 % CI 1.10–2.90) and low back (OR 1.42, 95 % CI 1.02–1.96) in pilots. Low social support was associated with symptoms from the neck (OR 1.87, 95 % 1.35–2.58), shoulders (OR 1.56, 95 % CI 1.14–2.14) and low back (OR 1.63, 95 % CI 1.18–2.24). Low supervisor support was associated with neck (OR 1.67, 95 % CI 1.22–2.27), shoulders (OR 1.38, 95 % CI 1.02–1.87) and low back symptoms (OR 1.48, 95 % CI 1.09–2.01). The associations were mainly found among first officers.

Conclusions

Musculoskeletal symptoms in pilots can be affected by poor psychosocial work conditions such as high demands and low social support, especially for first officers. The psychosocial aspects of organisational changes in commercial airlines should be taken into consideration.     

Neck, shoulder, and hand and wrist pain among administrative employees: relation to work-time organization and psychosocial factors at work

OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the associations between work-time organization, psychosocial factors at work, and musculoskeletal pain of the neck, shoulders, and wrists and hands among administrative employees. METHODS: We analyzed the pain felt in a population of 762 employees during the 7 days before the survey at any of the three sites studied (multiple logistic regression). RESULTS: We found no associations between work-time organization and neck or shoulder pain. Wrist and hand pain increased with irregular schedule (odds ratio "OR" = 2.01; 95% confidence interval "95% CI" = 1.19-3.41) and lack of advance (at least 8 days) notice of schedule (OR = 1.90; 95% CI = 1.03-3.50). Of the psychosocial factors, only high psychological demand was associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of pain, in the neck and the shoulders (respectively: OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.23-2.82; OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.17-3.03). CONCLUSION: Prevention by improved psychosocial constraints at work must continue.     

Upper body quadrant pain in bus drivers

The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of upper body quadrant pain among Israeli professional urban bus drivers and to evaluate the association between individual, ergonomic, and psychosocial risk factors and occurrence of neck pain. Three hundred and eighty-four male urban bus drivers were consecutively enrolled in the study. Data pertaining to work-related ergonomic and psychosocial stress factors were collected. The 12-month prevalence of neck pain was 21.2%, followed by shoulder: 14.7%, upper back: 8.3%, elbow: 3.0%, and wrist: 3.0% pain. Prevalence of neck pain was associated with uncomfortable seats (odds ratio; OR [95% confidence interval; CI]: 2.2 [1.2-4.3], back support (2.3 [1.2-4.2]), and steering wheel (2.2 [1.1-4.5]). Drivers with neck pain reported significantly higher prevalence of pain in the upper back (OR [95% CI]: 5.9 [2.7-12.9]), shoulders (8.1 [4.3-15.3]), and wrists (7.0 [2.0-21.8]) compared to drivers without neck pain. Work-related organizational stress factors were not associated with neck pain prevalence.     

Work-related psychosocial and mechanical risk factors for neck/shoulder pain: a 3-year follow-up study of the general working population in Norway

Purpose

This study examines the impact of work-related psychosocial and mechanical exposure on the development of neck/shoulder pain in the general working population.

Methods

A randomly drawn cohort from the general population in Norway aged 18–66 was followed up for 3 years (n = 12,550, response rate = 67 %). Eligible respondents were in paid work during the reference week in 2006 and 2009, or temporarily absent from such work (n = 6,745). Four work-related psychosocial factors and six mechanical exposures were measured. Outcomes of interest were moderate or severe neck/shoulder pain at follow-up adjusted for baseline neck/shoulder pain.

Results

In total, 16.9 % (1,138 individuals) reported neck/shoulder pain during the last month at follow-up. Work related psychosocial predictors of neck/shoulder pain were high job demands (highest OR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.11–1.78) and low levels of supportive leadership (highest OR 1.66, 95 % CI 1.08–2.54). Mechanical factors were neck flexion (highest OR 1.77, 95 % CI 1.31–2.39) and lifting in awkward postures (highest OR 1.81, 95 % CI 1.21–2.71). The estimated population risk attributable to these factors was about 23 %. The relative risk for neck/shoulder pain associated with psychosocial exposure was slightly influenced by adjustment for physical risk factors, and vice versa. There was no substantial confounding related to age, gender, education, occupation or psychological distress.

Conclusions

Highly demanding jobs, neck flexion and awkward lifting appear as the most important predictors of neck/shoulder pain.     

Occupational cervicobrachial disorder (OCD) of nursery school teachers based on subjective symptoms related to OCD

To clarify the association of occupational cervicobrachial disorder (OCD), with labor conditions, and personal situation, a questionnaire study was conducted among nursery school teachers. The questionnaire was composed of subjective symptoms related to OCD (neck, shoulder, back and arm stiffness/pain), labor conditions, and whether or not the teacher had a child of her own under the age of two. Data of 793 subjects were analyzed. The results were as follows: The mean age and working period of 793 subjects were 27.6 (+/- 4.9) and 5.5 (+/- 3.2) years, respectively. Of them, 38.5% complained of right shoulder stiffness every day during the prior month, 26.5% neck stiffness, 18.8% arm stiffness, 9.6% back pain, 7.8% shoulder pain and 3.9% arm pain. The complaint rates on the left side were similar to those on the right side. The complaint rates of these subjective symptoms increased with the duration of the working period. The complaint rates of shoulder, neck and arm stiffness increased earlier than those of back stiffness, shoulder or arm pain. The complaint rates of these symptoms were highest among teachers in charge of children less than one-year-old and those in charge of four-year olds. Teachers in charge of three-year-old children had the lowest complaint rates. Subjects complaining of neck, shoulder and arm stiffness on every day worked under less favorable conditions than those without such complaints. When subjects having no children of their own under the age of two were matched in their ages and length of work history with those who have such children, the complaint rates of the two groups did not differ statistically for any of the subjective symptoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Perceived physical exertion during healthcare work and risk of chronic pain in different body regions: prospective cohort study

Purpose

To estimate the risk of developing chronic musculoskeletal pain in different body regions from varying degrees of perceived physical exertion during healthcare work.

Methods

Prospective cohort study among 4,977 Danish female healthcare workers responding to a baseline and follow-up questionnaire in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Using multi-adjusted logistic regression analysis, the risk of developing chronic pain (>30 days last year) at follow-up in the low back, neck/shoulder, and knees—among those without pain (0 days last year) in these respective body regions at baseline—from moderate and strenuous (reference: light) perceived physical exertion during healthcare work was modeled.

Results

Adjusted for age, BMI, tenure, smoking status, and leisure physical activity, strenuous perceived physical exertion during healthcare work increased the risk of chronic low back pain (OR 3.16, 95 % CI 1.79–5.57) and chronic knee pain (OR 1.87, 95 % CI 1.19–2.94) at follow-up among those without pain in these respective body regions at baseline. With additional adjustment for psychosocial work conditions, only the risk of developing chronic low back pain from strenuous physical exertion remained significant (OR 1.99, 95 % CI 1.02–3.88). Strenuous physical exertion was not a risk factor for chronic neck pain, and moderate physical exertion was not a risk factor for chronic pain in any of the body regions.

Conclusion

Strenuous perceived physical exertion during healthcare work is a risk factor especially for developing chronic pain in the low back. The possible preventive effect of reducing strenuous physical exertion should be tested in randomized controlled trials.     

The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Complaints among Women in Tijuana,Mexico: Sociodemographic and Occupational Risk Factors

Abstract

The authors interviewed an age- and occupation-stratified sample of 466 women, aged 18–40, from 12 Tijuana neighborhoods, about sociodemographic characteristics, work and reproductive history, and musculoskeletal complaints. A total of 29.8% reported experiencing aches or pain in the low back, 38.3% in the upper back, 26.4% in the neck/shoulders, 18.2% in the hand/wrist, and 28.3% in the legs in the preceding year. Both sociodemographic and occupational factors were associated with these complaints. Very low educational attainment, having substandard housing, being the head of household, and being a migrant were each associated with an increased prevalence of one or more musculoskeletal complaints. In general, working outside the home increased the risk of musculoskeletal complaints. Compared with women who had not worked in the preceding 30-month period, those working in the maquiladora had 40–90% higher risks of upper back, neck/shoulder, and hand/wrist pain. Compared with women working outside the maquiladora, maquiladora women workers had 20% higher risks of low back, upper back, and neck/shoulder complaints. More detailed studies of the incidences of musculoskeletal disorders and of specific etiologic risk factors within the maquiladora industry are warranted. Future studies should concurrently evaluate sociodemographic risk factors.     

Self-reported symptoms in the neck and upper limbs of female assembly workers. Impact of length of employment, work pace, and selection

In a questionnaire study 148 women in assembly work reported statistically significantly higher rates of pain, in the last 7 d, in their shoulders (odds ratio 3.4) and hands (odds ratio 2.8) as compared to 60 referents age-adjusted. There was a strong association between duration of employment and complaints in the hands. For the younger women, but not the older ones, there was an increase in pain in the shoulders, neck, and upper back with duration of employment. The odds ratio for pain in the shoulders and neck increased with an increasing work pace, except for very high paces, for which there was a decrease. Among 76 former assembly workers 26% reported pain as the cause of having left this work. There was no overall increase in the frequency of complaints among those who had left.     

Work-related risk factors for the incidence and recurrence of shoulder and neck complaints among nursing-home and elderly-care workers

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the differences and similarities in the incidence and recurrence of shoulder and neck complaints with respect to work-related physical, psychosocial, and personal risk factors. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out among 769 workers of nursing homes and homes for the elderly. At baseline, a questionnaire was used to collect data on personal characteristics, physical workload, psychosocial workload, and the presence of shoulder and neck complaints. After 1 and 2 years, follow-up data were collected on shoulder and neck complaints. Generalized estimation equations were used for analyzing risk factors for the participants with at least one follow-up measurement available (N=556, 72%). RESULTS: In the multivariate model, adjusted for age and gender, obesity [odds ratio (OR) 2.12, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.23-3.65] was related to the incidence of shoulder complaints. The incidence of neck complaints was increased for obesity (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.07-3.05), work in awkward postures (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.11-2.78), and poor or fair general health (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.02-2.31). The recurrence of both shoulder and neck complaints was associated with chronic complaints at baseline (shoulder: OR 1.91, 95% 1.36-2.67; neck: OR 1.71, 95% 1.14-2.55) but not with work-related risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that there are differences in risk factors for the incidence and recurrence of shoulder and neck complaints.     

Prevalence of subjective health complaints in the Nordic European countries in 1993

Background: Subjectively reported health complaints accountfor approximately 50% of all long-term sickness compensationand permanent disability in Northern European countries. Theprevalence of these complaints in the population at large wasexamined. Methods: Data from national surveys conducted in 1993of 2, 030 men and 2, 016 women above 15 years of age in Denmark,Finland, Norway, and Sweden were analysed. Results: As manyas 75% of our sample had at least some subjective health complaintsfor the previous 30 days. More than 50% had experienced tiredness,42% headache, 37% worry, 35% low back pain and 33% pain in theirarms or shoulders. The prevalence was higher in women than inmen. In general, substantial muscle pain was more common inolder subjects, but tiredness, headache, worry and depressivemood were more common in young subjects. Conclusion: The veryhigh prevalence of these complaints in the general populationshould be taken into account whenever these complaints are reportedto be due to any new environmental factor or disease.     

The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among women in Tijuana, Mexico: sociodemographic and occupational risk factors

The authors interviewed an age- and occupation-stratified sample of 466 women, aged 18-40, from 12 Tijuana neighborhoods, about sociodemographic characteristics, work and reproductive history, and musculoskeletal complaints. A total of 29.8% reported experiencing aches or pain in the low back, 38.3% in the upper back, 26.4% in the neck/shoulders, 18.2% in the hand/wrist, and 28.3% in the legs in the preceding year. Both sociodemographic and occupational factors were associated with these complaints. Very low educational attainment, having substandard housing, being the head of household, and being a migrant were each associated with an increased prevalence of one or more musculoskeletal complaints. In general, working outside the home increased the risk of musculoskeletal complaints. Compared with women who had not worked in the preceding 30-month period, those working in the maquiladora had 40-90% higher risks of upper back, neck/shoulder, and hand/wrist pain. Compared with women working outside the maquiladora, maquiladora women workers had 20% higher risks of low back, upper back, and neck/shoulder complaints. More detailed studies of the incidences of musculoskeletal disorders and of specific etiologic risk factors within the maquiladora industry are warranted. Future studies should concurrently evaluate sociodemographic risk factors.     

Labor of freight-container tractor drivers and low-back pain. Characteristics of the low-back pain through clinical findings

In order to clarify the characteristics of the low-back pain which is prevalent among freight-container tractor drivers, a medical examination, composed of orthopedic tests and questions about health conditions, was carried out on 231 tractor drivers. Prevailing complaints were: dullness or stiffness of the shoulder (71%); dullness of the neck (69%); dullness of the low back (62%); low-back pain (42%); dullness of the lower limbs (39%) and dullness of the back (36%). The rates of complaints of dullness or pain of the neck, shoulder, upper limbs, back or lower limbs, and disturbance of daily activity were associated with the grade of low-back pain evaluated from the subjective symptoms. Orthopedic examination revealed fatigue signs of muscles i.e. tenderness of the body trunk and limbs, tenderness or percussion pain on the spinous processes, and poor results in some tests on muscle strength. These findings were seen more frequently in the group with subjective symptoms, but even among the group without symptoms, they were evident to some degree. These findings were considered to originate from the fact that the freight-container tractors had many ergonomic problems and the daily driving hours of many drivers were estimated to exceed the allowable vibration exposure time of the ISO.     

Contractor-, steward-, and coworker-safety practice: associations with musculoskeletal pain and injury-related absence among construction apprentices

Objectives

This paper sought to assess organizational safety practices at three different levels of hierarchical workplace structure and to examine their association with injury outcomes among construction apprentices.

Methods

Using a cross-sectional sample of 1,775 construction apprentices, three measures of organizational safety practice were assessed: contractor-, steward-, and coworker-safety practice. Each safety practice measure was assessed using three similar questions (i.e., on-the-job safety commitment, following required or recommended safe work practices, and correcting unsafe work practices); the summed average of the responses ranged from 1 to 4, with a higher score indicating poorer safety practice. Outcome variables included the prevalence of four types of musculoskeletal pain (i.e., neck, shoulder, hand, and back pain) and injury-related absence.

Results

In adjusted analyses, contractor-safety practice was associated with both hand pain (OR: 1.27, 95 % CI: 1.04, 1.54) and back pain (OR: 1.40, 95 % CI: 1.17, 1.68); coworker-safety practice was related to back pain (OR: 1.42, 95 % CI: 1.18, 1.71) and injury-related absence (OR: 1.36, 95 % CI: 1.11, 1.67). In an analysis that included all three safety practice measures simultaneously, the association between coworker-safety practice and injury-related absence remained significant (OR: 1.68, 95 % CI: 1.20, 2.37), whereas all other associations became non-significant.

Conclusions

This study suggests that organizational safety practice, particularly coworker-safety practice, is associated with injury outcomes among construction apprentices.     

Physical exercise, body mass index, and risk of chronic pain in the low back and neck/shoulders: longitudinal data from the Nord-Trondelag Health Study

Chronic musculoskeletal pain constitutes a large socioeconomic challenge, and preventive measures with documented effects are warranted. The authors' aim in this study was to prospectively investigate the association between physical exercise, body mass index (BMI), and risk of chronic pain in the low back and neck/shoulders. The study comprised data on approximately 30,000 women and men in the Nord-Tr?ndelag Health Study (Norway) who reported no pain or physical impairment at baseline in 1984-1986. Occurrence of chronic musculoskeletal pain was assessed at follow-up in 1995-1997. A generalized linear model was used to calculate adjusted risk ratios. For both females and males, hours of physical exercise per week were linearly and inversely associated with risk of chronic pain in the low back (women: P-trend = 0.02; men: P-trend < 0.001) and neck/shoulders (women: P-trend = 0.002; men: P-trend < 0.001). Obese women and men had an approximately 20% increased risk of chronic pain in both the low back and the neck/shoulders. Exercising for 1 or more hours per week compensated, to some extent, for the adverse effect of high BMI on risk of chronic pain. The authors conclude that physical inactivity and high BMI are associated with an increased risk of chronic pain in the low back and neck/shoulders in the general adult population.     

Association between perceived inadequate staffing and musculoskeletal pain among hospital patient care workers

Objective

To examine association between perceived inadequate staffing and musculoskeletal pain and to evaluate the role of work-related psychosocial and physical work factors in the association among hospital patient care workers.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,572 patient care workers in two academic hospitals. Perceived inadequate staffing was measured using the “staffing adequacy subscale” of Nursing Work Index, which is a continuous scale that averages estimates of staffing adequacy by workers in the same units. Musculoskeletal pain (i.e., neck/shoulder, arm, low back, lower extremity, any musculoskeletal pain, and the number of area in pain) in the past 3 months was assessed using a self-reported Nordic questionnaire. Multilevel logistic regression was applied to examine associations between perceived inadequate staffing and musculoskeletal pain, considering clustering among the workers in the same units.

Results

We found significant associations of perceived inadequate staffing with back pain (OR 1.50, 95 % CI 1.06, 2.14) and the number of body area in pain (OR 1.42, 95 % CI 1.01, 2.00) after adjusting for confounders including work characteristics (job title, having a second job or not, day shift or not, and worked hours per week). When we additionally adjusted for physical work factors (i.e., use of a lifting device, and the amount of the time for each of five physical activities on the job), only the association between perceived inadequate staffing and back pain remained significant (OR 1.50, 95 % CI 1.03, 2.19), whereas none of the associations was significant for all of musculoskeletal pains including back pain (OR 0.96, 95 % CI 0.66, 1.41) when we additionally adjusted for work-related psychosocial factors (i.e., job demands, job control, supervisor support, and co-worker support) instead of physical work factors.

Conclusions

Perceived inadequate staffing may be associated with higher prevalence of back pain, and work-related psychosocial factor may play an important role in the potential pathway linking staffing level to back pain among hospital workers.     

Occupational activity and prevalence of osteomuscular pain among dentists in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil: a contribution to the debate on work-related musculoskeletal disorders

The objective was to determine the prevalence of upper-limb and back pain among dentists (n = 358) and factors associated with these symptoms. Dentists were interviewed using a self-administered questionnaire containing data on sociodemographic, occupational, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors and presence, site, and characteristics of pain. Participation rate was 92.3%. 58% reported upper limb pain, with 22, 21, 20, and 17% for the arm, back, neck, and shoulder, respectively. 26% reported daily frequency and 40% classified pain as moderate or severe. In the multivariate analysis (multiple logistic regression), the factors associated with pain were: neck: anxiety/depression (OR = 2.3; CI95%: 1.2-4.5), compressor in the office (OR = 2.1; CI95%: 1.2-3.7), job satisfaction (OR = 0.3; CI95%: 0.1-0.9), and use of indirect vision (OR = 0.5; CI95%: 0.3-0.9); shoulder: income > 20 minimum wage (OR = 2.9; CI95%: 1.2-6.7), greater productivity (OR = 3.3; CI95%: 1.3-8.4), height > or = 160cm (OR = 0.3; CI95%: 0.2-0.7), and age 30-49 years (OR = 0.3; CI95%: 0.1-0.8); back: anxiety/depression (OR = 2.3; CI95%: 1.2-4.5), manual activity (OR = 0.4; CI95%: 0.2-0.9), and being married (OR = 0.5; CI95%: 0.3-0.9); arms: manual activity (OR = 1.8; CI95%: 1.0-3.2).     

Musculoskeletal complaints among Italian X-ray technologists

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among X-ray technologists and to examine their relationship with physical and psychosocial factors. A cross-sectional study was performed in 2006 among 203 X-ray technologists working in 13 hospitals in the Apulia region of southern Italy. A questionnaire was used to collect data on personal characteristics, physical workload, psychosocial aspects, and the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck, shoulders, low back, hand/wrist and legs. Univariate analyses and multiple logistic regression analyses were then performed. The prevalence of complaints at any body site in the previous 12 months was 67%. Low back pain was the most commonly reported symptom (59.6%), followed by shoulder (21.2%), neck (19.7%), leg (13.8%) and hand/wrist pain (12.3%). Age was associated with low back pain, while high physical workload was associated with symptoms in the neck, low back and hand/wrist. High job demands were associated with neck and shoulder pain. Overall, our study suggests high prevalence rates of musculoskeletal complaints may exist among Italian X-ray technologists. Physical workload, psychosocial and individual factors appear to be important risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders within this occupational group.     

Self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among nursing personnel

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate musculoskeletal symptoms among female members of the nursing personnel. The sample consisted of 105 female nursing aides and technicians who were working at a university hospital with highly dependent patients. The questionnaire was composed of items on demographic and job-factor information and the symptom section was a modification of the "Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire". In this study, 93% of the health workers reported at least one musculoskeletal symptom in the previous 12 months. The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was in the following anatomical areas: low back (59%), shoulders (40%), knees (33.3%) and neck (28.6%). As a result of musculoskeletal pain, 29.5% of the respondents reported missing work and 47.6% reported having had an appointment to see a physician in the previous 12 months. Limited experience on the job and in the present unit were also observed among those who had more frequent complaints of pain in the knees (p=0.0272) and low back pain (p=0.0332), respectively. However, hand/wrist pain occurred more often among the participants with the higher numbers of weekly worked hours (OR=3.72:1.26相似文献