Case-control study of risk factors for disease in the neck and shoulder area.

Abstract

A case-control study was performed to elucidate the strength of the relation between musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and shoulders and physical, organisational, and psychosocial aspects of the work environment. Cases were identified as those persons who consulted a physician in a community in southern Sweden for new musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and shoulders during a study period from August 1988 to the end of October 1989. One hundred and nine cases were collected and clinically examined. The cases also answered the Nordic questionnaire on symptoms as well as a questionnaire on work conditions and background factors. Controls were drawn as a random sample of the working population in the community where the cases appeared. A total of 637 controls answered the same questionnaires as the cases. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression. The odds ratios were 11P4 for women, 4 9 for immigrant background, and 3-7 for current smoking. To exercise rarely, compared with often, appeared as a preventive factor with an OR of 03. The ORs for various determinants of physical work load were 7'5 for repetitive movements demanding precision, 13-6 for light lifting, 3-6 for uncomfortable sitting positions, 4-8 for work with lifted arms, and 3 5 for a rushed work pace. Regarding work organisational determinants, the ORs were 16-5 for ambiguity of work role (uncertainty whether the person could manage the work) 2-6 for low quality work, and 3-8 for high demands on attention. Several of the determinants showed a significant dose-response relation with disease. It seems that work organisation and psychosocial work conditions are as important determinants for disease in the neck and shoulders as are the physical work conditions.

Work relatedness of chronic neck pain with physical findings—a systematic review

“…The reproducibility of the diagnosis was demonstrated for 4 of the studies (18,35,37,38) and suggested in 2 others (39,63). Blinded assessment of outcome was explicitly declared in 5 studies (18,35,37,43,61), but may have occurred in several others by virtue of design or previously described methodology (19,38,58,65).…”

“…Most of the studies achieved a high response rate, but, for a few Table 7. Summary of conclusions in relation to neck pain with palpation tenderness (tension neck syndrome or mixed neck-shoulder disorders with a preponderance of tension neck syndrome) 16 investigations of neck pain with tenderness (11 of these using tension neck syndrome as the disease label), 6 of neck pain with pain on neck movement (5 called cervical syndrome), 3 of thoracic outlet syndrome (all with very few cases), and 7 reports of mixed neck-shoulder disorder in which tension neck syndrome or neck pain with tenderness was diagnosed in >50% of the cases (35,38,41,50,62,64,65). Several studies reported on more than one outcome.…”

“…Altogether 15 investigations were cross-sectional in design (32,35,37,(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63)(64), 4 were prospective (18,19,38,58) [1 mostly focusing on baseline findings (38)], and 2 were community-based case-referent studies (50,65). The studies ranged from very large (N >15 000) (19) to very small (N=30) (58).…”

Effects of precision demands and mental pressure on muscle activation and hand forces in computer mouse tasks

“…Although the pathophysiology of these disorders is still largely unknown, several risk factors such as force, precision and task stress have been identified (Ekberg et al 1994, Milerad and Ericson 1994, Arie¨ns et al 2001, Buckle and Devereux 2002.…”

Investigation on Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Ergonomic Risk Factors at Metal Stamping Industry

“…The MSDs risk factors are frequently caused by physical job features such as repetitive work [6][7][8][9][10], work in extreme and static postures [8,11,12]and work with forceful arm and hand movements [13][14][15], which have been found to be associated with upper extremity disorders. Likewise, heavy lifting and forceful movements have also been found to be the cause of low back disorders [16], while another risk factor is on working in a forward bent position [17].…”