Long-term musculoskeletal disorders and work career in 55-year-old workers

The purpose of the present study was to describe the associations between long-term disorders of musculoskeletal system and work career in elderly workers. The data were obtained by a postal questionnaire and clinical examinations. The study group consisted of 778 elderly urban persons, who were 55 years old and who lived in the city of Oulu in northern Finland. Long-term musculoskeletal disorders were reported by 62% of the women and 57% of the men. The high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was significantly associated with heavy physical work. However, job mobility and declining work career were correlated with the occurrence of long-term musculoskeletal disorders in women whereas advanced work career was connected with a low prevalence of long-term musculoskeletal disorders.