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Risk factors for neck and shoulder disorders: a nested case-control study covering a 24-year period
K Fredriksson1, L Alfredsson, C B Thorbjörnsson
1Programme for Ergonomics, National Institute for Working Life, SE-112 79 Stockholm, Sweden. Kerstin.Frederiksson@niwl.se
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|October 12, 2000
Summary
Neck and shoulder disorders are influenced by work and non-work factors. Combinations of physical and psychosocial exposures significantly increase risks, especially in women and men.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Epidemiology
- Musculoskeletal disorders
Background:
- A 1969 population study in Stockholm included 2,579 participants.
- A subset was re-examined in 1993, collecting retrospective data on working conditions, non-work factors, and neck/shoulder disorders (1970-1993).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate risk factors for neck and shoulder disorders.
- To examine the influence of physical, psychosocial, work-related, and non-work-related factors.
- To explore gender-specific associations and combined effects.
Main Methods:
- 484 of 783 eligible subjects (aged 42-59 in 1993) responded.
- Neck/shoulder disorder cases (n=271) were identified via sick leave, medical attention, or recent symptoms.
- Matched case-control analyses included physical and psychosocial variables.
Main Results:
- Psychosocial factors were linked to disorders in women; physical factors in men.
- Repetitive hand work was a common risk indicator for both genders (OR ~1.5).
- Interactive effects between factors were observed.
Conclusions:
- Individual factors had moderate impact on neck/shoulder disorders.
- Combined physical and psychosocial factors, and work/non-work factors, elevated relative risks above 2.