Prospective study on shoulder symptoms among kitchen workers in relation to self-perceived and observed work load

To study the occurrence of shoulder symptoms among professional kitchen workers, and whether reduction in self-perceived and observed physical work load decreases future symptoms.

In this prospective study conducted in 2002-2005 in municipal kitchens in Finland, changes during a 1-year follow-up in the physical strenuousness of work tasks were self-assessed by 376 female workers (substudy I). Changes in exposure to manual lifting and awkward upper arm posture during the follow-up were also observed by experts in 69 kitchens with 183 workers (substudy II). Information on shoulder symptoms was collected with questionnaires at baseline and at follow-up. The risk of shoulder symptoms at follow-up related to changes in exposure was estimated with logistic regression.

The 3-month prevalence of shoulder pain was 34% at baseline and 41% at follow-up. Reduction during follow-up in work tasks perceived as the most strenuous physically (ie, receiving and storing raw food) led to a significantly reduced risk of future shoulder pain with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.41 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.98) and trouble caused by the pain with an OR of 0.34 (0.14 to 0.83). The observed reduction in lifting was also associated with a lower risk for future shoulder symptoms.

Reduction in lifting showed beneficial protective effects on the shoulder. Although more risk factor and intervention studies are needed to estimate the health impacts of kitchen work, special attention should be paid to work tasks that include lifting when assessing risk and designing preventive measures.