Association between physical limitations and working life exposure to carrying heavy loads assessed using a...

Decline in physical performance with age varies among workers. We studied the association between lifetime exposure to carrying heavy loads and limitations in climbing stairs.

We used data from the French CONSTANCES study. A biomechanical Job-Exposure Matrix (JEM) was combined with lifetime job histories to build a cumulative exposure score, and compared with reported limitations in climbing stairs using robust Poisson models, stratified by sex and educational level.

Of the 26,255 subjects, 618 men and 1,080 women reported difficulties in climbing stairs; this outcome was associated with cumulative exposure to carrying heavy loads: adjusted PR= 2.17 (1.75-2.73) for men, 1.50 (1.30-1.74) for women. The association was primarily seen among less educated subjects.

Cumulative work exposure to carrying heavy loads across the working life was associated with physical limitations in climbing stairs among the less educated in both genders.