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Published on: September 17, 2013
Do Musculoskeletal Disorders Affect Work Tasks in Farmers: A Study of Rural Saskatchewan
Kenzie B Friesen1, Angelica E Lang
1From the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (Dr Friesen, Dr Lang); College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (Dr Friesen).
Objective:
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among farmers, yet associated difficulty during work is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the connection between MSDs and work-related task difficulty in rural Saskatchewan.
Methods:
Rural Saskatchewan farmers and farm workers with history of MSD in the last 5 years ( n = 72) participated via an online survey.
Results:
Shoulder MSDs were the most common (75%), followed by neck (65%), knees (61%), and lower back (58%). Many participants reported more than one MSD. Presence of MSDs leads to difficulty in work tasks; for example, difficulty when operating power tools with hands was 8.7 times more likely for those with shoulder MSD.
Conclusions:
MSDs in rural Saskatchewan farmers are associated with greater work task difficulty, and future research into risk factors related to those tasks can guide prevention strategies.
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