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A Cross-Sectional Study of the Association Between Telecommuting Environments and Shoulder Pain Among Japanese
Hideyuki Sato1, Ryutaro Matsugaki, Hajime Ando
1From the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Sato, Dr Matsugaki, Dr Matsuda); Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Ando); Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Odagami); Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Mafune); Disaster Occupational Health Center, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Tateishi); Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Tsuji); and Department of Environmental Epidemiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Fujino).
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between telecommuting environments and shoulder pain in Japanese telecommuters.
Methods:
We conducted an Internet-monitored, cross-sectional study and analyzed 2537 participants who mainly telecommuted at least 4 days per week. We assessed the presence of shoulder pain using a numerical rating scale and the characteristics of the telecommuting environment by asking eight questions. We used multilevel logistic regression analysis with the city of residence as a random effect.
Results:
Inadequate desk brightness (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.78), inadequate foot space (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02-1.58), and uncomfortable temperature and humidity (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.16-1.72) were associated with shoulder pain in multilevel logistic regression analysis.
Conclusions:
Inappropriate telecommuting environments were associated with an increase in the prevalence of shoulder pain in Japanese telecommuters.
