Association between physical and psychosocial demands and musculoskeletal pain in health workers

The physical and psychosocial demands of work are important factors in the genesis of musculoskeletal pain. Identification of these dimensions and their interfaces with workers' individual characteristics could improve understanding of these outcomes.

To analyze the associations between the physical and psychosocial demands of work and occurrence of musculoskeletal pain in health care workers.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted with health care workers. The exposure variables were psychosocial aspects and physical demands, investigated using the Job Content Questionnaire, and the outcomes were musculoskeletal pain in lower limbs, upper limbs, and the back, investigated as self-report of pain. A multivariate analysis was conducted to investigate associations between exposures and outcomes.

The factors associated with musculoskeletal pain in the three areas of the body studied were female sex, physical inactivity, and "poor" self-rated health status. Additionally, being a contract worker was associated with musculoskeletal pain in the lower limbs and back. Not participating in leisure activities and being responsible for direct provision of health care were associated with pain in the lower limbs. Being the person responsible for the housework and doing the housework were associated with pain in upper limbs. Differences between the demands of tasks, poor availability of the technical resources to perform activities, and absence of leisure activities were associated with back pain.

It was concluded that both physical demands and psychosocial demands are associated with musculoskeletal pain in health care workers.