Occupational risks and musculoskeletal complaints among industrial workers: a cross-sectional study

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders result from the overuse of the musculoskeletal system and insufficient time for the structures to recover. They are generally characterized by chronic pain, paresthesia, feeling of heaviness and fatigue, especially in the upper extremities, concomitantly or not, with an insidious onset.

To characterize musculoskeletal complaints and occupational risks in workers with work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

A cross-sectional observational study of 60 participants in a Workers' Health Reference Center with clinical and imaging diagnosis of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The instrument used contained 30 questions about individual factors, occupational risks, and musculoskeletal abnormalities. The results were analyzed descriptively, and the chi-square test was used to assess associations with a significance level at p < 0.05. Data analysis was performed using BioEstat 5®.

Most participants were men (66.7%) working in the industrial sector. The most common complaint was pain (100%) in the shoulders (43.8%) and lumbar spine (22%), and the most common abnormalities were tendinopathies and intervertebral disc disorders. The following risk factors were identified: 8-hour workday (80%); repetitive gestures (86.7%); twisting (58.3%); bending (61.7%); standing (66.7%); manual work (96.7%); and 10-30 kg of weight handled (35%).

A large number of workers exposed to biomechanical and organizational risks report musculoskeletal pain. Employers should check working conditions and adjust them, investing in health promotion and protection actions to effectively reduce the occurrence of these disorders.