Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among office workers

• Published in: Occupational medicine (Oxford) Vol. 58; no. 6; pp. 436 - 438
• Main Authors: Janwantanakul, Prawit, Pensri, Praneet, Jiamjarasrangsri, Viroj, Sinsongsook, Thanes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.09.2008; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Computer Terminals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Musculoskeletal symptoms; Musculoskeletal System - injuries; occupational diseases; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; office workers; pain; Pain - epidemiology; Pain - prevention & control; Prevalence; Sex Distribution; Spine; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thailand; Asia; office workers; pain; Musculoskeletal symptoms; occupational diseases; Human; Prevalence; Questionnaire; Occupational disease; Self evaluation; Health; Clerical personnel; Occupational exposure; Epidemiology; Striated muscle disease; Survey; Pain; Musculoskeletal disorder; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 0962-7480; 1471-8405; 1471-8405
• DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqn072

Background To date, no study has investigated the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms in all the body regions in the general population of office workers. Aims To estimate the 12-month prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms in the head/neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists/hands, upper back, low back, hips, knees and ankles/feet among office workers. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a descriptive questionnaire distributed to 2000 office workers in 54 workplaces. Results A total of 1428 subjects (71%) returned the questionnaire, of whom 1185 were eligible for the study. The annual prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms attributed to work was 63%. Sites of symptoms, in order of prevalence, were head/neck (42%), low back (34%), upper back (28%), wrists/hands (20%), shoulders (16%), ankles/feet (13%), knees (12%), hips (6%) and elbows (5%). Female office workers were more likely to report symptoms in the head/neck, shoulder, upper back and ankle/foot regions than male counterparts (P < 0.05). Office workers younger than 30 years were more likely to have symptoms in the upper back than those older than 49 years (P < 0.05). Conclusion Musculoskeletal symptoms are common among office workers with a high proportion experiencing symptoms in the spine. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in some body regions is dependent on gender and age. This indicates a need to develop specific strategies to reduce the occurrence of such symptoms among office workers.