Musculoskeletal pain in Japanese workers and the relationship between labor productivity by presenteeism and chronic musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional study

Work-related musculoskeletal pain among physical therapists: a cross-sectional study in Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, Japan

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the actual working conditions and prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among physical therapists in Japan, and the risk factors associated with low back pain (LBP) and upper limb pain (ULP).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of physical therapists in the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey contents included questions regarding personal, work-related, and musculoskeletal pain factors. Logistic regression models were used to analyze factors associated with LBP and ULP.

RESULTS

Responses from 1479 participants were included in the analyses. The prevalence of LBP at the time of the survey and in the past year was 40.1% and 74.3% in females, and 37.8% and 69.9% in males, respectively. The prevalence of ULP was 34.8% and 64.2% in females, and 27.2% and 53.3% in males. The numbers of patients who performed manual therapy per day, worked using a fixed-height bed, performed manual therapy, had job dissatisfaction and stress, were over 40 years old, and slept less than 6 hours were associated with LBP and ULP. Assistance task was a risk factor only for LBP, and female sex a risk factor only for ULP.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of LBP and ULP among physical therapists in Japan was as high as that in nurses and care workers. Work-related factors associated with LBP and ULP were identified among physical therapists. Thus, to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders, measures to reduce the physical burden from the perspective of occupational health are required.

Relationship between impaired work function and coping behaviors in workers with low back pain

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship between work functional impairment levels and three coping behaviors of workers with low back pain, which were about seeking medical attention, taking over-the-counter drugs, and taking self-care.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study on 14 Japanese companies in 2016. Work function impairment was measured using the Work Functioning Impairment Scale. Logistic regression analyses were conducted for the three coping behaviors and odds ratios (ORs) calculated for work functional impairment levels.

RESULTS

We analyzed 2232 subjects; 226 were women and 790 worked on production lines. 688 workers had sought medical attention, 436 had taken over-the-counter medication, and 1225 had engaged in self-care. Those seeking medical attention were associated with severe work function impairment compared with no work function impairment (adjusted OR = 2.84, 95% confidence interval: 1.82-4.45, p < .001). We observed a trend for the association between over-the-counter drug use with high levels of work function impairment (adjusted OR: 1.19 for low, 1.35 for moderate, 1.65 for severe). There was no apparent relationship between self-care and the degree of work functional impairment.

CONCLUSION

In workers with low back pain, severe work functional impairment may promote medical attention and over-the-counter medication use, but it would not encourage self-care, such as stretching or exercise. Therefore, workplaces need to provide special support to help them take care of themselves. Therefore, it is desirable to provide good support for self-care in the workplace.

The Relationship Between Fear-avoidance Beliefs in Employees with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Work Productivity: A Longitudinal Study

This study aimed to identify risk factors for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMSP) and sought to examine the effect of fear-avoidance beliefs (FABs) on work productivity in workers with CMSP. We performed a longitudinal study using self-administered questionnaires given to employees in three different industries between April 2016 and March 2017. The questionnaire concerned background characteristics, work-related factors and musculoskeletal pain, the Work Functioning Impairment Scale (WFun), and the Japanese version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-J). We performed logistic regression analysis to evaluate factors affecting CMSP and a multi-way analysis of variance to analyze the relationship between FABs and CMSP and the effect of FABs on the ability to function at work. Age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.03), mean working hours (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.04-1.33), and changes in working hours (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.02-1.37) were significantly associated with CMSP. Regarding FABs, we found that the stronger the FAB, the greater the WFun score, and that an increase in FABs resulted in a significant increase in WFun scores. This study demonstrated that long or increased working hours may be risk factors for CMSP, and that stronger FABs in those with CMSP are associated with decreased ability to function at work. In addition, measures to reduce FABs in workers with CMSP may be effective.