Abstract
PURPOSE: Many older workers are working despite having neck-shoulder pain (NSP), which may give rise to work limitations due to pain, especially among those with high physical work demands. This study investigated the joint association of neck-shoulder pain intensity and physical work demands with work limitations among older workers.
METHODS: In SeniorWorkingLife, workers ≥ 50 years (n = 11,800) replied to questions about NSP intensity, work limitations due to pain, and physical activity demands at work. The odds ratio for having a higher level of work limitations due to pain in relation to neck-shoulder pain intensity and physical work demands were modeled using logistic regression controlled for various confounders.
RESULTS: The results showed that the neck-shoulder pain intensity was associated with work limitations in a dose-response fashion (p < 0.0001). Importantly, a significant interaction existed between neck-shoulder pain intensity and physical activity at work (p < 0.0001), e.g., 77% of workers with high pain and high work demands experienced work limitations due to the pain.
CONCLUSION: Higher neck-shoulder pain intensity and higher physical work demands-and particularly in combination-were associated with higher odds of work limitation due to pain among older workers. Thus, it seems especially important to accommodate work demands through a better work environment for these groups of workers.
Original language | English |
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Journal | International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health |
Volume | 94 |
Issue number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 433-440 |
ISSN | 0340-0131 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2021 |
Bibliographical note
This study was supported by a grant from the Danish foundation, TrygFonden.Keywords
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Neck
- Shoulder
- Work demands
- Older worker
- Work limitation
- Labor market
- Occupational health