Upper Body Quadrant Pain in Bus Drivers

ABSTRACT

The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of upper body quadrant pain among Israeli professional urban bus drivers and to evaluate the association between individual, ergonomic, and psychosocial risk factors and occurrence of neck pain. Three hundred and eighty-four male urban bus drivers were consecutively enrolled in the study. Data pertaining to work-related ergonomic and psychosocial stress factors were collected. The 12-month prevalence of neck pain was 21.2%, followed by shoulder: 14.7%, upper back: 8.3%, elbow: 3.0%, and wrist: 3.0% pain. Prevalence of neck pain was associated with uncomfortable seats (odds ratio; OR [95% confidence interval; CI]: 2.2 [1.2–4.3], back support (2.3 [1.2–4.2]), and steering wheel (2.2 [1.1–4.5]). Drivers with neck pain reported significantly higher prevalence of pain in the upper back (OR [95% CI]: 5.9 [2.7–12.9]), shoulders (8.1 [4.3–15.3]), and wrists (7.0 [2.0–21.8]) compared to drivers without neck pain. Work-related organizational stress factors were not associated with neck pain prevalence.

KEYWORDS:

• bus drivers
• neck pain
• psychosocial risk factors
• upper body quadrant pain
• work-related musculoskeletal disorders

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor.

Notes

*p values were obtained from χ² or t test.