Pain, risk profile, self-reported and tested function in workers with musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate differences in pain, risk profile, self-reported and tested function between health care workers and school- and kindergarten workers with musculoskeletal pain and to examine differences in pain and function when the two vocational groups were categorised according to risk profile and pain category.

Methods: There were 403 health care workers or school- and kindergarten workers included in the cross-sectional study. Pain, risk profile and self-reported and tested function were measured with questionnaires and a functional evaluation. Differences between and within the two vocational groups were analysed using independent t-test. Non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test was used for non-parametric data.

Results: Health care workers have statistically significant higher prevalence of high-risk individuals, while school- and kindergarten workers have statistically significant higher prevalence of individuals with widespread pain. Participants categorised as having high risk of long-lasting pain had statistically significant higher pain intensity and poorer self-reported and tested function compared to low-risk individuals.

Conclusion: Categorisation based on pain distribution and especially risk profile has an impact on both pain intensity and function, irrespective of occupation.

Keywords:

• Musculoskeletal disorder
• occupations
• disability
• high-risk workers

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.