Association Between Ergonomic Burden Assessed Using 20-Item Agricultural Work-Related Ergonomic Risk Questionnaire and Shoulder, Low Back, and Leg Pain in Korean Farmers

ABSTRACT

Objectives:This study aimed to determine the agricultural ergonomic burden in Korean farmers and to analyze its correlation with musculoskeletal pain. Methods: In total, 1001 farmers (525 females and 476 males; mean age, 59.6±7.5years) who owned or rented a farm and belonged to an agricultural cooperative unit were recruited. Ergonomic burdens were assessed using a 20-item Agricultural Work-related Ergonomic Risk Questionnaire (20 agricultural works). The presence of musculoskeletal pain (shoulder, low back, and leg/foot), Farm Stressor Inventory, subjective stress index, and agricultural workload (low, moderate, somewhat hard, or hard) were collected using structured questionnaires. Results: Factor analysis of the Agricultural Work-related Ergonomic Risk Questionnaire revealed a four-factor solution: neck and upper limb, trunk and push – pull, machine and heavy lifting, and repetitive trauma. Cronbach’s alpha was greater than 0.65. For 18 of the 20 items, there was a significant association with the Farm Stressor Inventory, subjective stress index, and agricultural workload. The most frequent ergonomic burdens were squatting (51.2%), highly repetitive wrist movements (53.5%), shoulder flexion at 45–90° (51.2%), and trunk flexion or twisting at≥45° (48.8%). Ergonomic burdens were significantly different in 13 items between sexes. The musculoskeletal pain was associated with increased agricultural burdens in 10 items in male farmers and 14 items in female farmers. Conclusion: Increased agricultural ergonomic burdens were associated with musculoskeletal pain. Ergonomic burden showed different patterns between male and female farmers, with female farmers appearing to be more affected by ergonomic burden than male farmers.

KEYWORDS:

• Agricultural workers’ diseases
• ergonomics
• farmers
• musculoskeletal pain

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a research grant from the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the Kangwon Center for Farmers’ Safety and Health.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2023.2176958

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.