Review of the factors associated with musculoskeletal problems in epidemiological studies.

OBJECTIVES: To review systematically all epidemiological studies of the past 15 years concerning the factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or complaints of the neck and upper limbs. METHODS: Fifty-seven cross-sectional and seven longitudinal studies were reviewed. A list was made of all personal, occupational, extra-occupational and psycho-organisational factors taken into consideration in each study, and of those that were found in association with MSDs. MSDs of the neck-shoulder region (NSs) and hand-wrist (HWs) were considered separately. About 70 different factors are listed. RESULTS: This inventory identifies the factors or categories of factors that were generally taken into consideration. It makes it possible also to evaluate the strength of the association with a given factor, in considering the number of studies finding an association, and those that did not consider this factor. Based on this review, some factors taken into consideration (such as weight or hobbies) could be excluded in further studies, and replaced by more specific psycho-organisational factors.

Musculoskeletal complaints, functional capacity, personality and psychosocial factors.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the research was to study the association between psychosocial and personality factors, and neck and wrist-hand musculoskeletal complaints, taking account of the occupational factors of force, posture and repetitiveness, and non-occupational risk factors such as sport, hobbies, medical history. METHODS: During personal interviews 133 women from seven different companies, working at constraining workplaces (very repetitive work), answered several questionnaires. These concerned: personal characteristics and history; work characteristics; psychosocial factors (perception and appreciation of the work situation, satisfaction at work, stress symptoms, Karasek questionnaire) and personality factors (neuroticism, conscientiousness, type-A behavior). They also undertook functional and psychomotor tests (wrist angles, grip strength and a dexterity test). Logistic regression models were calculated. RESULTS: Wrist-hand complaints appear to be associated with some personal characteristics (smoking habits, fewer hobbies), work constraints (fewer breaks, heavy lifting efforts) and some personality (introversion) and psychosocial factors (worse appreciation of work). Neck complaints are also associated with some personal characteristics (young people, small, bad health, hormonal problems, fewer hobbies), some personality (urgency of time) and psychosocial factors (constraints as seen by the supervisor). CONCLUSION: The study confirms the multifactorial character of the musculoskeletal disorders and underlines the need for a global ergonomic approach to work situations, taking into account all their physical, psychological and social components.