"Missing Mobility": Perspectives of North American Firefighters on the Risks and Causes of Work-Related Shoulder Disorders: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Firefighters are routinely exposed to significant work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) which can sometimes be career-ending due to the workplace stressors and the physical demands of the job. Shoulder disorders are the third most frequent WRMSDs that cause pain, disability, and morbidity in the general working population. However, little is known about the task-specific causes and risk factors for work-related shoulder disorders (WSDs) among firefighters (FFs).

Distribution of Number, Location of Pain and Comorbidities, and Determinants of Work Limitations among Firefighters.

Introduction: The unique demands of firefighting results in acute, recurrent, or chronic pain complications. We aimed to describe the percentage distribution of number and location of painful sites among FFs and determine whether work limitations differed based on the number or location of painful sites, age, and/or sex.

Methods: About 325 firefighters completed a work limitation questionnaire (WLQ-26) and a checklist to indicate painful regions of the body using either a paper format or an online survey.