Prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in massage practitioners.

Introduction: Massage practitioners are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). We investigated the prevalence and risk factors.

Methods: We randomly selected 161 visually impaired practitioners. Demographics, musculoskeletal symptoms, and working postures were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Results indicated that about 71.4% had at least one WMSD in 12 months. Prevalence rates were finger or thumb, 50.3%; shoulder, 31.7%; wrist, 28.6%; neck, 25.5%; arm or elbow, 23.6%; forearm, 20.5%; and back, 19.3%. Working duration >20 years had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) for finger or thumb 4.0-4.5 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-13.8, client contact >4 h/day (adjusted OR for finger = 3.2, 95% CI=1.3-8.1), and < or =7-kg pulp-pinch strength (adjusted OR for upper extremity = 2.9-3.2, 95% CI=1.2-8.3). Adjusted ORs for lower-back symptoms were 3.1 (95% CI=1.3-7.8) and 3.6 (95% CI=1.4-9.6), respectively, for lack of neutral neck posture and for inappropriate working-table height.

Conclusion: WMSDs were prevalent among massage practitioners.