The relationship between upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms attributed to work and risk factors in office workers.

Purpose: Office workers are exposed to various individual, work-related and psychosocial factors during work that have been associated with the development of musculoskeletal symptoms. There is an increasing in evidence that suggests that musculoskeletal symptoms in the upper extremity are very common among office workers. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of individual, work-related physical and psychosocial factors on the prevalence of shoulder, elbow and wrist/hand symptoms attributed to work in office workers.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was delivered to 2,000 office workers in 54 workplaces in Bangkok, registered at the Social Security Office of Thailand.

Results: A total of 1,428 subjects (71%) returned the questionnaire, of whom 1,185 were eligible for the study. Alcohol consumption, frequency of working in an uncomfortable posture and relationships with colleagues were each significantly related to the prevalence of experiencing shoulder symptoms. No significant association between the investigated factors and the prevalence of experiencing elbow symptoms was found. Frequency of working in the position that hands were above the shoulder level and self-rated perception of air circulation in the office were significantly associated with the prevalence of experiencing wrist/hand symptoms.

Conclusions: Various individual, work-related and psychosocial factors were identified to be associated with high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms attributed to work in the shoulder and wrist/hand among office workers. Further research investigating the causal relation between these factors and musculoskeletal symptoms should be conducted.