Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Feb 16:17:82.
doi: 10.1186/s12891-016-0938-6.

Multisite musculoskeletal pain among young technical school students entering working life

Therese Nordberg Hanvold  1 , Lars-Kristian Lunde  2 , Markus Koch  3 , Morten Wærsted  4 , Kaj Bo Veiersted  5
Affiliations

Multisite musculoskeletal pain among young technical school students entering working life

Therese Nordberg Hanvold et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. .

Abstract

Background: There is a need to investigate the occurrence of multisite pain in young adults and to determine potential factors contributing to the early course of multisite musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the occurrence and change of prevalence in the number of pain sites. We also wanted to identify work-related and individual risk factors associated with the number of musculoskeletal pain sites.

Methods: We monitored musculoskeletal pain from 4 body regions, individual and work-related factors on 21 occasions over a 6.5 year period. The cohort consisted of 420 technical school students entering working life. Data were analyzed by generalized estimating equations (GEE).

Results: Pain from more than one body site was prevalent in this cohort of young adults (69 % at baseline), and the number of body sites in pain was found quite stable over the 6.5 year follow-up period. Women had higher number of pain sites compared with men and gender specific risk factors were identified. Increased mechanical workload and quantitative demands and low socioeconomic status were associated with increased number of musculoskeletal pain sites among women, while tobacco use was found as a risk factor among young men. Increased perceived muscle tension was the only factor significantly associated with increased number of pain sites in both genders.

Conclusion: The current study supports earlier findings and show that pain from multiple body sites are frequent also among young workers. The identification of gender specific risk factors in our study is important and may facilitate practical prevention and future research.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prevalence of number of musculoskeletal pain sites among young adults in technical school (T0-T20). The bodily pain reports are categorized in five groups No pain, pain reported from one site, pain reported from 2 sites, pain reported from 3 sites and pain reported in all 4 site
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Ariëns GAM, van Mechelen W, Bongers PM, Bouter LM, van der Wal G. Physical risk factors for neck pain. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2000;26(1):7–19. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.504. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Mayer J, Kraus T, Ochsmann E. Longitudinal evidence for the association between work-related physical exposures and neck and/or shoulder complaints: a systematic review. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2012;85(6):587–603. doi: 10.1007/s00420-011-0701-0. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sterud T, Tynes T. Work-related psychosocial and mechanical risk factors for low back pain: a 3-year follow-up study of the general working population in Norway. Occup Environ Med. 2013;70:296–302. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2012-101116. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kraatz S, Lang J, Kraus T, Münster E, Ochsmann E. The incremental effect of psychosocial workplace factors on the development of neck and shoulder disorders: a systematic review of longitudinal studies. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2013;86(4):375–95. doi: 10.1007/s00420-013-0848-y. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kamaleri Y, Natvig B, Ihlebaek CM, Benth JS, Bruusgaard D. Number of pain sites is associated with demographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors in the general population. Eur J Pain. 2008;12(6):742–8. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2007.11.005. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types