Musculoskeletal pain and sedentary behaviour in occupational and non-occupational settings: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Sedentary behaviour (SB; time spent sitting) is associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) conditions; however, no prior systematic review has examined these associations according to SB domains. We synthesised evidence on occupational and non-occupational SB and MSP conditions.

Methods: Guided by a PRISMA protocol, eight databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and AMED) and three grey literature sources (Google Scholar, WorldChat, and Trove) were searched (January 1, 2000, to March 17, 2021) for original quantitative studies of adults ≥ 18 years. Clinical-condition studies were excluded. Studies' risk of bias was assessed using the QualSyst checklist. For meta-analyses, random effect inverse-variance pooled effect size was estimated; otherwise, best-evidence synthesis was used for narrative review.

Results: Of 178 potentially-eligible studies, 79 were included [24 general population; 55 occupational (incuding15 experimental/intervention)]; 56 studies were of high quality, with scores > 0.75. Data for 26 were meta-synthesised. For cross-sectional studies of non-occupational SB, meta-analysis showed full-day SB to be associated with low back pain [LBP - OR = 1.19(1.03 - 1.38)]. Narrative synthesis found full-day SB associations with knee pain, arthritis, and general MSP, but the evidence was insufficient on associations with neck/shoulder pain, hip pain, and upper extremities pain. Evidence of prospective associations of full-day SB with MSP conditions was insufficient. Also, there was insufficient evidence on both cross-sectional and prospective associations between leisure-time SB and MSP conditions. For occupational SB, cross-sectional studies meta-analysed indicated associations of self-reported workplace sitting with LBP [OR = 1.47(1.12 - 1.92)] and neck/shoulder pain [OR = 1.73(1.46 - 2.03)], but not with extremities pain [OR = 1.17(0.65 - 2.11)]. Best-evidence synthesis identified inconsistent findings on cross-sectional association and a probable negative prospective association of device-measured workplace sitting with LBP-intensity in tradespeople. There was cross-sectional evidence on the association of computer time with neck/shoulder pain, but insufficient evidence for LBP and general MSP. Experimental/intervention evidence indicated reduced LBP, neck/shoulder pain, and general MSP with reducing workplace sitting.

Conclusions: We found cross-sectional associations of occupational and non-occupational SB with MSP conditions, with occupational SB associations being occupation dependent, however, reverse causality bias cannot be ruled out. While prospective evidence was inconclusive, reducing workplace sitting was associated with reduced MSP conditions. Future studies should emphasise prospective analyses and examining potential interactions with chronic diseases.

Protocol registration: PROSPERO ID # CRD42020166412 (Amended to limit the scope).

Keywords: Computer time; Device-measured; Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) conditions; Non-occupational; Occupational; Sedentary behaviour (SB); Self-reported; Vehicle time; Workplace sitting.

Fig. 1

PRISMA flow diagram of the studies record

Fig. 2

A forest plot for inverse-variance meta-analysis using a random effect of cross-sectional studies that investigated non-occupational sedentary behaviour (SB) showing the pooled effect size of the association of full-day SB with low back pain (LBP); subgroup analysis by self-reported SB and LBP and device-measured SB and LBP-intensity

Fig. 3

A forest plot for inverse-variance meta-analysis using a random effect of cross-sectional studies that investigated occupational SB showing the pooled effect sizes for the association of self-reported workplace sitting time with LBP; subgroup analysis by non-tradespeople and tradespeople

Fig. 4

A forest plot for inverse-variance meta-analysis using a random effect of cross-sectional studies that investigated occupational SB showing the pooled effect size for the association of self-reported workplace sitting time with neck/shoulder pain; subgroup analysis by studies that reported neck pain, shoulder pain, and neck/shoulder pain

Fig. 5

A forest plot for inverse-variance meta-analysis using a random effect of cross-sectional studies that investigated occupational SB showing the pooled effect size for the association of self-reported workplace sitting time with extremities pain; subgroup analysis by upper limbs, lower limbs, and hand/wrist pains

Fig. 6

A forest plot for inverse-variance meta-analysis using a random effect of cross-sectional studies that investigated occupational SB showing the pooled effect size for the association of vehicle time with LBP