NECK TROUBLE IN MACHINE OPERATING, DYNAMIC PHYSICAL WORK AND SEDENTARY WORK - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY ON OCCUPATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL RISK-FACTORS

A prospective study on the effects of occupational and individual fact ors on neck trouble was carried out among 1832 men representing static work with whole-body vibration (machine operators), dynamic physical work (construction carpenters) and sedentary work (office workers). Ne ck trouble and occupational and individual factors were inquired about via postal questionnaires in 1984 and 1987. Machine operating was ass ociated with an increased risk to contract severe neck trouble, and ma chine operating and dynamic physical work were associated with persist ently severe neck trouble. Other predictors for contracting severe nec k trouble were age and current smoking. Physical exercise decreased th e risk of persistently severe neck trouble. The results of our prospec tive study confirm the role of physical factors in neck trouble.