Job stress, upper extremity pain and functional limitations in symptomaticcomputer users

Background Research suggests that exposure to occupational stressors are re lated to the presence and/or exacerbation of work-related upper extremity s ymptoms in office workers. Also worker's response to work demands and/or jo b stressors (i.e., workstyle) may exacerbate symptom severity and impact fu nction. The present study examines the association among work demands, job stress and workstyle on pain and function. Methods 124 symptomatic female office workers completed a questionnaire mea suring demographics, medical history, work demands, perception of the work environment, workstyle, pain intensity, functional impact, and time lost fr om work. Results Heightened job stress and the tendency to continue to work in a way that contributes to pain to ensure high quality (dimension of workstyle) w ere related to pain intensity at work and decreased function. These variabl es, in addition to hours worked per year were related to increased pain exp erienced across the work week. The model tested did not predict the occurre nce of lost time. Conclusions The present findings provide support for the association betwee n job stress, workstyle, upper extremity pain and function. While it is not possible to determine the exact direction of the observed relationships, t hese results are consistent with prior research indicating the potential si gnificance of job stress and workstyle on symptom exacerbation and function al limitations. Implications for evaluation and intervention are discussed. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.