Self-reported musculoskeletal disorders among visiting and office home care workers

This paper examines the associations between self-reported musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and work factors and injuries among home care workers. Bas ed on 99 focus group participants and 892 survey respondents, results show a high level of MSDs among both visiting and office home care workers. Whil e visiting home care workers tend to feel pain in the back, office workers tend to report pain in the neck and shoulder. Hazards in clients' homes, in juries moving clients and stress are associated with self-reported MSDs for visiting home care workers. Repetitive tasks and stress are associated wit h self-reported MSDs for office home care workers. Age and months in the pr ofession have no affect on self-reported MSDs.