The influence on seeking care because of neck and shoulder disorders from work-related exposures

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of work-related physical and psychosocial factors on seeking care for neck or shoulder disorders amo ng men and women in a general working population. The study population comp rised gainfully employed (> 17 hours per week) men and women in the municip ality of Norrtlje, altogether 392 cases and 1,511 controls. Cases were defi ned as persons seeking care because of neck or shoulder disorders by any ca regiver in the region. The study began in 1994 and continued to 1997. We as sessed physical and psychosocial exposures by questionnaires and interviews . The pattern of seeking care for neck or shoulder disorders differed betwe en men and women. Among men, work with vibrating tools [relative risk (RR) = 1.6], not having a fixed salary (RR = 1.9), and low demands in relation t o competence (RR = 1.5) were the strongest risk indicators obtained in anal yses stratified for age and previous symptoms. Among women, repetitive hand or finger movements (RR = 1.6), constrained sitting (RR = 1.6), not having a fixed salary (RR = 2.0), and solitary work (RR = 1.8) were the strongest risk indicators. A large proportion of the general population was exposed to several of these moderately harmful conditions, and their concomitant ef fect may explain the high incidence of neck and shoulder disorders in the g eneral working population.