Correlates of localized musculoskeletal pain in overweight female health care professionals

Abstract

Objectives: The risk of musculoskeletal pain increases when there is an imbalance between work demands and physical capacity. Work in elder care requires frequent periods of high mechanical loading. Body weight can further amplify this load, while muscle strength may lessen the relative strain on the musculoskeletal system. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between body composition, muscular strength and localized musculoskeletal pain intensity in overweight female health care professionals. Methods: A sample of 139 overweight female health care professionals working in elder care were included in the analyses. Associations between BMI, fat percentage, waist circumference, muscle strength and localized pain intensity were assessed using Kendall’s rank correlation. Results: Significant associations were found between musculoskeletal pain in the right shoulder and BMI (rτ=0.194; p=0.035), whereas upper back pain was associated with fat percentage and waist circumference (rτ=0.212; p=0.023 and rτ=0.212; p=0.024, respectively). Conclusions: Results indicate high BMI, fat percentage, and waist circumference may be contributing factors of localized musculoskeletal pain intensity of the upper body in overweight female health care professionals. These results may help guide the design of future workplace health promotion programmes.