Multi-site musculoskeletal pain in Swedish police: associations with discomfort from wearing mandatory equipment and prolonged sitting

Louise Bæk Larsen,Roy Tranberg,Elisabeth Elgmark Andersson,Nerrolyn Ramstrand

doi:10.1007/s00420-018-1292-9

Abstract

PurposeMusculoskeletal disorders are considered as a major issue affecting the health and well-being of active duty police. Discomfort from wearing mandatory equipment and sitting for long periods of time in fleet vehicles are workload factors linked to musculoskeletal disorders in police. This study aims to determine the prevalence of multi-site musculoskeletal pain among Swedish police and to explore the possible association to discomfort experience when wearing mandatory equipment and sitting for long periods in fleet vehicles.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study responses from 4185 police were collected through a self-administered online survey including questions about physical work environment, mandatory equipment and musculoskeletal pain. Multi-site pain was determined through summing pain sites from four body regions. Binomial logistic regression was performed to explore the association between multi-site musculoskeletal pain: (1) discomfort from wearing mandatory equipment and (2) sitting for long periods in fleet vehicles.ResultsThe prevalence of multi-site musculoskeletal pain at least 1 day per week within the previous 3 months was 41.3%. A statistically significant association between discomfort from wearing mandatory equipment and multi-site musculoskeletal pain was found; duty belt [OR 5.42 (95% CI 4.56–6.43)] as well as body armour [OR 2.69 (95% CI 2.11–3.42)]. Sitting for long periods in fleet vehicles was not significantly associated to multi-site musculoskeletal pain.ConclusionMulti-site musculoskeletal pain is a considerable problem among Swedish police and modifying mandatory equipment to decrease discomfort is suggested as a potential means of decreasing the musculoskeletal pain experienced by many police officers.

Highlights

Musculoskeletal disorders are a major problem in the general working population, leading to sickness absence and limited work ability (Bevan et al 2015; Hoy et al 2010; Lidgren 2003; Monnier et al 2015)
Results of binominal logistic regression showed that discomfort experienced from wearing a duty belt and body armour was significantly related to multi-site musculoskeletal pain in all three models, see Table 3
This study investigated the prevalence of multi-site musculoskeletal pain among Swedish police, as well as the association between discomfort experienced from wearing mandatory equipment, sitting for long periods in fleet vehicles and multi-site musculoskeletal pain

Summary

Introduction

Musculoskeletal disorders are a major problem in the general working population, leading to sickness absence and limited work ability (Bevan et al 2015; Hoy et al 2010; Lidgren 2003; Monnier et al 2015). Results to date have linked musculoskeletal disorders in police to; International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (2018) 91:425–433 discomfort from wearing mandatory equipment such as duty belts and body armour (Filtness et al 2014; Ramstrand and Larsen 2012; Ramstrand et al 2016), prolonged periods of sitting in fleet vehicles (Filtness et al 2014; Gyi and Porter 1998; Holmes et al 2013; Ramstrand and Larsen 2012), and insufficient physical activity and fitness (Nabeel et al 2007). The extent to which the above-mentioned workload factors are associated with the musculoskeletal disorders experienced by Swedish police is unknown

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