Prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in massage practitioners.
BACKGROUND
Massage practitioners are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). We investigated the prevalence and risk factors.


METHODS
We randomly selected 161 visually impaired practitioners. Demographics, musculoskeletal symptoms, and working postures were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
Results indicated that about 71.4% had at least one WMSD in 12 months. Prevalence rates were finger or thumb, 50.3%; shoulder, 31.7%; wrist, 28.6%; neck, 25.5%; arm or elbow, 23.6%; forearm, 20.5%; and back, 19.3%. Working duration >20 years had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) for finger or thumb 4.0-4.5 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-13.8, client contact >4 h/day (adjusted OR for finger = 3.2, 95% CI=1.3-8.1), and < or =7-kg pulp-pinch strength (adjusted OR for upper extremity = 2.9-3.2, 95% CI=1.2-8.3). Adjusted ORs for lower-back symptoms were 3.1 (95% CI=1.3-7.8) and 3.6 (95% CI=1.4-9.6), respectively, for lack of neutral neck posture and for inappropriate working-table height.


CONCLUSIONS
WMSDs were prevalent among massage practitioners.
Jang
Yuh
Y
School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chi
Chia-Fen
CF
Tsauo
Jau-Yih
JY
Wang
Jung-Der
JD
D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D052581:Pinch Strength; D011187:Posture; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace