title: Musculoskeletal Discomfort, Physical Demand, and Caregiving Activities in Informal Caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the burden of care and musculoskeletal discomfort associated with caring for adults with chronic physical disability among informal caregivers and to describe the most physically demanding caregiving activities and contributing factors, as perceived by informal caregivers of adults with physical disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed methods approach was used for the study. Forty-six informal caregivers of adults with physical disability participated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most caregivers were classified as "high burden" caregivers. They reported high levels of physical strain and musculoskeletal discomfort. Caregivers identified several activities related to mobility and self-care as the most physically demanding. Factors affecting physical demand included caregiver and care-recipient characteristics, activity requirements, and the physical environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions that target high-demand caregiving activities, including all three aspects of caregiving activity performance, are necessary to support adults with disabilities in the home and their caregivers.
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA amy.darragh@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Darragh
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sommerich
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lavender
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Kasey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications; D012648:Self Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: activity performance; caregivers; musculoskeletal discomfort