title: Rehabilitation versus Nursing Home Nurses' Low Back and Neck-Shoulder Complaints.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the prevalence of those complaints in nurses working in rehabilitation departments and nursing homes, and to evaluate factors associated with them.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study in rehabilitation and in nursing home departments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from questionnaires relating to basic demographics, prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints, potentially harmful positions and actions and job satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analyses demonstrated higher work-related musculoskeletal complaints for nurses in rehabilitation than nursing home nurses (p=.012 for low back pain; p<.001 for neck-shoulder pain). Trunk bending, static posture, repetitive tasks, and recognition of superiors were associated with low back pain. Freedom to choose work techniques and degree of diversity at work were associated with neck-shoulder pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences between the nurse groups as to work tasks might be a reason for differences in musculoskeletal complaints. Further comparisons between nurses working in different fields might reveal more accurate potential risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Instruction for static/awkward posture avoidance, by using mechanical aids and designing a friendlier environment, should be part of a nursing staff injury prevention strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alperovitch-Najenson
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Dvora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sheffer
authors.affiliation: Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital, Ra'anana, Israel.
authors.forename: Iuly
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Treger
authors.affiliation: Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital, Ra'anana, Israel.
authors.forename: Tova
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Finkels
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kalichman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015984:Causality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing; D012307:Risk Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: harmful positions; nursing home; psychosocial; rehabilitation; work-related musculoskeletal complaints