title: Association between objectively measured sitting time and neck-shoulder pain among blue-collar workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prolonged sitting has been suggested as a risk factor for neck-shoulder pain (NSP). Using a cross-sectional design, we investigated the extent to which objectively measured time sitting is associated with NSP among blue-collar workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sitting time was measured during multiple working days on male (n = 118) and female (n = 84) blue-collar workers (n = 202) using triaxial accelerometers (Actigraph) placed on the thigh and trunk. Workers were categorized into having, on average, a low, moderate or high sitting time, with mean values (SD between subjects) of 4.9 (1.0), 7.3 (0.5) and 9.6 (1.1) h in total per day. Workers rated their largest NSP intensity during the previous month on a numerical scale (0-9) and were subsequently dichotomized into a low and high NSP intensity group (ratings 0-4 and >4, respectively). Logistic regression analyses adjusted for several individual, and work-related factors were used to investigate the association between average sitting time per day (work, leisure and total) and NSP intensity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For total sitting time, workers in the high sitting category were more likely (adjusted OR 2.97, CI 1.25-7.03) to report high NSP intensity than those who sat moderately (reference category). Low sitting during work was associated with a reduced NSP intensity, but only for males (adjusted OR 0.26 CI 0.07-0.96). No significant association was found between sitting during leisure and NSP intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest an association between sitting time, in total per day and specifically during work, and NSP intensity among blue-collar workers. We encourage studying the structure and explanation of this association further in prospective studies on larger populations.
authors: Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76, Gävle, Sweden. david.hallman@hig.se.
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Hallman
authors: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Nidhi
authors: N
authors: Gupta
authors: Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76, Gävle, Sweden.
authors: Svend Erik
authors: SE
authors: Mathiassen
authors: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Holtermann
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014937:Work / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Accelerometer; Daily sitting; Occupational sitting; Sitting during leisure