title: Temporal patterns of sitting at work are associated with neck-shoulder pain in blue-collar workers: a cross-sectional analysis of accelerometer data in the DPHACTO study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our aim was to examine the extent to which temporal patterns of sitting during occupational work and during leisure-time, assessed using accelerometry, are associated with intense neck-shoulder pain (NSP) in blue-collar workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The population consisted of 659 Danish blue-collar workers. Accelerometers were attached to the thigh, hip, trunk and upper dominant arm to measure sitting time and physical activity across four consecutive days. Temporal sitting patterns were expressed separately for work and leisure by the proportion of total time spent sitting in brief bursts (0-5 min), moderate (>5-20 min) and prolonged (>20 min) periods. The peak NSP intensity during the previous 3 months was assessed using a numerical rating scale (range 0-10) and dichotomized into a lower (≤4) and higher (>4) NSP score. Logistic regression analyses with multiple adjustments for individual and occupational factors were performed to determine the association between brief, moderate and prolonged sitting periods, and NSP intensity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Time in brief bursts of occupational sitting was negatively associated with NSP intensity (adjusted OR 0.68, 95 % CI 0.48-0.98), while time in moderate periods of occupational sitting showed a positive association with NSP (adjusted OR 1.32, 95 % CI 1.04-1.69). Time in prolonged periods of occupational sitting was not associated with NSP (adjusted OR 0.78, 95 % CI 0.78-1.09). We found no significant association between brief, moderate or prolonged sitting periods during leisure, and NSP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that the association between occupational sitting time and intense NSP among blue-collar workers is sensitive to the temporal pattern of sitting.
authors.affiliation: 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.forename: David M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2741-1868
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hallman
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76, Gävle, Sweden.
authors.forename: Svend Erik
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mathiassen
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76, Gävle, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heiden
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marie Birk
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holtermann
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009790:Occupations; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Neck pain; Occupational health; Physical activity; Sedentary; Time pattern