title: Prevalence and Characteristics of Musculoskeletal Pain in Korean Farmers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of musculoskeletal pain (MSK) pain in Korean farmers using initial survey data of Farmers' Cohort for Agricultural Work-Related MSK pain (FARM) study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Farmers (534 females and 479 males; mean age 57.2±7.5 years) who owned or rented a farm and belonged to an agricultural cooperative unit were recruited. Presence of pain for each body part (neck, shoulder, arm/elbow, wrist/hand/finger, low back, leg/foot), and characteristics of MSK pain (prevalence, location, duration, severity, and frequency) during the last year was assessed. Additionally, demographic data such as farming duration, history of prior injury, and workload (low, moderate, somewhat hard, or hard) were collected using structured questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost all subjects (n=925; 91.3%) complained of pain in more than one body part. The frequency order was low back (63.8%), leg/foot (43.3%), shoulder (42.9%), wrist/hand/finger (26.6%), arm/elbow (25.3%), and neck (21.8%). Low back pain was more frequent in those with over 30 years of farming experience (odds ratio [OR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.81). MSK pain was related to history of prior injury (OR, 2.18-5.24; p<0.05) in all body parts except for leg/foot, and very hard workload was associated with low back, leg/foot, neck, shoulder, and wrist/hand/finger pain (OR, 2.88-10.83; p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most Korean farmers experience MSK pain; furthermore, there is a significant association between pain, history of prior injury, and workload, suggestive of the necessity of coping and preventive strategies to reduce injury or workload.
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmer's Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmer's Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmer's Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.; Gangwon-Do Rehabilitation Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmer's Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmer's Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Preventive Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jiyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmer's Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmer's Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Regional Infrastructure Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmer's Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; NongTeo Co. Ltd., Chuncheon, Korea.; Gangwon Rural Revitalization Support Center, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jee Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmer's Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Kyoung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Agriculture; Injuries; Low back pain; Musculoskeletal pain; Workload