title: Musculoskeletal disorders and stress among footwear industry workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Manufacturing footwear requires intense manual labor and high repetitions with low variability in function that may lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) symptoms and psychological stress.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a potential association between musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and perceived stress among footwear industry workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Nordic General Questionnaire (NGQ) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) were completed by 357 footwear industry workers. The association between MSD and perceived stress was evaluated using the Chi-Square test and Odds Ratios along with their 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The twelve-month prevalence of MSD symptoms among the respondents was 66% (n = 236) and the symptoms were significantly associated with perceived stress (p = 0.002, OR: 10, 95% CI: 1.7 to 60.6). The seven-day prevalence of MSD symptoms was 33% and the symptoms were also significantly associated with perceived stress (p = 0.001, OR: 2.7, 95% CI:0.8 to 9.3). The association between perceived stress and MSD symptoms indicates a strong association between MSD symptoms and perceived stress levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering that these problems are important determinants of worker's health, a combined approach to reduce both stress and MSD symptoms is necessary for prevention and health promotion in the footwear industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, University of Franca, Franca, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Brentini
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Edgar Ramos
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, University of Franca, Franca, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zaia
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, University of Franca, Franca, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Branca Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, University of Franca, Franca, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Américo Riccardi Vaccari
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, University of Franca, Franca, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Veiga
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Quemelo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000072499:Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D012775:Shoes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Cumulative trauma disorders; occupational health; risk factors; stress.