title: Is prolonged sitting at work associated with the time course of neck-shoulder pain? A prospective study in Danish blue-collar workers.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the extent to which objectively measured sitting time at work is associated with the course of neck-shoulder pain across 1 year in blue-collar workers.
  
  
  
  Data were analysed from 625 blue-collar workers in the Danish PHysical ACTivity cohort with Objective measurements (DPHACTO) cohort study (2012-2013). Objective data on sitting time were collected at baseline using accelerometry. Self-reported pain intensity (numeric rating scale 0-10) in the neck-shoulder region was registered for 1 year using repeated text messages (14 in total). Linear mixed models were used to determine the relationship between per cent time in sitting at work and trajectories of neck-shoulder pain, with and without adjustment for demographic, occupational and lifestyle factors, and baseline pain intensity.
  
  
  
  More sitting time at work was associated with a faster decline in pain intensity over 12 months, as indicated by a statistically significant effect of sitting on pain trajectories in the crude (p=0.020) and fully adjusted models (p=0.027).
  
  
  
  In blue-collar workers, more sitting time at work was associated with a favourable development of pain intensity over time. The relationship between sitting at work and pain needs further investigation before explicit recommendations and guidelines on sedentary behaviour among blue-collar workers can be developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden.
authors.forename: David M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2741-1868
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hallman
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heiden
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden.
authors.forename: Svend Erik
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mathiassen
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korshøj
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; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Accelerometer; Longitudinal studies; Musculoskeletal; Pain; Physical work; Sedentary