Relationships between work-related factors and musculoskeletal health with current and future work ability among male workers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to increase job-specific knowledge about individual and work-related factors and their relationship with current and future work ability (WA). We studied cross-sectional relationships between mental demands, physical exertion during work, grip strength, musculoskeletal pain in the upper extremities and WA and the relationships between these variables and WA 11 years later.


METHODS
We used a dataset of a prospective cohort study (1997-2008) among employees of an engineering plant (n = 157). The cohort was surveyed by means of tests and written questions on work demands, musculoskeletal health, WA score (WAS; 0-10), and mental and physical WA. Spearman correlation coefficients and logistic regression analysis were used.


RESULTS
Among manual workers, we found weak correlations between grip strength and current and future physical WA. We did not find predictors for future poor WA among the manual workers. Among the office workers, we found that musculoskeletal pain was moderately and negatively related to current WAS and physical WA. More handgrip strength related to better future WAS and physical WA. Musculoskeletal pain (OR 1.67 p < 0.01) and lower handgrip strength (OR 0.91 p < 0.05) predicted future poor WA among office workers.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between musculoskeletal health and work ability depending on occupation. However, the present implies that predicting work ability in the far future based on health surveillance data is rather difficult. Testing the musculoskeletal system (grip strength) and asking workers' about their musculoskeletal health seems relevant when monitoring work ability.
Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
J S
JS
Boschman
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy and University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
A
A
Noor
Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
R
R
Lundström
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
T
T
Nilsson
Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
J K
JK
Sluiter
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy and University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. mats.hagberg@amm.gu.se.
M
M
Hagberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004738:Engineering; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D034941:Upper Extremity; D014937:Work / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D055815:Young Adult
Cohort studies; Hand strength; Musculoskeletal disease; Occupational health; Occupations; Work